Political Quotes

Lysander Spooner: The principle, then, of the common law, was, that every freeman, or freeborn male Englishman, of adult age, &c;., was…

On the record
The principle, then, of the common law, was, that every freeman, or freeborn male Englishman, of adult age, &c;., was eligible to sit in juries, by virtue of his civil freedom, or his being a member of the state, or body politic.
Said by
Lysander Spooner

Editor's note · Context

Spooner discusses the eligibility of freemen to serve on juries under common law.

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