It was, in principle, an assertion of a right, on the part of the government, to select the individuals who were to determine the authority of its own laws, and the extent of its own powers.
Spooner critiques the government's claim to select jurors, which he sees as a violation of individual rights.
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Why should they not have such an administration of justice as they desire, and can understand?
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.
But there is no reason why a judge should have the power of punishing, for contempt, any more than for any other offence.
All those who are not forbidden by law may be judges (jurors).