He should be mindful of his duty only to God and to himself; be liberal
of counsel to persons of high and low degree, and easy of access to
the citizens and common people; so that, as the guardian of the public
safety, exercising the government by universal consent, he may not, for
personal motives, abuse the privileges of his judicial office.
=VI. What Manner of Speech the Lawmaker Should Use.=
He should be energetic and clear of speech; certain in opinion; ready
in weighing evidence; so that whatever proceeds from the source of the
law may at once impress all hearers that it is characterized by neither
doubt nor perplexity.
=VII. How the Lawmaker Should Act in Rendering Judgment.=
The Judge should be quick of perception; firm of purpose; clear in
judgment; lenient in the infliction of penalties; assiduous in the
practice of mercy; expeditious in the vindication of the innocent;
clement in his treatment of criminals; careful of the rights of the
stranger; gentle toward his countrymen. He should be no respecter of
persons, and should avoid all appearance of partiality.
=VIII. How the Lawmaker Should Comport Himself in Private and Public
Affairs.=
All public matters he should approach with patriotism and reverence;
those concerning private individuals and domestic controversies he
should determine according to his authority and power; so that the
community may look up to him as a father, and the lower orders of the
people may regard him as a master and a lord.
He should be assiduous in the performance of his duties so that he may
be feared by the commonalty to such a degree that none shall hesitate
to obey him; and be so just that all would willingly sacrifice their
lives in his service, from their attachment to his person and to his
office.
=IX. What Instruction it is Fitting that the Lawmaker Should Give.=
Then, also, he should bear in mind that the glory and the majesty of
the people consist in the proper interpretation of the laws, and in the
manner of their administration. For, as the entire safety of the public
depends upon the preservation of the law, he should attempt to amend
the statutes of the country rather than the manners of the populace;
and remember that there are some who, in controversies, apply the laws
according to their will, and in pursuance of private advantage, to such
an extent that what should be law to the public is to them private
dishonor; so that, by perversion of the law, acts which are illegal
are often perpetrated, which should obviously be abolished through the
power of the law itself.
TITLE II. THE LAW.
=I.= _What the Lawmaker Should Observe in Framing the Laws._
=II.= _What the Law Is._
=III.= _What the Law Does._
=IV.= _What the Law Should Be._
=V.= _Why the Law is Made._
=VI.= _How the Law Should Triumph over Enemies._
=I. What the Lawmaker Should Observe in Framing the Laws.=
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