# XII explained — No Treason

> Chapter companion for No Treason by Lysander Spooner.

## What happens

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, as they never consented to serve the concealed band.

## Themes in this chapter

### Secret Government and Secret Ballot

The chapter describes a secret band of robbers and murderers who appoint agents while remaining concealed, illustrating the theme of secret government.

### Individual Natural Rights

The tax-gatherer claims the right to keep the proceeds of his own actions, asserting individual autonomy against the claims of the secret band.

## Character check-ins

### a man

The hypothetical tax-gatherer who refuses to pay over the money, asserting he never knew the secret band as individuals.

### these men

The secret band of robbers and murderers who appoint agents but remain concealed.

### Unknown

The unnamed narrator or general voice presenting the argument.

## Key lines

> If any tax-gatherer, for example, should put the money he receives into his own pocket, and refuse to part with it, the members of this band could not say to him: 'You collected that money as our agent, and for our uses; and you swore to pay it over to us, or to those we should appoint to receive it. You have betrayed us, and broken faith with us.'

If a tax collector keeps the money he collects, the secret band cannot accuse him of betrayal because they never identified themselves to him as individuals.

_The argument that oaths to an anonymous collective are unenforceable._

> I never knew you. You never made yourselves individually known to me. I never gave my oath to you, as individuals.

The tax collector denies any personal obligation because the band members remained unknown to him.

_The core reasoning for the invalidity of the oath._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters/xii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/no_treason_se/chapters