[131a-014]

1818 March 22 +

Parl Reform. Answer to Antiballot Objections

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For the course to be taken for applying this stigma, take this for a brief outline.

Each Election district to have a book called the Black-book, in which, under the head of Election-Tyrants-convict, the names of the offenders should, on conviction be handed down to posterity, and thereupon immediately, under that same head, with the name of the district as a subordinate head, inserted in the Gazette: all other newspapers being thereupon bound to copy the article gratis, as they, or some of them, are actually in the habit of copying the lists of Bankruptcies. To save prosecution and defence from being excluded by expence, the proceeding should be by indictment, at Assizes or Quarter Sessions, without stamps and without office fees; prosecutor and defendant both examinable: defendant, upon conviction to pay prosecutor’s costs, unless disabled by poverty: so, on acquittal, prosecutor the defendants: unless on Judge’s certificate of adequate probable cause. Except in so far as such recordation and publication may be deemed a punishment, no punishment: no punishment; and therefore no objection on that ground, unsubstantial as I have ever held it to be, to the examination of defendants. No reward here for informers: for informers, or prosecutors, which so ever they may be called: no temptation therefore for groundless or oppressive prosecution: no obloquy could therefore in this case attach upon the function of prosecutor.