Actually, Presdient Lincoln had troops surround the Maryand legislature, ready to arrest anyone who voted to secede. The Confederate sympathizers backed down, and no one was arrested. Lincoln did arrest, I think, several Maryland state legislators on other occasions, but for specific pro-rebels acts.
President George W. Bush would have done the same.
A minor distinction, I think, and yes, President Bush would have done the same, and I would object to that as well. Maybe it's a Republican thing...
Lieutenant General Scott Washington, April 25--- 1861.
My dear Sir: The Maryland Legislature assembles to-morrow at Anapolis; and, not improbably, will take action to arm the people of that State against the United States. The question has been submitted to, and considered by me, whether it would not be justifiable, upon the ground of necessary defence, for you, as commander in Chief of the United States Army, to arrest, or disperse the members of that body. I think it would not be justifiable; nor, efficient for the desired object.
First, they have a clearly legal right to assemble; and, we can not know in advance, that their action will not be lawful, and peaceful. And if we wait until they shall have acted, their arrest, or dispersion, will not lessen the effect of their action.
Secondly, we can not permanently prevent their action. If we arrest them, we can not long hold them as prisoners; and when liberated, they will immediately re-assemble, and take their action. And, precisely the same if we simply disperse them. They will immediately re-assemble in some other place.
I therefore conclude that it is only left to the commanding General to watch, and await their action, which, if it shall be to arm their people against the United States, he is to adopt the most prompt, and efficient means to counteract, even, if necessary, to the bombardment of their cities---and in the extremest necessity, the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. Your Obedient Servant
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
As it turned out, the legislature voted against secession. When the legislature met again in September 1861 a number of legislators were arrested since they were plotting to take Maryland out of the Union and join an armed rebellion that was already underway. Under those circumstances there should be no controversy on their arrests.
Lincoln had federal Judge William Merrick placed under house arrest to prevent him sitting on a case. He was not alone. Lincoln even had the wife of a federal judge arrested.
President Bush would never stoop so low.
"Lincoln did arrest, I think, several Maryland state legislators on other occasions, but for specific pro-rebels acts.
President George W. Bush would have done the same."
He also had several newspaper editors arrested by the military and their presses destroyed after he suspended Habeus Corpus. I'm sure GWB would love to do that also.