1819 Oct. 5

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons

§. 5

§. 8

Art. Secresy

4

4

4

On the occasion Where arrangements are required /understood to require/ to be taken for preventing any part of the standing army from being present at an Election the understanding is – that in case a vote were given in a direction displeasing to the Monarch or some servant of his the voter might materially be put to death or otherwise corporally injured: otherwise but for this supposition the freedom of Election could not be disturbed by such a cause. {But that /the cause of the prohibition/ which is thus universally regarded as unconstitutional /inconsistent with the Constitution/, and capable of giving to an Election the character of a Miselection is the substitution of another /a different/ persons wish to that of the voter, not the degree of injury by which that effect is produced /circumstance of its having for its cause an injury offered to the person of the/: {for} if injury to the voter were the cause, the prohibition would not extend to the case of bribery: for by a gift given to a man no injury is done to him /in gift surely there is no injury/.}

This therefore /Such then on the part of the ruling few/ has always been ostensibly the object /an object aimed at in appearance/ – namely to preserve the breasts of the voters from the influence of will on will, in whichever /whatever/ shape endeavoured to be exercised. Had this been really the object the object aimed at in reality influence acting by /endeavour for preserving them against influence operating in the way of/ intimidation would have been more anxious than endeavours for preserving them from influence operating in the way of corruption: for fear of evil operates with much more effect than hope of good. The anxiety /endeavour/ would not have applied itself exclusively to intimidation issuing from the crown /throne/: it would have extended itself to intimidation issuing from any source whatever.

By secresy of suffrage, combined with other arrangements here provided, Miselection by /from/ reason of influence acting by corruption may, it will be seen be effectually /sufficiently/ excluded: may now and might have been at all times. But by secresy of suffrage alone, Miselection by reason of influence acting by intimidation may now, and at all times might have been excluded to /in/ a much more perfect degree excluded.