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

"No Treason, Vol. VI.: The Constitution of No Authority" by Lysander Spooner is a philosophical essay written in the late 19th century. The work critically examines the authority of the United States Constitution, arguing that it lacks legitimacy as a binding contract on future generations. Spooner contends that the Constitution was not agreed upon by the people it ostensibly governs, and therefore cannot justly impose obligations on individuals who were neither consulted nor have consented to its terms. At the start of this treatise, Spooner makes a compelling case against the notion that the Constitution carries any inherent authority. He argues that the founding document was essentially a pact among the people living at the time of its creation, incapable of binding those who came after. The opening chapters delve into the implications of consent, voting, and taxation, asserting that these mechanisms do not constitute genuine agreement or support for the government's actions as delineated in the Constitution. Spooner positions the Constitution as a relic, anchoring his argument in legal principles and calling out the fallacy of a government system that operates under the guise of consent while being maintained through coercion and secrecy.