Chap. IV.]

OATHS.

189

be the men and women of the next generation. Query. Doesa gentleman when he has directed his servant to “ deny him ” toa visiter, feel, during the next hour, quite as much respect forhimself as he did during the hour previous ? Is he perfectlysatisfied, that he has set up a standard of truth safe for his childrenand servants ?

CHAPTER IV.

OATHS.

The observance of truth is the highest of the personal vir-tues, — its violation is always a gross personal degradation, —not only so, falsehood is a heinous offence against manners, mor-als, and religion. Its tendency too, as seen in its effects, isalways injurious ; or, if its effects are not always actually so , stillthe liar is entitled to no credit by reason of this, — his conductis not palliated, much less justified, by this circumstance. Itstendency may be counteracted, but this does not change itsnature. This is undeniably and unchangeably evil.

This is true of the affairs of ordinary life ; but in certainspecial cases, the chief of which are trials in our courts of justice,the general and frequent violation of truth would be attendedwith universal and overwhelming calamities, inasmuch as thelife, character, and estate of every man would be no longersecure. There are, moreover, certain situations, and especial-ly public offices, usually called, by reason of their excellence,“ offices of honor , trust , and profit ,” which require, for the per-formance of their duties, special uprightness and integrity of char-acter, inasmuch as their suitable discharge presupposes all themoral qualities which constitute trust-worthiness ; and the personsinvested with these offices must, from the nature of the case,be in a great measure the judges of their own duties. Thevirtue of the best of men is imperfect, —■ hence, for the securityof the public, all possible means have been devised for attainingtruth in our tribunals of justice, and for strengthening and con-