[Lee Heggy]

It's hardly suprising that a court compised of reconstructionists would rule thusly. If they did or did not have the constitutional right to suceed from the Union has been debated endlessly since those days. I for one find it hard to believe that the original states would sign onto anything that they felt they couldn't get out of. It's also true that the confederate congress suspended habeas corpus but they never enforced it with the tyranny that the Union did.

We've gotten quite off topic here but I've enjoyed this little debate anyway. Everyone lost in that damn war. Thanks.

[stainlessbanner]

It's also true that the confederate congress suspended habeas corpus

.....WITH the consent of the people. Lincoln suspended the h-c without putting to a vote in Congress. The third time Jeff Davis asked Congress to suspend, the disallowed the suspension.

[WhiskeyPapa]

It's hardly suprising that a court compised of reconstructionists would rule thusly.

Chief Justice Roger Taney said in the dissenting opinion in the 1863 Prize Cases that the president had the power under law to put down the rebellion.

The majority opinion supported the president completely.

There is no right to unilateral state secession in U.S. law.

Walt

[donmeaker]

I submit that the slaves did rather better out of it. I also suppose that the nation eventually did better out of it, because no longer had white men unable to work lest they degrade themselves, and black men unable to rise in life lest they threaten the self esteem of whites.