21 Aug 1809 +

Parl y Reform

B.III. Influence

Corruption

Electors

1

The Lords are in for themselves: Why may not Electors be?

'. Bribery be on the part of the Elector?  Not till after Corruption on the part of the Member.

The parliamentary Elector in his situation does he not do mischief, by accepting of money or what is equivalent, for his vote?

I answer, as before /above/ - that depends upon the character and disposition of the Member whom his vote contributes to place in the House: in which is included the this /these two/ proposition, viz. that, if without his vote the candidate would equally have been placed there, or is not placed there at all, no mischief is produced.

The Member /Candidate/, who being a man of an independent mind, means to act upon independent principles gains his election by bribery, and acts upon those principles to the last. The Candidate who had he succeeded on his election would have been from first to last a tool of the Minister, gives no bribes and loses it. Now where is the mischief in this? - just none: the case /event/ in which the mischief, whatever mischief the case is susceptible of, would have taken place, is the opposite case /event/.