Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

wealths of Greece and Rome, and was often the first step to advancement.

Roman

The punishment appointed for false teftimony has been death: but the moft natural and equitable punishment, (which alfo appears to have been inflicted in fome + nations, and in the government at a certain period) is that Deut.xix. which the law of Mofes prefcribés. If a falfe witnefs rife up against any man, to teftify against him that which is wrong; then both the men, between whom the controverfy is, fhall ftand before the Lord, before the priefts, and the judges which shall be in those days;

16.

Ut qui falfum teftimonium dixiffet, e faxo Tarpeio dejiceretur. XII. Tab.

In France, I fuppofe in fome cafes only, this crime is faid to be now capital. Montef. Spir. of Laws. Book 29. Chap. 11.

+ Diod. Sic. Lib. 1.- Oi deudas Tiväv xaînγυρήσαντες ἔφειλον τῦτο παθεῖν, ὃ τοῖς συκοφαντηθεί σιν ἐτέτακλο.

+ Cum calumniantes ad vindictam pofcat fimi litudo fupplicii. C. 9. 2. 17.

days; and the judges fhall make diligent inquifition, and behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath teftified falfly against his brother; then fhall ye do unto him as he had thought to have done unto his brother. So Shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And thofe which remain fhall hear, and fear, and fhall henceforth commit no more any fuch evil among you. And thine eye fhall not pity, but life hall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

And were it not a matter of extreme difficulty to pronounce concerning the utility of laws, without the experience of them; one would think, that, as the feverest punishment of wilful falfe teftimony would be no more than juft; fo it would be the most likely to advance the cause of truth and justice, and the happiness of every nation in the world.

.

For the crime furely is of the deepeft dye; as wicked and as hurtful as can

[blocks in formation]

well be committed. Indeed it is not easy to imagine a greater degree of depravity, than goes to the commiffion of this offence; or a complication of more grievous fins, than are comprehended in it.

For, to pass by the perjury, which belongs to this offence but by accident, and has been already mentioned; first, it is murder, or robbery, (as the cafe may happen to be;) and that more grievous, than if done by open violence, as loading the innocent with difgrace and infamy.

Secondly, It is a violation of truth. And this furely is no fmall part of every crime into which it enters. An act of injuftice or cruelty, when it is joined with treachery, or brought about by falsehood and fraud, is doubly detestable, and raises our indignation to the highest pitch.

Thirdly,

tal parts.

Thirdly, Falfe teftimony is peculiarly injurious to fociety. The immediate object of the crime, is far from being the only fufferer: the state itself is hurt; and that not merely by the lofs of a fingle member, if that be the consequence; but it receives, as it were, a wound in it's viFor the adminiftration of publick juftice, is the very life of civil fociety: it's Being depends upon it: if this be destroyed, we fall back that moment into a state of nature. Now false testimony, in every inftance, interrupts this administration of justice; and would ftop it entirely, were it universally prevalent. A judge does not see every thing with his own eyes; he can only execute the laws, by giving credit to the witneffes: truth, and civil fociety muft: expire together.

Solemn false testimony is an offence, that must always be deliberate and premeditated.

meditated. It is not the effect of any fudden transport or gust of passion, but fhews a temper refolutely corrupt, and hardened in wickedness.

Lastly, for what need to pursue this hateful offence through all it's aggravations? it requires a degree of impudence, and meanness, a ftrength of forehead, and baseness of heart, that can only belong to the very worst, the vilest, and moft abandoned character: fo that if fome other crimes were as pernicious as this, yet hardly could any be so odious. A bold ufurper, a bloody tyrant, is advanced, no doubt, to a high pitch of wickedness: yet even he is able to inspire us with fome degree of reverence for his authority or accomplishments, and force us to mix refpect with our abhorrence of him. But his fpies and his fycophants, the tools with which he does his work, and who are fo ready ever

to

« AnteriorContinuar »