Lincoln on Democracy

"To SUPPRESS THE INSURRECTION"

260 LINCOLN ON DEMOCRACY rebellion, shall (upon the restoration of the constitutional relation between the United States, and their respective states, and people, if that relation shall have been suspended or disturbed) be compensated for all losses by acts of the United States, including the loss of slaves. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington, this twenty second day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty two, and of the Independence of the United States, the eighty seventh. By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. "To SUPPRESS THE INSURRECTION" Proclamation Suspending the Writ of Habeas Corpus [SEPTEMBER 24, 1862] Only two days after issuing one proclamation promising a new freedom, Lincoln issued another suppressing an old one-suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus nationwide. Among the "arbitrary arrests" it triggered were those of spies and traitors, but also political foes. Lincoin 's suspension of the writ was his most controversial decision-it earned him from some the label of tyrant-but he insisted that without the suspension, habeas corpus would have been saved but the country would have been destroyed. Congress validated the suspension in March 1863 and Lincoln issued yet another, broaderpresidential suspension that September. Lincoln and Liberty, 1862-1863 261 By the President of the United States of America: A Proclamation. Whereas, it has become necessary to call into service not only volunteers but also portions of the militia of the States by draft in order to suppress the insurrection existing in the United States, and disloyal persons are not adequately restrained by the ordinary processes of law from hindering this measure and from giving aid and comfort in various ways to the insurrection; Now, therefore, be it ordered, first, that during the existing insurrection and as a necessary measure for suppressing the same, all Rebels and Insurgents, their aiders and abettors within the United States, and all persons discouraging volunteer enlistments, resisting militia drafts, or guilty of any disloyal practice, affording aid and comfort to Rebels against the authority of the United States, shall be subject to martial law and liable to trial and punishment by Courts Martial or Military Commission: Second. That the Writ of Habeas Corpus is suspended in respect to all persons arrested, or who are now, or hereafter during the rebellion shall be, imprisoned in any fort, camp, arsenal, military prison, or other place ofconfinement by any military authority or by the sentence ofany Court Martial or Military Commission. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the City of Washington this twenty fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, and of the Independence of the United States the 87th. By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. ...