JB/036/153/002

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1821 Feb. 15
Rid Yourselves

§. 1. Preliminary distinction as to interests here, and eventual state of things Interests concerned – preliminary distinctions.

Spaniards

I must now at the outset beseech your attention to certain distinctions
on which everything turns: distinctions, but for which, everything
that can be said by such on the subject by one person or conceived by you another will with confusion
inconsistency and error.⊞ ⊞ Nor will in any
such attention as it may
be your pleasure to bestow
upon them be altogether
unrequited. For upon
these same distinctions, not
only on the present occasion
but on all other occasions, will be
found to turn whatever the main difference
between what is is good and and whatsoever is bad in the conduct
of government.

1. Distinction the first. Distinction on the occasion in question between the universal interests
on the one hand and particular interests on the other: in regard to particular interests,
distinction between the interest of the subject many on the one part and the
interest of the ruling and otherwise influential few on
the other part: – say for shortness, the ruling few.

One all comprehensive interest there is that belongs in common
to all the members of the State: even to all the inhabitants of
of the soil so long as they continue such.

The interest An interest belonging universally to all
– an interest in which all have a everyone has his share – is, that the only proper end
of government – ⊞1 ⊞1 the object recognized in that character By the Spanish Constitution (Arts 4. 13) the greatest happiness of the greatest number
be compassed fulfilled accomplished to an entirely as great an extent as possible: that the several external
instruments of felicity – ⊞2 ⊞2 namely, wealth, power, and whatever other objects of general desire it is in the province of government to confer or secure, may the good things of this
objects of general desire – the fruits of government
when it power, factitious dignity reputation and ease
be shared possessed by every one be possessed and enjoyed in the greatest amount possible: by
all, were it possible, an equal share: this not being possible
by all, in shares set at each moment, in shares in proportions as near to
equality as possible, consistently with security for the future,
that all by every one, whether possessed or not possessed, of
any share of power, security, in any as entire as possible,
be possessed acts injurious and other occurrences against human acts, and other incidents proportional injurious or otherwise preponderant noxious to person, reputation, property
and condition in life. In regard to power, as power as
the one effect can not have place but along with and in
proportion to subjection on the others, that on the part in the hands of the
class composed of those by among whom it isin the largest proportion shared, themselves as
as possible, the quantity of it be as small as it can be consistently will be fulfillment of the
abovementioned ends of government: that, in regard to money
resting placed at the disposal of the members of government the ruling few⊞ ⊞ whether for the purpose
of equipment, be unable
then to discharge their
several duties functions as for
the purpose of remuneration inducement
it not being, any of it so
placed, but by being the amount
forced out of the hands by which it had been acquired, the quantity of it
be as small as possible: not to speak of factitious dignity in all
its forms that mischievous offspring of delusion factitious dignity in all its
shapes, satisfaction reaped by infliction of extra punishment, for self-security and
vengeance, these sweets of misgovernment in the reserved for governors, together with undue ease at the expence of official service, not coming under consideration on the occasion
of the present question.

Identifier: | JB/036/153/002 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 36.
Date_1	1822-07-14	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	036	Main Headings	constitutional code rationale
Folio number	153	Info in main headings field	constitut. code rationale
Image	002	Titles
Category	text sheet	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering
Penner	jeremy bentham	Watermarks	j whatman 1819
Marginals		Paper Producer	john flowerdew colls
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1819
Notes public		ID Number	11077
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