Few persons could reasonably feel compensated for the arbitrary destruction of their rights, by having the order for their destruction made known beforehand, in terms so distinct and unequivocal as to admit of neither mistake nor evasion.
Spooner argues that prior knowledge of unjust laws does not compensate for the loss of rights.
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That the legislation of the king was of no authority over a jury, is further proved by the oath taken by the kings at their coronation.
What else than ignorance of the law is it that excuses persons under the years of discretion, and men of imbecile minds?
Therefore all their laws, as they call them,--that is, all the laws of their own making,--have no color of authority or obligation.
It was simply, that they would neither convict the innocent, nor acquit the guilty.