Lysander Spooner

If you do not, you are plainly bound to let us all know what you do mean, by doing "equal and exact justice to all men.

Or how do you know what is, and what is not, justice?

If there is no science of justice, how do you know that there is any such principle as justice?

For one, or another, of these reasons, therefore, each and every law, so-called, that forty-eight different congresses have presumed to make, within the last ninety-six years, have been utterly destitute of all legitimate authority.

The science of justice is as open to be learned by all other men, as by themselves; and it is, in general, so simple and easy to be learned, that there is no need of, and no place for, any man, or body of men, to teach it, declare it, or…

It is also sheer impudence, on their part, to assume that their commands are at all necessary to teach other men what is, and what is not, justice.

It is, therefore, a simple impertinence, and sheer impudence, on their part, to assume that their commands, as such, are of any authority whatever.

If they simply command justice, and forbid injustice, they add nothing to the natural authority of justice, or to men's obligation to obey it.

If their laws command anything but justice, or forbid anything but injustice, they are themselves unjust and criminal.

For the reasons now given, the simple maintenance of justice, or natural law, is plainly the one only purpose for which any coercive power--or anything bearing the name of government--has a right to exist.

And to say that any, or all, other men may rightfully compel him to obey any or all such other laws as they may see fit to make, is to say that he has no rights of his own, but is their subject, their property, and their slave.

This science of justice, or natural law, is the only science that tells us what are, and what are not, each man's natural, inherent, inalienable, individual rights, as against any and all other men.