18 Nov r 1809

Parl. Reform Plan

Ch.3. Dependence on Constituents

'.2. No moral binding

12

7

It is a mark of want of intelligence or probity to profess[?] a determination blindly to follow instructions

The same man who would do this for a suit would do this for an office.

In the situation of a Candidate, or of a Member looking to become a Candidate, shall a man then declare to his constituents actual or expected to be or actually such, a determination on his part to pay obedience to whatsoever instructions shall on any subject whatsoever, or on this or that particular subject be delivered to him? Of a deficiency in one or other or both of two /the two primary qualifications/ endowments, intelligence or probity or intelligence, a declaration to any such effect seems to afford us[?] but two conclusive marks /evidence/ of intelligence, in not being able /in respect of /through/ his inability/ to form in relation to the subject in question an opinion of his own - insomuch that, for want of such ability, he, notwithstanding the superiority of his means of judging, so far, to wit, as concerns /depends/ upon information from without, he who is so much better equipped for judging is ready on all occasions, or at least on this or that occasion ready to give up the task of forming an opinion to those whose external means of judging, as above, are to such a degree inferior to his own: - of probity, inasmuch as expecting to be able to form in his own mind in relation to all such subjects whatsoever as are liable to come before him for his vote, or at least in relation to all such as appear to him likely to engage the attention of his constituents an opinion juster than theirs is likely to be, he is content to sacrifice his own more trustworthy to their less trustworthy opinion, or in other words to sacrifice the interest of the public to some private and sinister interest of his own by which such sacrifice has been commanded at his hands.