No Treason, Vol. VI.: The Constitution of No Authority

Name: No Treason, Vol. VI.: The Constitution of No Authority
Author: Lysander Spooner

The author contends that the Constitution possesses no inherent binding authority because it was a contract among past individuals who could not obligate their descendants. He examines the document's language, the legal nature of corporations, and historical limits on who actually consented, then analyzes whether subsequent practices—voting and tax payment—constitute valid consent. Treating consent as personal and voluntary, the essay concludes that neither original adoption nor ordinary civic acts can create an unconditional, perpetual obligation, and that claims of collective authority and attendant oaths therefore lack a valid contractual foundation.

By Lysander Spooner

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About the Author

Lysander Spooner

Lysander Spooner was an American legal theorist, abolitionist, and political activist known for his radical views on individual liberty and government authority. He is particularly recognized for his critique of the U.S. Constitution in works like "No Treason, Vol. VI.: The Constitution of No Authority," where he argues against the legitimacy of government power. Spooner also wrote extensively on issues of justice and law, as seen in his influential essays such as "An Essay on the Trial By Jury." His writings advocate for a society based on voluntary cooperation and challenge the moral foundations of slavery and state authority.