1822 Nov. 4 Tripoli. Securities against Misrule Preliminary Explanations ?.2.

Remedy - Publicity 1. Subjects

This influence with its several possible degrees it may seem may be laid out of

the account altogether, for of the persons on whom by possibility it is capable

of being exercised, the only persons here in question are the Members of the

political community in question - considered in their character of members of

the Public Opinion Tribunal belonging to it. Thus accordingly when considered in

a general point of view for the most part does the matter stand. One part

however there remains in relation to which the sort of influence in question is

capable of having a distinct operation. The suffrages suppose of all the members

of this tribunal take the same direction: they being all of them pronounced in

condemnation of the oppressive act in question. Thus far as between suffrage and

suffrage it makes no difference which was the result of a self-formed opinion

which of them the result of an opinion derived from the influence exercised on

the mind in question by that of some other member exercised whether on will or

on understanding, or on both together. But, though, by the supposition the

direction taken by /in which/ the suffrages /act/ is the same, and the ultimate

number of them, by what cause so ever produced, is the number in question, yet

the degrees of energy with which, upon occasion, they may respectively be

disposed to act in conformity to those same suffrages may be to any amount

different: and in each case this degree of energy may be greater or less

according to the nature and force /energy/ of the influence received.