Page:A Few Plain Observations Upon the End and Means of Political Reform.djvu/37

 Parliamentary Reform, I must distinctly enter my protest against a doctrine very prevalent among it's Advocates, which inculcates the necessity of voting for any Candidate who shall solemnly pledge his attachment and support to that cause, in preference to those who may decline such an avowal.

I conceive that the general adoption of such a principle would have the effect of facilitating the views of a description of men who, conscious of possessing no other of the requisite pretensions sufficient to entitle them to aspire to a seat in Parliament, would eagerly take advantage of this circumstance for the purpose of conciliating to themselves the support of a Party, and the interest which might be excited in their favour by a Popular Clamour.—It would hold out a pretext from