27 Dec r 1809

Parl y. Reform

I. Necessity

Ch. 17. Opposition no security

'.2. Despotism only changes hands

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It being understood that a Minister can not be Minister any longer than while Parliament continues her toil, an appeal to Parliament against any act of injustice for example committed by a Minister is considered not as an application for redress against that particular injustice, but as an application for /made to Parliament to pronounce/ the dismissal of the Minister. {Be the injustice or misconduct in any other shape ever so flagrant, it is confirmed of course unless the dismissal of the Minister be pronounced.} On every such occasion be the question proposed in form[?] what it may, the question really voted upon is always one and the same, viz. whether he who is now shall continue to be Minister. To the merits of the question meaning the particular question submitted as above in point of form: not the smallest regard is ever paid or when men talk confidentially so much as professed to be paid. The subject of the real question is - not the measure but the man /men/ - and of each vote the measuring is I am for the Minister or I am against the Minister.

As no man is expected to vote - as no man can vote for the redress of injustice in any shape for the correction of mismanagement in any shape, without voting at the same time and thereby for the removal of the Minister, so no /as in no other way neither in this way does any/ man thinks of voting for the removal of one set of Ministers unless he is prepared to vote and means thereby /accordingly to be understood to vote for the appointment of some other set.