Sentence:  As to the depriving the defendant of waging his <WSD>law</WSD>, it was thought, the practice merited discouragement, as a temptation to perjury. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An oath sworn before a court, especially disclaiming a debt. (wager of law)", "(wage one's law)", "(perform one's law)", "(lose one's law)".