US Presidency
1867

Finally, the Constitution declares that the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless when, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it; whereas this bill declares martial law ( which of itself suspends this great writ ) in time of peace, and authorizes the military to make the arrest, and gives to the prisoner only one privilege, and that is a trial without unnecessary delay. He has no hope of release from custody, except the hope, such as it is, of release by acquittal before a military commission. The United States are bound to guarantee to each State a republican form of government. Can it be pretended that this obligation is not palpably broken if we carry out a measure like this, which wipes away every vestige of republican government in ten States and puts the life, property, liberty, and honor of all the people in each of them under the domination of a single person clothed with unlimited authority?