If a judge have power to punish for contempt, and to determine for himself what is a contempt, the whole administration of justice (or injustice, if he choose to make it so) is in his hands.
This highlights the dangers of unchecked judicial power, where a judge can define contempt and control justice.
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But there is no reason why a judge should have the power of punishing, for contempt, any more than for any other offence.
The will, or the pretended will, of the majority, is the last lurking place of tyranny at the present day.
And whenever any number of men, calling themselves a government, do anything to another man, or to his property, which they had no right to do as individuals they thereby declare themselves trespassers, robbers, or murderers, according to…
A man has a natural right to enforce his own rights and redress his own wrongs.