No, Johnny Taliban is being treated better. He's locked up in a federal prison within driving distance of his family.
When I read about the Merryman case and how Lincoln abused the constitution, I immediately thought of the 20th hijacker from France. Applying todays terminology to 1861, Merryman could easily be considered a domestic terrorist. And rightly so.
Yes, I thought of that too. The relevance of history to some of today's events is amazing.
Merryman was apparently arrested for participating in actions ordered by the Governor, the Baltimore Mayor, and the Baltimore police that were designed to prevent more bloodshed from occurring in Baltimore. There had been riots in the streets (much of it caused by Southern sympathizers) when troops from other states moved through Baltimore, a not too common occurrence back when the armed coercion of states by other states was thought to be wrong. The troops had killed 12 citizens during the riot; 4 soldiers had been killed. The Governor, Mayor and the police board thought that additional Northern troops coming through the city would result in more deaths, so the burned the bridges to prevent that from happening.
Here is a letter authorizing the burning of bridges.
Baltimore, 20 April 1861, 12 1/2 A.M.By the authority of the Governor of Maryland and for the protection of the City of Baltimore, I hereby direct Col. Isaac Trimble to proceed up the Philadelphia R.R. and break down the bridges thereof up to the Susquehanna River, and also require all persons to refrain from opposition thereto.
George William Brown
Mayor of Baltimore
And from the the Mayor and Governor to Lincoln:
Sir:-A collision between the citizens and the Northern troops has taken place in Baltimore, and the excitement is fearful. Send no troops here. We will endeavor to prevent all bloodshed. A public meeting of citizens has been called, and the troops of the State have been called out to preserve the peace. They will be enough.