Constitutions are utterly worthless to restrain the tyranny of governments, unless it be understood that the people will, by force, compel the government to keep within the constitutional limits.
Lysander Spooner: “Constitutions are utterly worthless to restrain the tyranny of governments, unless it be understood that the people…”
Editor's note · Context
Spooner argues that constitutions are ineffective against tyranny unless the people are willing to enforce them.
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In nearly or quite all the States of the United States the juries are illegal, for one or the other of the same reasons that make the juries in England illegal.
They cannot claim or expect that the whole people shall practise the folly of taking on trust their pretended superior knowledge, and of committing blindly into their hands all their own interests, liberties, and rights, to be disposed of…
Any restriction upon the exercise of this right is a restriction upon his rightful power of providing for, and accomplishing, his own well-being.
Why should they not have such an administration of justice as they desire, and can understand?