PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Ooth if Alltgill1W.
~quaint~--d ; but 1riIJ in DO wise josbfy his ~.
ment of the tr.1th~ unless it could be ~e" D, t~t lJ!e
law which imfORS die catb~
indulgence to .pch morit'es.
intended to alloW tbU
The exception oil
Yilsich.~ speaking B also wi&bdrawn by a com-
L~ b · - th· • ~
)nct UL~v.-~ t e magJSllale ZDd e WIllies, wneo
a ~complice is admitted to giye eride&ce ~!
~he oartners of his crime.
a
Tenderness to the prisoner1: aitbough a specious
::poloJry for cona21mmt l
i .. no just excuse; for, if
i his plC2 be thought wtlicient, it takes the adminis­
!raion of penal ju..ctice out of the hands of judges
IDe jums, and :nakes it de~.d upen the teenper of
nrosecutors and witnesses •
•
Questions may be asked wbich are irreIatiTe m the
:aU3e, which affect the "iiJaess b;DK;E-1f~ or SOllIe third
person; in which, and in all eases, where the wi'DeIS
Jocb!s of the pt'rtineucy aJld propriety o( the ques­
b~ _
!ion~ be !>ught to ref~ dnubts to the amrt.
'iDe answer of tile ccurt, in reb.xatioa of the oa.h ,
:s authority enough to the witness: f3J' the bw
-shieh im~ the oath may remit what it will of !be
:,b!igatiOll; (and it belongs to the coon to declare
~hat the Dlind of the law is.}(NeYertheless, it cannot
~ said ur~versaliy, thai the answer of the court
i; condu..qye upon the conscience of the witness; for
hi~ ohEgation depends opon what he apprehended,
Cit the tim.:: of taking the oath, to be the design of the
bw in imposiag it: and no after reqaisilion or explanation
hy the !:ourt can cac-ry the obligation beyond
:hat_)
CHAPTER X\TIIL
0.-\ TH OF ALLEGIt'-.NCE.
r
/ "I DO sincerely promise, and swear, :hat I will
he faithful and bear true ollegiunr.e to his Majesty
King GEORGE.") Formerly the oath of allegiance ran
, T
2