Lysander Spooner

It, nevertheless, under all these disadvantages, impressed itself upon the understandings, and imbedded itself in the hearts, of the people, so as no other system of civil liberty has ever done.

But this view of the two systems compares only the injustice done, and the justice omitted to be done, in the individual cases adjudged, without looking beyond them.

You know that all, or very nearly all, the legislation of congress is devoted to these various schemes of robbery; and that little, or no, legislation goes through, except by means of such bargains as these lawmakers may enter into with…

What gang of robbers, quarrelling over the division of their plunder, could exhibit a more shameful picture than you thus acknowledge to be shown by the government of the United States?

Or else they are the senseless talk of a mere political parrot, who repeats words he has been taught to utter, without knowing their meaning.

There is nothing definite, nothing real, nothing tangible, nothing honest, about them.

Or that they would do it, not only without jar or friction, but as their highest duty and pleasure, if their powers were not manacled by the absurd and villainous laws you propose to execute upon them?

And do you think they will never get their eyes open to see what blockheads, or impostors, you and your lawmakers are?

Do they not now--at least so far as you will permit them to do it--grow their own food, build their own houses, make their own clothing, print their own books?

Do they not make all the scientific discoveries and mechanical inventions, by which all wealth is created?

Every citizen owes the country a vigilant watch and close scrutiny of its public servants, and a fair and reasonable estimate of their fidelity and usefulness.

If the authority be vested in the government, the governmnt is absolute, and the people have no liberties except such as the government sees fit to indulge them with.