+ 1819 Sept. 30

Parl. Reform Bill

§.3. Eligible who

Art. 3 Certifiers six-twelve

Art 3 No more than 12

( ) (Six Certifiers ..... twelve) Art. 3.

Question 2. Why limit the signatures to so small a number as twelve?

Reasons

1. Avoidance of Miselection.

The greater the number, of those among whom, in case of a recommendation given in favour of a proposed Member more or less conspicuously deficient in respect of any of the elements of appropriate aptitude, the reproach is shared, the less sensibly it is felt by any one. Suppose them to amount, for example, to hundreds – and amongst them, in a large proportion men of distinction a man will be apt to feel little solicitude on this point, and may conceive in giving a recommendation in favour of a proposed Member, who in his (the recommender’s) own opinion possesses no place. By secresy of suffrage as per §.8 Voters themselves are, it is true, preserved from all sinister influence: but to the case of Recommenders, as here, that security can not be extended.

If, in favour of the person in question, Recommenders in so small a number as six can not be procured, in the first place, scarcely can there be much probability of appropriate aptitude on his part; in the next place – what is still more decisive – still less can there be any probability of his obtaining a majority of the Votes.

So, if, neither from his own stock, nor that of all his intended supporters put together, he can obtain, in lieu of all Election expences on the part of individuals, so small a sum – say as £120.