[129b-496]

30 Apr 1817

Plan Cat

Addenda

2 o

Introd

§.10. Bribery and Terrorism

1

Inserendum to 2

d

Edition

§. The existing system of terrorism a violation of the Bill of Rights

By the Bill of Rights it is declared in so many words “That Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free [+] But if free against terrorism from one quarter, so against terrorism from any other quarter: for in so far as by terrorism from any quarter so ever they are rendered otherwise than free how can they be said to be free?

True it is, that the terrorism which on that occasion furnished the direct object of complaint, was that terrorism alone of which in a direct way the power of the Monarch was the source. “Whereas the late King James the second (says the reciting part) “by the assistance of divers evil Councillors, Judges and Ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpation the laws and liberties of this kingdom”: and thereupon comes the clauses correspondent to the above enactment, viz. N o 7 “By violating the freedom of Election of Members to serve in Parliament.” But so long as /in so far as/ the effect the only mischievous part of the effect of this violation is produced in any way viz. the causing the return of such Members as by the Monarch shall be engaged to sacrifice to his and their particular and sinister interest the universal interest, what matters it whether it be by such direct means as were then in use or by any other means direct or indirect?

[+] 1 W & M. Sess. 2. c.2.§ 1