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1820 Aug 5. 1822 Aug. 4
Constitut. Code
§ 8 Corruptive influence
57 or 1.
V. Still more against the
Constitutional interest: by
addition to corruptive influence
whereby representatives
are led to sacrifice
constituent's interest to their
own.
58 or 2.
Every human being is
perpetually prompted to
sacrifice, to his own, all
other interests put together.
Incompatible with the
existence of the species
would be? the habit of the contrary
preference.
59 or 3.
Absurd, and contrary
to universal experience,
is the expectation of the
contrary performance preference
in the ordinary course
of life. By a comparative
few, at moments of
excitation, sacrifices of
small personal gratification
are made to
extensive public benefit.
But the disposition is
rare – not produced but
by high mental culture.
On what is common, not
on what is rare, should
calculation, for the direction
of political conduct,
be grounded.
60 or 4.
Deeds commonly referred
to social affection,
are mostly accountable
for by love of celebrity
and power: these, and
money, being the instruments
for the obtaining
and maintaining one
another.
Those who, otherwise
than from these motives,
devote their time to the
service of mankind,
do it as matter of taste,
and without much self-sacrifice.
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§ 8 Corruptive influence
61 or 5.
Maxim. In a political
situation, each man's endeavour
is to advance his
own private interest to the
sacrifice of all greater interests.
Exceptions are not
numerous enough to warrant
the taking them for
grounds of political conduct.
62. or 6.
This admitted, each
man's endeavour will
be – to accumulate, in his
own hands, the maximum
of money, power,
celebrity, factitious dignity:
and, occasionally, vengeance,
with as much
ease as is consistent
with the pursuit of those
others. For this, he will
employ all helps: among
amongst others, corruptive
influence.
63 or 7.
Hence, in functionaries in
general, under every Government,
the endeavour
to maximize public expenditure
for he profit
derivable out out if: and,
therein, not only emolument
but patronage.
64 or 8.
By what he contrived
to receive, a man thus
corrupts himself; by what
he gives, or contributes
to give, he exercises corruptive
influence, on
such others as expect
to receive in the event
of his enabling them so
to do.
Thus every where
the conjunct endeavour
to profit, at the
expence of subject-many.
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§ 8 Corruptive influence
65 or 9.
True, every where every
man has an interest common
to him and every
other – his share in the
universal interest. But
never is this share valuable
enough, in his eyes,
to prevent his sacrificing
it to his separate interest.
examples – House-breakers
and Highwaymen.
66 or 10.*
Rapacity and corruptive-influence
an avalanche
encreasing as it rolls, every
government but one is
doomed to destruction:
that one is representative
democracy, founded on the
four combined principles –
secresy, virtual universality,
practical equality, and
virtual annuality of
suffrage.
67 or 11.
True, under such Representative
democracy the
same preference of self
regarding, to social interest
has place, or rather would
have place, under any
prospect of success. But
there, no such prospect
has place. Under every
other Government there
are men who can continue
plundering oppressing,
and corrupting without
end: under a representative
democracy, not:
every member of the ruling
few being immediately,
or intermediately,
appointed, and removable,
by subject many.
§ 8 Corruptive influence
65 or 9.
True, every where every
man has an interest common
to him and every
other – his share in the
universal interest. But
never is this share valuable
enough, in his eyes,
to prevent his sacrificing
it to his separate interest.
examples – House-breakers
and Highwaymen.
66 or 10.*
Rapacity and corruptive-influence
an avalanche
encreasing as it rolls, every
government but one is
doomed to destruction:
that one is representative
democracy, founded on the
four combined principles –
secresy, virtual universality,
practical equality, and
virtual annuality of
suffrage.
67 or 11.
True, under such Representative
democracy the
same preference of self
regarding, to social interest
has place, or rather would
have place, under any
prospect of success. But
there, no such prospect
has place. Under every
other Government there
are men who can continue
plundering oppressing,
and corrupting without
end: under a representative
democracy, not:
every member of the ruling
few being immediately,
or intermediately,
appointed, and removable,
by subject many.
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Identifier: | JB/038/101/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 38.
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1820-08-05 |
57 or 1 - 67 or 11 |
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038 |
constitutional code |
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101 |
constitut. code |
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001 |
corruptive influence |
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d7 / e1 |
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john flowerdew colls |
[[watermarks::i&m [prince of wales feathers] 1818]] |
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arthur wellesley, duke of wellington |
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1818 |
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11738 |
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