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To: Non-Sequitur
So according to you arresting a Supreme Court justice was less risky than ignoring him?

Not necessarily, and I did not say that. I did say that, in the mind of The Lincoln, it is likely that he thought at least for a brief period that it would be less risky. He apparently changed his mind as we all know he eventually responded by ignoring the ruling.

So why do you think President Lincoln didn't do it?

Personally, I think he realized that the political backlash would be worse than simply ignoring Taney's ruling and, being a politically skilled individual, made a calculation to minimize the reaction of his detractors - that meant ignoring the decision.

728 posted on 02/04/2003 10:51:08 AM PST by GOPcapitalist
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To: GOPcapitalist
It's a matter of historical guess as to why, but mine would be that somebody realized that arresting Taney would be over the line.

Why should you stop speculating now? If you think that someone realized the arrest was over the line then who was it? According to you only President Lincoln and Lamon were in on it. And according to Lamon he was the one who decided not to serve the warrant. If there was a third person giving advice then who was it and why didn't Lamon mention them?

He apparently changed his mind as we all know he eventually responded by ignoring the ruling.

Not according to Lamon. But there are other reasons why I think his tale is suspect. One thing that I think we could agree with is that ordering the arrest of a Supreme Court justice was a stupid idea and President Lincoln was not a stupid man. That in and of itself is the strongest reason why the whole story of the Taney arrest is suspect. Lincoln's actions of proceeding in spite of the Taney ruling was far more prudent than arresting the judge. Why would that be Lincoln's second choice? Arrest him and you have a martyr for the rebels. Ignore him and you have a non-entity. It wouldn't have taken Lincoln two tries to come to that conclusion. After all this is the man that so many southron supporters claim tricked Davis into firing on Sumter. I would imagine you have to be pretty smart to do that. </sarcasm>

731 posted on 02/04/2003 11:11:56 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
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