This doctrine of Mansfield is the doctrine of all who deny the right of juries to judge of the law, although all may not choose to express it in so blunt and unambiguous terms.
Lysander Spooner: “This doctrine of Mansfield is the doctrine of all who deny the right of juries to judge of the law, although all may not…”
Editor's note · Context
He identifies the doctrine denying juries the right to judge the law as a common belief among those in power.
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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.
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.
They neither ask, nor expect, any mercy, if they should ever fall into the hands of honest men.
They do not tell us that all liberty and order would be destroyed, that society itself would go to pieces, and man go back to barbarism, if it were not for the care, and supervision, and protection, they lavish upon us.