Lysander Spooner: “It was, therefore, in reality, a declaration of entire absolutism on the part of the government.”

They do not attempt to deceive us, or mislead us, or reconcile us to their doings, by any such pretences, impostures, or insults as these.

For all these reasons, they are not only modest and sensible, but really frank, honest, and honorable villains, contrasted with these courts of injustice, and the lawmakers by whom these courts are established.

In short, they acknowledge themselves hostes humani generis: enemies of the human race.

They neither ask, nor expect, any mercy, if they should ever fall into the hands of honest men.