Political Quotes

Lysander Spooner: “But the doctrine of Mansfield is, that the body of the people, from whom jurors are taken, are responsible to a law…”

On the record
But the doctrine of Mansfield is, that the body of the people, from whom jurors are taken, are responsible to a law, which it is agreed they cannot understand.
Said by
Lysander Spooner

Editor's note · Context

Spooner critiques the doctrine that holds people accountable to laws they cannot understand.

Share

More from Lysander Spooner

When they have once taken our money, they have the decency to get out of our sight as soon as possible; they do not persist in following us, and robbing us, again and again, so long as we produce anything that they can take from us.

gutenberg.org

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.

gutenberg.org

They acknowledge it to be our unquestioned right and duty to kill them, if we can; that they expect nothing else, than that we will kill them, if we can; and that we are only fools and cowards, if we do not kill them, by any and every…

gutenberg.org

They do not carry their heads high, above all other men, and demand our reverence and admiration, as statesmen, patriots, and benefactors.

gutenberg.org