Union
President Abraham Lincoln extended the reach of the suspension of the Writ of
Habeas Corpus on October 14th 1861.
Near the
beginning of the Civil War Union President Abraham Lincoln ordered a suspension
of the Writ of Habeas Corpus in Maryland and parts of the Midwestern states. This was in response to the arrest by Union
troops in Maryland of secessionist John Merryman, whom Supreme Court Chief
Justice Roger B Taney ordered released under a writ of habeas corpus. Lincoln and the military ignored the ruling.
On October
14th 1861 Lincoln expanded the suspension with this written order:
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL
WINFIELD SCOTT:
The military
line of the United States for the suppression of the insurrection may be
extended so far as Bangor, in Maine. You and any officer acting under your
authority are hereby authorized to suspend the writ of habeas corpus in any
place between that place and the city of Washington.
ABRAHAM
LINCOLN.
By the
President:
WILLIAM H.
SEWARD, Secretary of State.
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