ticularly if that opponent be the late reprefentative. Let him recollect the expence, the difcord, the tumults, the intemperance, the profligacy, to which a contefted election almost always, and an undifputed election not unfrequently, gives birth; the risk to which he fhall be exposed of yielding to the various temptations of the hour, especially if the struggle fhould be protracted, and the event grow more and more ambiguous; the danger of becoming inveterate and uncharitable towards his competitor; of being foured by defeat; or of finding himself or his family exposed, in cafe of oppofition, to more formidable trials by fuccefs and a confequent new line of life.

If, on drawing the balance between the probable good and evil, the preponderance of the former fhould be fuch as to justify a conscientious man in stepping forward as a candidate; he will steadily refolve, if he be confiderately confcientious, to watch his heart and his actions with the fcrupulous care which fo trying a situation requires; and to avail himself of no sinister means to promote his fuc

cefs.

cefs. In his declarations to the electors, whe ther they appear in the fhape of circular advertisements or of canvaffing letters, of private difcourfe or of public harangues, he will scorn the infincere and oftentatious parade of unparalleled zeal for the general welfare, and of extravagant attachment to their particular interefts. He will follow the dictates of honesty, and be content with the language of truth. He will conform to the intention of every law actually in force refpecting elections. He will enter into no clandeftine engagements contrary to the fpirit, though not perhaps within the letter, of existing ftatutes. He will not directly or indirectly angle for fuffrages by holding out unwarrantable baits to the voters; nor, while he profeffes to offer himself to their free choice, will he feck to overawe them by menaces and intimidation. He will not employ a number of fuperfluous agents, for the purpose of thus gaining by indirect bribery the votes and intereft of the perfons employed. Whatever he would not openly do himself, he will not do in fecret or through the medium of his friends. Subterfuges and concealment imply the consciousness of guilt. Neither will he fanction

by

by connivance (c) any indefenfible proceedings of his adherents on his behalf. On the contrary, he will previously settle with his fupporters and agents the principles on which the election is to be conducted; and will give it in charge to them, if such injunctions appear neceffary, to abftain from all unjustifiable artifices, by which they may have been accuftomed to forward the intereft of their favourite candidate. He will explicitly make known to them his determination neither to fulfil engagements, nor repay any difbursements, of an improper nature, which may be incurred by them; and after the election, if occafion should require, he will prove his own fincerity, and discourage future committees from venturing

any

(c) In elections for boroughs, fome of the constituents have been known to make a trifling nominal subscription, under cover of which much illegal treating is carried on; while the subscription paper is to be produced, if circumstances should require that ftep, as evidence to the House of Commons that the candidate had no concern in the entertainments. It is highly neceffary that he should forbid fuch practices from the beginning; as his committee will generally act just as they think expedient for his interests, and give him no information of their tranfactions until the whole bufinefs is concluded.

VOL. I.

on

on misconduct, by refolutely perfifting in his purpose. He will avail himself of no unfair or ungenerous advantages over his opponent ; he will discountenance every kind of tumult or riot; every thing that partakes of calumny, of illiberality, or of rancour. He will endeavour, not from private motives alone, but on the general grounds of public good, to keep down the expences of both parties during the election. He will not prolong the contest a moment for the fake of haraffing his antagonift and if at any period of it, circumftances themselves, or his views of circumftances, fhould be so far changed as to convince him that duty requires him to defift; he will not hesitate to relinquish the most flattering profpects, or even the abfolute certainty of fuccefs.

The temptations incident to candidates in general frequently become ftronger and more numerous in the cafe of him, who, uniting his intereft with that of another candidate, proceeds hand in hand with him in the common caufe. Should ignorance, or thoughtleffness, or want of principle lead the one to

act in any respect amifs; the example prefents itself in a garb particularly ensnaring to the other. He is urged to acquiefce in it, if not by the direct folicitations of the friends of his affociate, or by thofe of his affociate himself, yet by motives of perfonal advantage; by diffidence and timidity; and by false delicacy towards his colleague, and an unwillingness to do any thing which may feem to imply a cenfure on the conduct, or may be likely to prejudice the intereft, of the person with whom he has entered into confederation. Let every candidate beware of entering into partnership with another, whose principles refpecting the moral duties to be practised at elections differ from his own. Let every one remember that a clear explanation, at the outset of fuch a partnership, of his own opinions and refolutions is among the best methods of guarding himself against the danger of unwarrantable compliances; and also of refuting the charge of deferting the caufe of his affociate, if he should be called upon for concurrence and fupport which it would be criminal to give, or should honestly declare his objections