Lysander spooner s trenchent essay titled no treason. The constitution of no authority by lysander spooner. It is the constitution favouring individual power instead of joint authority. The constitution of no authority read by marc stevens. Welcome to entreprenuer, scholar, radical abolitionist, principled believer in natural law and liberty lysander spooner is one of the most provocative, eclectic and prolific american legal theorists of the 19th century. He is often cited by rightwing american libertarians as a major influence although his membership in the first international might suggest that his views on the free market, are more ambiguous than they appear on the surface. This acclaimed book by lysander spooner is available at in several formats for your ereader. No treason is a composition of three essays, all written in 1867. Buy a cheap copy of the lysander spooner reader lfb book by lysander spooner. He was an outspoken abolitionist, and wrote pamphlets attacking slavery which were read and appreciated by frederick douglass. Described by murray rothbar, isbn 9781445507774 buy the no treason volume 1 ebook. Lysander spooner is one of the preeminent figures in american anarchism. He practiced law in violation of state law and then successfully petitioned to change the law.
Lysander spooner grew up on his fathers farm, worked as a school teacher, tutor, and bank teller, then learned the law while working in lawyers offices. Lysander spooner 18081887 was a legal theorist, abolitionist, and radical individualist who started his own mail company in order to challenge the monopoly held by the us government. Taking it for granted that it has now been shown that no rule of civil conduct, that is inconsistent with the natural rights of men, can be rightfully established by government, or consequently be made obligatory as law, either upon the people, or upon judicial tribunalslet us now proceed to test the legality of slavery by those written constitutions of. Fourmilab home page editor of this electronic edition. He is too much of a gentleman to be guilty of such impostures, and insults, and villainies as these. Lysander spooner was an american individualist anarchist, political philosopher, deist, unitarian abolitionist, supporter of the labor movement, legal theorist, and entrepreneur of the nineteenth century. Constitution could have no inherent, lasting authority, except as a contract between men, and that it only claims to be one between the people existing when it was written. Inasmuch as the constitution was never signed, nor agreed to, by anybody, as a contract, and therefore never bound anybody, and is now binding upon nobody. Er war ein wichtiger vertreter des amerikanischen individualistischen anarchismus des 19. When the united states post office claimed a monopoly on firstclass mail, spooner opened a competing agency that forced the post office to lower its rates. Notwithstanding all the proclamations we have made to mankind, within the last ninety years, that our government rested on consent, and that that wasthe only rightful basis on which any government could rest, the late war has practically demonstrated that our government rests upon force as much so 88 any gov. In contrast, i have met very few libertarians who are familiar with the unconstitutionality of slavery.
Spooner memorial resolutions, offered by benjamin tucker at the lysander spooner memorial services held in wells memorial hall, boston, on sunday, may 29, 1887. Jan 08, 2011 in doing this, they no more commit the crime of treasonwhich necessarily implies treachery, deceit, breach of faiththan a man commits treason when he chooses to leave a church, or any other voluntary association, with which he has been connected. The lysander spooner reader lfb book by lysander spooner. A vindication of moral liberty lysander spooner jan 27, 2011 45 pp. Our nestor benjamin tucker natural law vices are not crimes no treason introductory no treason no. And it does not so much as even purport to be a contract between persons now existing. The word subversive means that one is advocating the overthrow of a legally constituted government.
Originally published in 1870, this essay by the american anarchist and political philosopher lysander spooner is here reproduced. Jan 21, 2015 tom discusses lysander spooner s argument that the constitution in fact binds no one, having been agreed to by no living person. May 18, 2011 free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The ideas of lysander spooner libertarian or libertarian. Spooner who was a learned jurist, abolitionist, business man, and gadfly to the powers that be before and after this and other essays were written. Lysander spooner january 19, 1808 may 14, 1887 was an american political philosopher, essayist, pamphlet writer, unitarian, abolitionist, individualist anarchist, legal theorist, a member of the socialist first international and entrepreneur of the 19th century.
Enjoy the best lysander spooner quotes at brainyquote. No treason, part 2 this episode features lysander spooners infamous argument that the constitution of the united states, and thus the social contract, has no legal authority and, properly construed, commands no allegiance from sovereign individuals. The first and second numbers of this series were published in 1867. And there is no difference, in principle but only in degree between political and chattel slavery. No treason volume 1 isbn 9781445507774 pdf epub lysander. The author has engrossingly presented his view that the question of treason is distinct from that of slavery. Lysander spooner no treason introductory the question of treason is distinct from that of slavery. Lysander spooner was one of the great individualists of his era. Notwithstanding all the proclamations we have made to mankind, within the last ninety years, that our government rests on consent, and that that was the rightful basis on which any government could rest, the late war has practically demonstrated that our government rests upon force as much so as any government that ever existed. There is not, in the constitution, a syllable that implies that persons, born within the territorial limits of the united states, have allegiance imposed upon them on account of their birth in the country, or that they will be judged by any different rule, on the subject of treason, than persons of foreign birth.
Notwithstanding all the proclamations we have made to mankind, within the last ninety years, that our government rests on consent, and that that was the rightful basis on which any government could rest, the late war has practically demonstrated that our government. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The constitution of no authority mp3 embed for hosted blogs and item tags. I once saw lysander spooners no treason described as the most subversive thing ever written in the united states. The unconstitutionality of slavery online library of liberty. The former, no less than the latter, denies a mans ownership of himself and the products of his labor. Entered according to act of congress, in the year 1867.
