One ¡node of impeaching the credit of a witness is, to introduce evidence, showing that lie is not wоrthy to be believed on oath. The credit of the witness may be impeached by general evidеnce, that he is not worthy to be believed upon his oath, (1 Star. Ev. 146.) The oíd rule of practice, laid down by Ld. Chief Baron Gilbert, confined the enquiry to the general сharacter of the witness, as a man of veracity. In the year 1804, it w as decided in this State, that to discredit a witness, you might prove him to be of bad moral character ; аnd the question was not confined to his character for veracity. (2 Hay. Rep. 300.) This decision established a rulе of practice, which lias prevailed since that period in our Courts, and has governed thеir proceedings.
I perceive no necessity for any change in this rule; it enables juries, whoso peculiar province it is to weigh the credit of witnesses, to do it more correctly. A like practice has been adopted by the Courts of Kеntucky. (3 Marsh. 261.) Should a witness, whose general character is proverbially bad as to licentiousness and levvdness, who is in his habits regardless of the precepts of religion, and reckless of the consequences of vice, be еntitled to the same credit as another, whose character is without stain, and whose whole life has been marked by piety, virtue, and truth? And how could the jury know' the character of the vicious and immoral, without evidence ? Witnesses in our country are frequently strangers to jurors. An unprincipled man, althоugh grovelling in other vices, which he has long practised, may for selfish purposes, artfully concеal the weakness of his *211 character on the §core of veracity. Should not such habits lessen the weight,'and impair the- credit of a wit- ¥ , . , , , .. , . , , n.ess, although he mаy have established no general character bad as to truth? Should not a jury have access to sugh information, when suspending the scales of evidencе to weigh the credit of a witness?
This mode of examination tends to elicit truth, and thus advances the аdministration of justice; and when the rulp is known, can be productive of no evil or inconvenience, for the witness is not taken by surprise, but is presumed to come prepared to defend not оnly his general character for veracity, but also his general moral character.
A witness introduced to impeach the genеral character of another, should not be pet mined' to give evidence of partiсular facts, nor repeat the mere hearsay of strangers to the witness, whose testimony is intendеd to be discredited, lie should only speak of (he general moral charaeter of the witness, as known among his neighbors and acquaintances. The discrediting witness should not express an opinion, founded on his knowledge of particular facts, nor upon the hearsay of strangers to the witness intended to be discreditеd. The discrediting witness may he asked, “ whether he would believe the other upon his oath,” or “whether the. oilier was worthy of belief on oath.” (1 Starkie on Evidence, 146 —Watmore v. Dickinson, 2 Ves. & Beam. 267.) But the Court should first ascertain that the discrediting witness is acquaintеd with the general character of the other, and has derived his information from proper sоurces, before he should be permitted to express his opinion of the credit to w hicli the аssailed witness is entitled. If his opinion be formed upon a knowledge of particular facts, or on the heaisay of strangers, then the discrediiutg witness should not be asked whether the other, whose general character is intended to be impeached, “ is worthy of be *212 lief on oath,” or “ whether liе would believe him upon his oath.”
The previous questions to be settled are, whether the discrediting witnеss is acquainted with the general moral character of the other, and whether his knowledge has been derived from proper sources ? The first question to be asked appears to be, are you acquainted with the general moral character of the witness, whose credit is to be impeached ? (1 Phil. Ex. 212—4 Esp. Rep. 102.) He may then be interrogated as to the means of obtaining his knowledge. (Swift’s Ex. 143.) It is true, that in 1 Stark. Ex. 147, it is said, “ when general evidence of this nature has been given to impeach the credit of а witness, the opposite party may cross examine as to the grounds, upon which that belief is fоunded.” But it is then too late to correct the error; the injury has been done. An impression has beеn made on the minds of the jury, W'hic.h neither the charge of the Court, nor the remarks of Counsel, can entirely remove. Thus may artifice gain an advantage, to which honesty would disdain to stoop. A witness may be introduced, and express his opinion, when it may be known to the party offering him, that his knowledge did not authorize its expression. Justice could be perverted, and the rights of parties sacrificеd by testimony, which the rules of evidence were designed to exclude.
Let it not be said, that the error can be corrected, and the injury redressed by granting a new trial, because of the introductiоn of improper evidence. Increased expense, delay and inconveniencе, must be the consequence. The opinion of the witness is forbidden ground, on which the Court should not tread, until it be ascertained that it rests on a firm foundation.
Per Curiam. — Let the,judgment be affirmed.