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Untitled Article
unnecessary in a state where the supreme power may be vested ifi ft girl of eighteen years of age . Section 3 is on the r Division of the Electoral Body into separate Constituencies / and briefly shows the advantages of assigning representatives to districts rather than to classes , and the necessity of a large constituency in each case . Section 4 discusses the c Relation in which the Elector should
stand to other Classes and to the Community at large . ' It is justly observed , that not only is the franchise a trust under it » present limitation , but that it must be so under all circumstances ; ' for if every individual member of the community without exception were to have a vote , he would necessarily lie under the implied obligation of carefully and conscientiousl y voting with strict regard to the public object in view , inasmuch as he would be "performing an act affecting the welfare of others . '
After an energetic exposure of the iniquity of controlling , directly or indirectly , the vote of the elector , the difference between thi& unwarrantable exercise of the power of wealth and station , and what is called the legitimate influence , with which it is generally confounded by the apologists for present practices , is thus stated :
* The objection sometimes urged against these sentiments , that it would be highly pernicious to destroy the influence of one class over another , — -that of the rich over the poor , the powerful over the weak , thfc intelligent over the ignorant , —proceeds , when it is sincere , on a misapprehension of the subject , and confounds two very different operatiohs . Were all direct and intentional exertions of power by one class over another in the election of representatives , except the influence of
understanding on understanding , utterly extinguished , as justice requites that they should be , a strong indirect influence would still remain , an influence which would be ever maintained by the richer classes over the poorer , the landlord over the tenant , the employer over the workman . There is an unconquerable , and , to a certain extent , ( in the present state of society at least , ) a beneficial proneneBS in man to rely on the judgm&m tmd authority of those who are elevated above himself in rank or
riches . From the irresistible associations of the human mind , a feeling of ttespect end deference is entertained for a superior in station , which enhances and exalts all his good qualities , gives more grace to his movements , more force to his expressions , more beauty to his thoughts , tttore wisdom to his opinions , more weight to his judgments , more excellence to his virtues . Even the wisest find it difficult to keep them *
selves from this illusion ; and in society at large it is apt to be so strong , that there are always individuals , who , from mere servility , or blind veneration * will do what they conceive will be agreeable to their superior * , even when not the slightest wish is expressed to direct them .
* Hence the elevated men of society will always maintain an ascend * ^ ficy ,-which , without any direct exertion of influence , will affect the result * f jyopufor elections ; and when to this are added the capabilities which tMijf ?*****> or ought to ito # s « fas from their superior ioielligtilte , of
Untitled Article
41 O The Rationale of Politiml Repr ** t * UUion .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1835, page 410, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2646/page/46/
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