For all necessary expenses of
this kind the L50 proposed by Mr. Hare, if allowed to be drawn upon
for these purposes (it might be made L100 if requisite), ought to be
sufficient. If the friends of the candidate choose to go to expense
for committees and canvassing there are no means of preventing them;
but such expenses out of the candidates's own pocket, or any
expenses whatever beyond the deposit of L50 (or L100), should be
illegal and punishable. If there appeared any likelihood that
opinion would refuse to connive at falsehood, a declaration on oath or
honour should be required from every member on taking his seat that he
had not expended, nor would expend, money or money's worth beyond
the L50, directly or indirectly, for the purposes of his election; and
if the assertion were proved to be false or the pledge to have been
broken, he should be liable to the penalties of perjury.
It is probable that those penalties, by showing that the Legislature
was in earnest, would turn the course of opinion in the same
direction, and would hinder it from regarding, as has hitherto done,
this most serious crime against society as a venial peccadillo. When
once this effect has been produced, there need be no doubt that the
declaration on oath or honour would be considered binding.* "Opinion
tolerates a false disclaimer, only when it already tolerates the thing
disclaimed.
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