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

General Come'luetlces pursued. 71
j!n.pu_~ty and toleration of actions of the same
sort.
"Whatever is expedkilt_ i~ ~.ht." a!1~1hen _ itmust
beexpedlent ujion t~e whole,--at the_JQ~gnnm,
in -air rti~e1fe~---colIateral and remote, as well as in
those which are immediate and direct; as it is obvi.
ous, that, in computing con~equences,. cit makes no
difference i_n ~al w~ or at what distallce they.ensue.
To impress this doctnneupon the minds of young
readers, and to teach them to extend their views beyond
the immediate mischief of a crime, I shall here
subjoin a string of instances, in which the particular.
consequence is comparcltively insignificant; and
where the malignity of the crime, and the severity
with which human laws pursue it, i~ almost entirely
founded upon the general consequence.
The particular consequence of coining is, the loss
of a guinea, or of half a guinea, to the person who
receives the counterfeit money; the general consequence
(by which I mean the consequence that wouid
ensue, if the same practice were generally permitted)
is to abolish the use of money.
The particular consequence ~f forgery is, a damage
of twenty or thirty pounds to the nl~~ who accepts
the forged bill; the general consequence IS th~ stoppage
of paper currency.
The particular consequence of sheep-stealing, or
horse-stealing is, a loss to the owner, to the CJyt)ount
of the value of the sheep or horse stolen; the general
consequence is, that the land could not be occupied,
nor the market supplied with this kind of stpek.
The particu 1ar consequence of breaking into a
house empty of inhabitants is, the loss of a pair of
silver cand.lestick~, or a few spoons; the general con-)
sequenct: IS, that nobody could leave their house
empty.
The particular consequence of smuggling may be
a deduction from the national fund, too minute for
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