Practically speaking, the sum of their decisions, all and singular, has been, that there are no limits to the power of the government, and that the people have no rights except what the government pleases to allow to them.
Spooner asserts that judicial decisions have consistently denied the people their rights, granting unlimited power to the government.
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They neither ask, nor expect, any mercy, if they should ever fall into the hands of honest men.
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.
They do not tell us that they have established infallible supreme courts, to whom they refer all questions as to the legality of their acts, and that they do nothing that is not sanctioned by these courts.
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.