Lysander Spooner: “I repeat that both the national and State governments have constantly denied the natural right of individuals to make…”

What else than ignorance of the law is it that excuses persons under the years of discretion, and men of imbecile minds?

One answer is, that this power, which juries have of judging of the law, is not a power of absolute decision in all cases.

When two men meet one upon the highway, or in the wilderness, have they a right to dispose of his life, liberty, or property at their pleasure, simply because they are the more numerous party?

The answer is, that they are as reliable for that purpose as are the majority; they are as much presumed to have associated, and are as likely to have associated, for that object, as are the majority; and they have as much interest in such…