DiogenesLamp:
"I don't recall hearing of any convictions for "Treason."
Perhaps you could remind me of when those happened? " Both Union & Confederate officials arrested & held thousands of anti-war citizens.
I couldn't say how many were tried or convicted on what charges, but both sides did it in roughly equal proportions.
DiogenesLamp: "It demonstrates he had no qualms about doing whatever he thought he could get away with and the Constitutional be D@mned."
The Constitution is absolutely clear that giving aid and comfort to those at war against the United States is treason.
What's remarkable is that Lincoln chose as "punishment" to turn the good congressman over to his Confederate friends.
DiogenesLamp: "So you are claiming Vallanigham committed treason by criticizing a President who started a war that killed more people in single battles than the entire casualties of all previous wars? "
No, I don't think Vallanigham ever criticized Jefferson Davis and doubt if Vallanigham would be arrested by Lincoln if he did.
Anyway, the Constitution is clear on the subject of giving aid & comfort and seems to me that's what Vallanigham did.
Of course I wasn't there, and haven't studied the legalities...
DiogenesLamp: "Doesn't the constitution require at least two witnesses to convict someone of treason?
And I must have missed the part where Military Tribunals (Military is under the direct command of the President) were part of 'due process.' "
Sure, the Constitution is clear in authorizing Congress to set punishments for treason.
Congress is also the logical authority for defining "due process".
But again I note that both sides arrested & held thousands for their anti-war views, not at all clear what "due process" was ever followed.
Both Union & Confederate officials arrested & held thousands of anti-war citizens. I couldn't say how many were tried or convicted on what charges, but both sides did it in roughly equal proportions. What the Confederates did does not excuse or justify what the supposed adherents to the US Constitution did.
The Constitution is absolutely clear that giving aid and comfort to those at war against the United States is treason.
It is also remarkably clear on the requirements to prove treason, and it is also remarkably clear on the rights listed in the Bill of Rights, most conspicuously among them being "Due Process."
What's remarkable is that Lincoln chose as "punishment" to turn the good congressman over to his Confederate friends.
Yes, completely illegal. As illegal as it gets.
Of course I wasn't there, and haven't studied the legalities...
