[clxvii. 279]

1821 Aug. 1

Rid Yourselves

4. Supposable resource 4. Emolumt from Ultramarian Offices

In England all this in accordance with the Constitution; I mean always with what would be the Constitution, if there were one. For if the English Constitution, according to the account given of it in all speeches given no less by Whigs than by Tories, the end in view is the maintaining the lustre and splendour of the Crown: to which it is necessary that the pockets of all the rich who are near enough to be seen on their knees before it should be kept in a state of perpetual plunderage. But of your Constitution, which, such as it is, is a really existing one, the end in view - at any rate the declared end - (Art. 4. 13) is the greatest happiness of the greatest number.

But suppose it admitted that it is proper that to all offices should stand attached masses of emolument such as should suffice for the making fortunes out of them. Suppose it were admitted that it is propoer that the fortunes, when made, should be carried out of the country at the expence of which they have been made. These same admissions - what would you be better for them? If it be proper that, to offices in Ultramaria, masses of official emolument should be attached for the benefit of Spaniards, to the end that, after making out of them each man his fortune, he may on his return to Spain, carry it with him to Spain, - it can not be less proper, that, to Offices in Spain like masses of official emolument should be attached for the benefit of Ultramarians, to the end that after making out of them each man his fortune, he may carry it with him on his return to Ultramaria. These your distant kinsmen - suppose them to urge /claim/ this reciprocity: what will you find to say to them /answer them/? That they are an inferior cast, and that reciprocity would be injustice? There stands your Constitutional Code, and at every page it contradicts you. When they want an example for misrule, it is to England that your rulers send you. The fund is an inexhaustible one. Thus it was when they tried to destroy the liberty of the press and public discussion. On this occasion, one little circumstance excepted. Here too, if in their eyes it be expedient they may find a case in point to shew you. /Look at/ British India with its population of hundred millions. Englishmen are sent to India to make fortunes and bring them to England: Indians are not brought over to England to make fortunes here and go carry with them to India. But now the little circumstance. The people of English India avowed a conquered people with reference to England: but your Ultramarian kinsmen are not a conquered people with reference to you or your rulers /reference to England: but your Ultramaria kinsmen are not a conquered people/. They are descendants of the conquerors. And, between Spain and Ultramaria how little soever there may be at bottom - (but this you will see in its place) in profession, and on the surface of the Code, all is equality and reciprocity.