[129b-497]

30 Apr. 1817

Plan Cat

2 o

Introd

§.10. Bribery and Terrorism

2

True it is moreover that, at that time, although bribery was contrary to the letter of the law, terrorism in that shape in which it is to the profit of individuals in the first instance that it exercises itself was not contrary to the letter of that same or any other law: for since neither then /before that time/ nor since has the secret mode of voting been ever in use, thence so it is that so far the liberty /faculty/ of suffrage was exercised under the yoke of terrorism. But from this observation /state of things/ what follows? Only that for the giving field to an acknowledged principle the regulations of detail the necessity of which is above /beyond/ dispute had not yet been made: a case which throughout the whole field of legislation is in other instances brought to view by every day’s practice.

Of the particular case at that time in contemplation the two essential points are 1. that to the intended subversion and extirpation of the liberties of the kingdom (meaning the people of the kingdom) a state of things was produced under which to the extent in question Elections failed of being free. 2. that it was to the profit of the separate and sinister interest of the Monarch that this subversion was in proportion to the extent to which it had place effected: – Now as to these main points these being the only material points in what respect does the condition of the people at this time differ from that in which it was at that time when the Revolution was resorted to: resorted to in the character of a remedy which not only then but even still is generally acknowledged to have been a necessary one?