William Paterson

“ Here the meaning annexed to the terms ex post facto laws, unquestionably refers to crimes, and nothing else. The historic page abundantly evinces, that the power of passing such laws should be withheld from legislators; as it is a dangerous instrument in the hands of bold, unprincipled, aspiring, and party men, and has been too often used to effect the most detestable purposes. ”

“ The Constitution of North Carolina, article 24th of the Declaration of rights:
"That retrospective laws, punishing facts committed before the existence of such laws, and by them only declared criminal; are oppressive, unjust, and incompatible with liberty; wherefore no ex post facto law ought to be made."
From the above passages it appears, that ex post facto laws have an appropriate signification; they extend to penal statutes, and no further; they are restricted in legal estimation to the creation, and, perhaps, enhancement of crimes, pains and penalties. ”

“ There is, says he, a still more unreasonable method than this, which is called making of laws ex post facto, when after an action, indifferent in itself, is committed, the Legislator, then, for the first time, declares it to have been a crime, and inflicts a punishment upon the person who has committed it. ”