# No Treason — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for No Treason by Lysander Spooner.

- [Introductory](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/introductory.md): The chapter distinguishes the question of treason from that of slavery, arguing that the North's war principle—that men may be compelled to support a government they do not want—is self-evidently false and fatal to polit
- [No Treason](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/no-treason.md): The chapter argues that the concept of treason, as applied to the Southern states, is invalid because the Constitution was a voluntary compact among individuals, not states, and that the federal government's actions agai
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter argues that the U.S. Constitution was a voluntary compact among individuals, not states, and that with the death of the original signers, the contract died. It contends that the North's war against the South 
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter argues that the American Civil War revealed the U.S. government's true foundation on force rather than consent, despite its professed principles. It condemns the North for waging war to compel submission, spe
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ii.md): The chapter argues that majority rule does not legitimize government, as it reduces governance to a contest for mastery and slavery. It asserts that consent of the strongest or most numerous party is no justification for
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/iii.md): The chapter questions the legitimacy of a nation's existence and its authority over individuals, arguing that nations and governments can only rightfully exist by the consent of the governed, not by force or majority rul
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/iv.md): The chapter argues that a government resting on consent requires the separate, individual consent of every person who contributes to its support, and that the American Revolution established this principle as a universal
- [II: The Constitution](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ii-the-constitution.md): This chapter argues that true treason requires a prior voluntary pledge of allegiance, and that the Southern states, having openly declared secession and given fair warning, were not traitors in fact under the Constituti
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter argues that the U.S. Constitution was a voluntary contract among individuals, binding only those who actually consented. It contends that the original adoption was a farce, excluding women, children, blacks, 
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ii.md): This chapter argues that the Constitutional definition of treason requires actual treachery and breach of faith, not mere opposition or warfare. It contends that the Southern states, having given fair warning and not abu
- [Chapter III: Treason, Allegiance, and the Constitution](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/iii.md): This chapter examines the constitutional definition of treason, arguing that true treason requires a breach of faith or voluntary contract, not mere birth within U.S. territory. It critiques Congress's attempt to expand 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/iv.md): The chapter argues that treason can only be committed by an individual who has voluntarily pledged faith to the government, and that no one can presume such a pledge without the individual's consent.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/v.md): The chapter argues that if the Constitution defines treason literally, the Southern people have not committed it; but if it defines treason as autocratic regimes do, then the U.S. government is no better than a tyranny a
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/vi.md): This chapter argues that the essential characteristic of a free government is its reliance on voluntary support, and that any government compelling support against will is tyrannical, regardless of other merits.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/vii.md): The chapter argues that there is no middle ground on the principle that taxation without consent is robbery, asserting that if it is not robbery, then any group may form a government and plunder others at will; conversel
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/viii.md): The chapter argues that the principles of allegiance and treason apply equally to state and national governments, criticizing both the Southern view of involuntary allegiance to the state and the Northern view of involun
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ix.md): The chapter argues that treason law must be limited for political liberty to exist, which always protects the weaker party. It contends that under prevailing government theory, the ballot is equivalent to a bullet, as bo
- [The Treason Swindle and the War for Slavery](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/x.md): This chapter argues that the U.S. Constitution was treated by administrators as a meaningless document, designed by swindlers to entrap the people into a government of the powerful over the weak. The most flagitious of t
- [XI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xi.md): The chapter attacks the notion of government by consent, arguing that presuming consent from those who have not actually given it is a shameless absurdity and a justification for tyranny, likening it to robbery, murder, 
- [VI: The Constitution of No Authority](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/vi-the-constitution-of-no-authority.md): This chapter argues that the U.S. government is a secret band of robbers and murderers, not a legitimate authority based on consent. It contends that taxation without consent is robbery, that voting under compulsion does
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter argues that the U.S. Constitution has no inherent authority over living individuals, as it was a contract among people now dead, who had no right to bind their posterity. It contends that the Constitution's l
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ii.md): This chapter argues that voting under the U.S. Constitution cannot be taken as evidence of voluntary consent to support the government. It presents ten reasons why voting fails to legally bind anyone to the Constitution,
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/iii.md): The chapter argues that compulsory taxation provides no evidence of voluntary consent to the Constitution. It compares government to a highwayman who robs under threat, but is more insidious because it operates secretly,
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/iv.md): The chapter argues that the Constitution is not and never was a binding contract because it was never signed or delivered by any individual, as required by law and reason for any written instrument to be enforceable.
- [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/v.md): The author argues that the Constitution is an invalid contract because it was never signed by any party, contrasting this with the universal legal requirement for written and signed contracts. He points to the Statute of
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/vi.md): The chapter argues that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress absolute and irresponsible power over the people, making them masters rather than servants, and that this power is equivalent to property ownership, reducing 
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/vii.md): The chapter argues that the Constitution is not a binding contract because it was never voluntarily signed by the people; those who govern under it are usurpers acting without legitimate authority, and the only reason th
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/viii.md): The chapter argues that the U.S. government lacks legitimate authority because it rests on a tacit understanding among voters who select agents via secret ballot, which cannot justify the seizure of property, liberty, or
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ix.md): The chapter argues that the secret ballot is motivated by fear and mutual distrust among those who govern, likening them to a secret band of robbers and murderers who dare not reveal their individual actions. It contends
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/x.md): The chapter argues that no legitimate government exists based on consent or compact of the people; instead, the visible government is a small group of individuals acting as self-appointed agents, secretly chosen via secr
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/ii.md): The chapter argues that oaths taken by members of Congress to support the Constitution are legally and morally void because they are given to no identifiable party. It contends that the secret ballot and lack of individu
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xii.md): The chapter argues that oaths taken by agents of the secret government are void because they are sworn to no identifiable individual, and such agents may justifiably keep the proceeds of their robberies for themselves, a
- [XII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xii.md): The chapter argues that naturalization oaths are invalid because there is no legitimate, voluntary association known as 'the people of the United States' to receive them. It contends that no such organization was ever fo
- [XIV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xiv.md): The chapter argues that oaths of allegiance extorted from Southern men after the war are invalid because they were coerced, violate natural rights, and were given to a non-existent legitimate corporation—'the United Stat
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xv.md): The chapter argues that soldiers' oaths of allegiance and service to the United States government are void because the United States is not a legitimate corporation or nation, and therefore such oaths are made to nobody 
- [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xvi.md): The chapter argues that treaties made by U.S. officials with foreign nations are invalid because neither the officials nor the foreign nations have legitimate authority from their respective peoples. It contends that the
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xvii.md): The chapter argues that the national debt is illegitimate because it was contracted by a secret band of robbers and murderers (the government) without the consent of the people, and that the contracts are void as they we
- [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xviii.md): The chapter argues that the U.S. government lacks any valid contract, as the Constitution was never signed and voting is conducted via secret ballot, making no one openly responsible. It contends that real rulers are tho
- [XIX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xix.md): The chapter exposes the true motives behind the Civil War, arguing that Northern merchants and manufacturers lent money for the war not out of love of liberty or justice, but to monopolize Southern markets and maintain i
- [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/appendix.md): The author argues that the Constitution, never having been signed or agreed to as a contract, is not binding on anyone and is unfit to exist, either because it authorized the existing government or was powerless to preve
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/endnotes.md): The endnotes provide critical commentary on the nature of government, the Constitution, and the legal framework of contracts, questioning the legitimacy of majority rule and the binding nature of the Constitution as a co

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