date

June 1805 Evidence Introd
June 1805

Evidence

Introd

Ch. False Ends

' General

As the conclusion, after hearsay

Of the false or sinister ends by the pursuit of which the persons occupied in the construction of existing systems of procedure could not but have been governed enough has now been said. It may be of use to convey some general conception of the principal means: the modus operandi: I mean not the arrangements themselves of details of which the fabric is composed of these in passing ample exemplification, and that a pretty ample one, has already been given in the Table. I speak rather of the principal instruments: the psychological tools or by the help of which the fabric of injustice /work of darkness/ has been reared. Of the general rules principles or maxims or lines of policy pursued in the execution of the work.

1. The first was to keep the body of the people in a state of ignorance, as profound as possible in regard to the contents of the law substantive as well as adjective, of the rule of action to which they on all occasions were called upon to conform, and from which they never could swerve without from it: to keep the terms of it as unintelligible, and even the existence of it as little known as possible.

2. Another was, in relation to such parts as they could not prevent men from being more or less acquainted with, discouraging them as much as possible from all inquiry into the reasons of it and exercising the right of private judgment in relation to it: representing it as either not standing in need of reason for its justification, or as being founded in reason that were too sublime and mysterious to be intelligible.

3. To lose no opportunity of inculcating in mens' minds a [...?] of admiration and veneration[?] for the law and its professions: an admiration as abject and blind and undiscriminating as possible.

4. To do everything in their power towards keeping in a state of imbecility the faculty of reason in mens' minds.

5. To use their endeavour in like manner to corrupt the morals of mankind by weakening mens' regard for truth and justice by encouraging in them a disposition to regard mendacity and iniquity with indifference, complacency, and even with respect, under the notion of their being instruments, necessary instruments of law.
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