Opinion of Military Tribunal

Full Title

Opinion of Military Tribunal - Burlington Free Press

Description

A printing of the Attorney General's opinion on holding a military tribunal for the assassination conspirators. The newspaper agrees with President Johnson's decision, calling the assassination of the President "an act of secret war against the republic."

Transcription

The opinion of Attorney General Speed, given in writing previous to the trial, in response to President Johnson's inquiry whether the conspirators in the plot which resulted in the assassination of President Lincoln should be tried by a civil or military court, has been printed. He maintained that during a time of war a military tribune exists under and according to the constitution ; that is the duty of the military not only to fight the public enemies of the country in open battle, but to pursue, capture, try and execute secret enemies, and that the assassination of the President being an act of secret war against the republic in the reason of its Chief Magistrate, those accused of the crime are clearly amenable to military law.

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

• transcribed

• government: U.S.

• trial of conspirators

Cite this Item

Burlington Free Press. "Opinion of Military Tribunal - Burlington Free Press". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 24, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/456

Item Type

Newspaper

Creator

Burlington Free Press

Date

August 18, 1865

Region

Union states