On the record
He may acquit or pardon, notwithstanding their sentence or judgment; but he cannot punish, except according to their judgment.
Said by
Lysander Spooner
Source
gutenberg.orgLysander Spooner: “He may acquit or pardon, notwithstanding their sentence or judgment; but he cannot punish, except according to their…”
Editor's note · Context
This statement reiterates that a king may acquit or pardon but cannot punish beyond the jury's judgment.
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More from Lysander Spooner
In short, they acknowledge themselves hostes humani generis: enemies of the human race.
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.
On the contrary, they acknowledge themselves robbers, murderers, and villains, pure and simple.
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.