Belton swept the assembly with his eyes and told at a glance that there was a secret, formidable combination, and he decided that it would be useless to oppose the plan.
The President's plan was adopted.

Belton alone voted no.
Belton then arose and said: "Being no longer able to follow where the Imperium leads, I hereby tender my resignation as a member." The members stood aghast at these words, for death alone removed a member from the ranks of the Imperium, and asking to resign, according to their law was asking to be shot.

Bernard and every member of the Congress crowded around Belton and begged him to reconsider, and not be so cruel to his comrades as to make them fire bullets into his noble heart.
Belton was obdurate.

According to the law of the Imperium, he was allowed thirty days in which to reconsider his request.

Ordinarily those under sentence of death were kept in close confinement, but not so with Belton.