3 April 1818

Proposed Parliamentary Reform Resolutions

Draught – Marginals

1

1

II. Interest

1.

Sole adequate security for good government community of interest between governor and

governed.

2.

Recognition have been made of them from the throne

# 1

3

# 1 Recognition quoted: viz

1. James 1. 1605 Nov. 9

2. Charles 2. 1670 Feb 14

3. d o 1678 June 18.

4. d o 1680 March 21

5 Will. 3. 1692 Nov. 4

6. d o 1695 Nov 22. # 2

3

* # 2 Such community failing, governed’s interest ought to be

preferably pursued

4

Recognition from the throne

1. James 1. 1603 March 19.

2. Will. 3 1679 Dec r. 3.

3. George 1. 1717. Nov. 21

4. G. 2. 1730. Jan y 13

5. d o 1744 April 3

6 d o 1758 June 25

7. G. 3. 1763. Nov. 15

8. d o 1770 Nov. 13.

9 d o 1771 May 8.

People electors

5

Though no such security compleat, but in so far as the administrators of public

affairs are approved, and thence chosen or at least removable by those whose affairs

are administered, yet the case of

People Electors

the King, affords an exception, prescribed by evil of change &c, considering

that no act of his is valid without signature of a responsible servant.

4

* { See Act of Settlement 12 & 13 Will. 3. as to Resolution of the Privy

Council: The clause was repealed 4 An c.8. v 24. }

People Electors

7

2. Lords, another: Reasons 1 Evil of change &c 2 – Use of a temporary bar to

precipitation: 3. presumption of ultimate yielding to people’s wishes.

People Electors

8

Only in so far as they are really / Fina[?]/ representative of

the Univ / whole/ people, are functions of

Common’s House Members legitimately exercised. Add Recognitions

I III

IV Annuality

9

* Only in so far as really[?] chosen, and at short and stated periods removable, is

people’s assurance adequate, that Representatives’ Acts are conformable to people’s

sense and wishes, and they true Representatives.

I Universality

10

People’s Representatives if really so, are d o of the whole body,

or at least the majority; such excepted (whose interests are inseparably interwoven

with those who choose and such) who, on a manifest ground, are incapable of having

quoadhoc an adequate conception of their own interests.

III Equality

11

In choice of Representatives peoples sense not conformable to, but in so far as each

voters suffrage has the same force as every other’s: nor therefore unless in so far

as in the choice of each Representative, the numbers of the Voters are the same.

III Equality

12

Numbers being ever and every where changing, such absolute equality impossible, and

by no such change immediate sensible mischief producible – application of this

principle must give way to local exigencies: and without inconvenience may, if not

caused by partiality, personal or local.

II. Freedom

13

On no Election is suffrage free, unless voter be unexposed to hope or fear for self

or connection from every individual, by reason of such suffrage –

15

# 2 Recognition of the necessity of this universality, freedom,

and equality, from the throne.

1. James 1 1614 April 8.

2 d o 1620 Mar. 26

3. d o 1623 Feb. 12.

4. Charles 1 1640 April 13

5 George 3 1761 March 19

19

# 3 Recognition from the throne of the necessity of shortness of

duration in the trust, coupled with frequency of meeting: viz.

1. In divers Statutes of Ed. 3. &c: enforced by 16 C.1. c.1: that Statute

unhappily repealed under Charles 2 whose endeavour was to reign without Parliaments.

20

Yet has the principle been recognized by succeeding Monarchs: viz.

1. by G. 2. 1741. April 21.

2. d o 1747 Nov. 12

3. by G. 3 1761 Nov. 6

4. d o 1768 Nov. 8

5. d o 1780 Nov. 1.