Both these opinions are distinct declarations of the power of congress to alter men's contracts, after they are made, by simply retaining the name, while altering the thing, that is agreed to be paid.
Spooner critiques the power of Congress to alter contracts, emphasizing the implications for individual rights.
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In short, they acknowledge themselves hostes humani generis: enemies of the human race.
They do not tell us that we are the freest and happiest people on earth, inasmuch as each of our male adults is allowed one voice in ten millions in the choice of the men, who are to rob, enslave, and murder us.
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.
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…