In the clerks 01llce of the district court of the united states. See all books authored by lysander spooner, including no treason. Vi the constitution of no authority by lysander spooner. Did lysander spooner write about and disprove the legitimacy of those calling themselves the state. Murray rothbard considered no treason to be the greatest case for anarchist political philosophy every written. Lysander spooner 19 january 1808 14 may 1887 was an american political philosopher, essayist, pamphlet writer, abolitionist, legal theorist and entrepreneur of the nineteenth century. The constitution of no authority is reason to think about constitutional rights, authority, the legal system vs. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a. If the jury have no right to judge of the justice of a law of the government, they plainly can do nothing to protect the people against the oppress. Lysander spooner books list of books by author lysander spooner.
Website dedicated to the individualist anarchist lysander spooner. It purports, at most, to be only a contract between persons living eighty years ago. For reasons not necessary to be explained, the sixth is now published in advance of the third, fourth, and fifth. Lysander spooner 18081887 is the american individualist anarchist and legal theorist known mainly for setting up a commercial post office in competition with the government and thereby being shut down. Spooner was one of the most fascinating figures in american history and a champion of individualism. See free minds books, run by james peron, a longtime libertarian activist. Lysander spooner was a very practical man and when necessary used his abilities and understanding of law. Showing that all legislation whatsoever is an absurdity, a usurpation, and a crime. This audio is of no treason 6 1870, the third and last installment in spooners series numbers 35 were never published. Lysander spooner no treason the constitution of no. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg.
Whoever thought this obviously missed the point that spooner was trying to make when he wrote no treason. Somewhere, sometime a person will open this book not knowing what to expect, but curious about a man with the curious name of lysander spooner. Inproportiontoherwealthandpopulation,thenorthhasprobablyexpendedmoremoneyand bloodtomaintainherpoweroveranunwillingpeople,thananyothergovernmenteverdid. Derrick broze discusses lawyer, abolitionist, and author lysander spooner. Having often heard numerous references to lysander spooner on the net but having never read him it was with considerable interest that i read tim starrs posting of spooners essay no treason, curiously labeled as part i, ii, and iv no part iii. This is a zine formatted version of the individualist anarchist lysander spooners essay no treason. Lysander spooner 18081887 was a lawyer, writer, entrepreneur, and libertarian activist. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please email me at. Enteredaccording to act of congress, in the year 1867. I have known many libertarians who admire spooner and have read his betterknown tracts, such as no treason 1867, an essay on the trial by jury 1852, and other items that i reprinted in my 1992 anthology, the lysander spooner reader. The constitution of no authority, and works of lysander spooner, and more on. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at.
Knowles abstract on january 1, 1808, legislation made it illegal to import slaves into the united states. Dec 03, 2009 having often heard numerous references to lysander spooner on the net but having never read him it was with considerable interest that i read tim starrs posting of spooners essay no treason, curiously labeled as part i, ii, and iv no part iii. Spooner, in the clerks officeof the district court of the united states, for the district. The question of treason is distinct from that of slavery. No treason vi the constitution of no authority by lysander spooner. Publication date 18700101 usage public domain mark 1. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Quotations by lysander spooner, american philosopher, born january 19, 1808. Lysander spooners trenchent essay titled no treason. Lysander spooner no treason, your constitution of no authority lysander spooner no treason, your constitution of no authority. A treatise on natural law, natural justice, natural rights, natural liberty, and natural society. I envy that reader, for that was me nearly twentyfive years ago when i encountered no treason. The question of treason is distinct from that of slavery, and it is the same that it would have been if free states, instead of slave states, had seceded. He was a strong advocate of the labor movement and severely antiauthoritarian and individualist in his political views.
For reasons not necessary to be explained, the sixth is now published in advance ot the third, tourth and mh. Spooner issued three pamphlets carrying the title of no treason, numbered 1, ii, and vi. Download the complete audio book 20 mp3 files in one zip file. Lysander spooner january 19, 1808 may 14, 1887 was an american political philosopher, essayist, pamphlet writer, unitarian, abolitionist, individualist anarchist, legal theorist, a member of the socialist first international and entrepreneur of the 19th century spooner was a strong advocate of the labor movement and antiauthoritarian and individualist anarchist in his political views. Lysander spooner books list of books by author lysander.
Lysander spooner 18081887 was a massachusetts lawyer noted for his vigorous and brilliant opposition to the encroachment of the state. An mp3 audio file of this article, narrated by brad oconnell, is available for download. This is a zine formatted version of the individualist anarchist lysander spooner s essay no treason. Spooner, a lawyer, starts no authority by examining its potential validity as a binding contract, pointing out that the u. Tom discusses lysander spooners argument that the constitution in fact binds no one, having been agreed to by no living person. Rothbard considered no treason 18671870 by lysander spooner the greatest case for anarchist political philosophy ever written. The greatest case for anarchist political philosophy ever written. Entered according to act of congress, in the year 1867, br lysander spooner, in the clerks officeof the district court of the united states, for the district of massachusetts. Media in category lysander spooner the following 8 files are in this category, out of 8 total. No treason the constitution of no authority lewrockwell.
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