Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-03-08
RELIGIOUS MISCELLANY.
A. From the Christian Review.
QUALIFICATIONS OF WITNESSES.
tConcluded.'

EIOu INC NnESudn neNleW
QUALIFICATION OF WITNESSES.
49,: ~ tConciuded1
Ought any man 10 BE- e.fcluded from bear
ing aDitaess, on Ire ground Of Religion
beiiaf2 ~-s, s~:.. =.
-6th.a TEis faIS0 Svidenee, in Ia op
erasioR, IS EpeqS6Iz AID oppressive I
creates differences and distinctions in so
cistys not recognized by the constitution
csnferring upon one class exclusive priv
ileges, aud, from another, taking away
inalienable rights. 1t allows nomina
Christians, who perhaps are real villains
to'corrie into court and give their testimo
ny to courts and juries, while it some.
times banishes, as utterly unworthy Of be-
lisf, men Of sound minds, of exemplary
lives, and of spotless reputation, because o.
abstract opinions; thus making the law a
shield Of privilege and protection to the
unworthy; while to the Virtuous and de-
serving, il becomes, like the Gorgon
shield Of Minerva, clothed with danger
and terror.
The hypocritical scoundrel may resort
To- the. law and obtain redress for all his
wrongs, but the frank and honest sceptic,
whose doubts, perhaps, are the results Of
partially completed and candid inquiry,
may be most deeply Injured in life, limb
or estate, in person or in family, and al
his applications TO the law for aid be vain
unless he can produce other testimony
than his own. His person may be as,
sailed, his relatives may be murdered, his
property seized, but he cannot be sworn,
he cannot be affirmed, he cannot testify
The trespasser escapes-the thief may
laugh his prosecutor. to scorn-and the
murderer may 60 tihhuag Such is the
awfully unjust tendency OF this rule OF
law. T. 60. r.. ''~-
Itisno reply to all this, for any one to
say, that such dreadful cases seldom oc.
eur. They 80 occur occasionally. and
their infrrquency is no palliatioH ofthe er
rors OF the law. Did such a case occur
but once in century, the principle IS the
same-its enormous injustice IS eternal
Cases may occur, and the rule IS provid
cd for their occurrence.
But were the answer thus made, i
would be untrue, for not a year passes BY
without the rejection of vital testimony, IL
conformity with this law OF hardship. l
is hut a few mouths since gross case o
fraud was dismissed unheard, and, o
course, unpunished, from court in Bos
ton, because the person defrauded did no
believe according 10 law2-while the wor
,hy Judge who thus administered the law
thu very next day admitted as q witness
an individual who, in the graphic Ian
guage Of counsellor employed in bot
cases, was "a thoroughbred Engllst
Old Bailey, Botany Bay villain" Tn
Judge was not in fault, but, surely, ther
WINS fault somewhere.
Let US, for q moment suppose that on
law should declare, that disbelievers
Christianity are fair plumber, lawful oil
iects Of abuse and extortion, undeserVIn
oflegal protection, and beyond the pr
lection Of the courtsf what would be ii
effect OF such a Legislative enactment
Would not the public voice be loud ar
long in denouncing its injustice, and Il
folly and wickedness offs makers2 Mo
assuredly. The whole body polite wou
sin an instant ferment, and the excit
menT would end only in the laws repea
Yet precisely similaTto this is the pre-
cnt rule of evidence. II holds up to Il
villain. the promise Of IMMUNITY for all II
injustice which he may practice upon III
believers Il says to the rogue, you ma
safely cheat the infidel merchant, or re
the infidel traveller; to the ruffian, yc
may cheat and main, and stab your ri
christian neighbor, or insult his wife,
dishonor his family, or crafty upon hi
or them all your malignant passions al
BRUTAL appstites--provided you are caref
that no other witness be present--for W
shall never be convicted upon his testim
nv: YOU. to be sure, are scoundrel, b
Won notes.-the lawful creed, and he, it
allowed, Is an h6nestman and a good c
izsn bat then his opinions are not exact
correct and ne must suffer accordingly
Thusadoes Il arm one'elass against anoa
erand rob than other Of all chanceot
drers.3 Thus does il offer a bounty up
r,;,y,.J and provide victims for raPae'
sndcruelty. Ancient Intolerance excl
~ an Dissenters from the hopes OF pa
aaiseT Modern Ckrisianity excludes '
believers from the pale Of society ana
prOtection Of law.
M. nhas already been SAID that
some Soorts. an individual offered g
witness, and objeetedto on the ground
Ms religion. may be examined upon q
pbint. add forced, to state the nature Of
A0effiues. aF.@ IT,