Habeas Corpus and the Use of Military Tribunals
In America Under the Threat of Terrorism
By
John Villafaña
For
PLS 135 American National Politics
Professor Greg Arey
Thomas Nelson Community College
Hampton, VA
April 25, 2003
Introduction
It was on this date one hundred forty two years ago (April 25, 1861), that President Abraham Lincoln sent a letter to Lt. General Winfield Scott authorizing the suspension of "The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus" . Lincoln had been president for less than two months and was facing, what was up to that time and arguably may still be the greatest threat to the survival of the United States since the Founding Fathers launched this "Great Experiment". Only eleven days earlier Major Robert Anderson, the commander of the federal garrison at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, had to surrender the fort to the Confederate Army. Lincoln was reluctant to issue such an order but had done so as he faced the very real......
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Approximate Word Count: 3714
Approximate Pages: 15 (260 words per double-spaced page) |