[capitan_refugio]

I have posted to you before Chief Justice Chase's rationale for dropping the charges - that Congress and the States, by passage and ratification of the 14th Amendment, had already provided a legislative punishment for the offending southerners. And please, let's not get into another "bill of attainder" discussion.

[nolu chan]

It is well documented that the government repeatedly consulted with expert attorneys and were consistently told not to take the case to trial.

And why was the case dropped against John Surratt? I couldn't find your answer.