JB/137/382/001

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1820 Feb. 2.
Radicalism not dangerous

III Experience
II Ireland
(1) Belfast patriots

+ Copy to the end of
the passage in inverted
commas on p.460

Plowden II. I. 456 Hitherto It appears + from an address of this
Society to the people of Ireland, which was published as
widely as possible, what their avowed sentiments were
of the gentlemen of the opposition, and particularly
of Mr Grattan, the leader of that party. Hitherto the
United Irishmen were bounded by no secret oath, nor
any criminal or illegal tie. Their address was published
ten days after the debate on the introduction of
Mr. Ponsonby's bill of reform. They first gave a specimen
of their own doctrines upon the subject, they
then very freely express their opinions of Mr Grattan,
and the animosity in parliament. "It is said that the
"lower classes of the community, being without property
"have no stake in the country, and therefore
"ought not to vote for any part of the legislature. In
"consequence of the representative system every
"man is supposed to be either individually or by his
"delegate, a party to making the laws, by which he is
"to be bound. The elective right can not therefore be denied,
"on constitutional principle, to anyone: even the poorest
"should be allowed the exercise of that right, as they are
bound by law as well as others.

"Laws operate on life, liberty and property.
"Why is property represented? because it is valuable
"to the possessor, and may be affected by the
"law. Why should liberty and life not be represented?
"Are they not more valuable to their possessor, and
"may they not also be affected by the law? Since liberty
"and life are the most important objects of legislation,
"the poorer class have a right to some controul
"over the legislature, and it is just they should exercise
"it. The spirit of many of our laws is aristocratic,
"and by no means calculated for the protection
"of the poor.

"If the lower classes of the community
"had been represented in parliament, when their
"necessities first urged them to insurrection and
"outrage, under the denomination of White Boys
"and Defenders, parliament would have enquired
"into and addressed their grievances, instead of making
"laws to punish them with death.

Identifier: | JB/137/382/001 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 137.
Date_1	1820-02-02	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	137	Main Headings	radicalism not dangerous
Folio number	382	Info in main headings field	radicalism not dangerous
Image	001	Titles
Category	collectanea	Number of Pages	1
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	c1
Penner	jeremy bentham; john flowerdew colls	Watermarks	[[watermarks::[prince of wales feathers] i&m 1818]]
Marginals		Paper Producer	arthur wellesley, duke of wellington
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year	1818
Notes public		ID Number	47099
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