In April 1861; President Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus along the military line between Washington; D.C.; and Philadelphia. This allowed army officers to arrest and indefinitely detain persons who were interfering with military operations in the area. When John Merryman; a wealthy Marylander suspected of burning bridges to prevent the passage of U.S. troops to Washington; was detained in Fort McHenry; the chief justice of the Supreme Court; Roger Taney; declared the suspension of habeas corpus unconstitutional and demanded Merryman's immediate release. Lincoln defied Taney’s order; offering his own forceful counter-argument for the constitutionality of his actions. Thus the stage was set for one of the most dramatic personal and legal confrontations the country has ever witnessed.The Body of John Merryman is the first book-length examination of this much-misunderstood chapter in American history. Brian McGinty captures the tension and uncertainty that surrounded the early months of the Civil War; explaining how Lincoln's suspension of habeas corpus was first and foremost a military action that only subsequently became a crucial constitutional battle. McGinty's narrative brings to life the personalities that drove this uneasy standoff and expands our understanding of the war as a legal―and not just a military; political; and social―conflict. The Body of John Merryman is an extraordinarily readable book that illuminates the contours of one of the most significant cases in American legal history―a case that continues to resonate in our own time.
#520919 in Books Robert A Orsi 2016-03-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x 1.40 x 6.40l; .0 #File Name: 0674047893384 pagesHistory and Presence
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. What a Wealth of Reflection!By QuintessentiallyYoursThis book is something Catholics - and anyone - who wants to reflect on the Presence; from the Eucharist into remarkable devotionals; really ought to read. The topic is unique; I have never seen something like this range of ideas covered - much less connected to Presence; but also the writing is simply exquisite. Great read. Great gift for the Catholic you know.4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A Rare Combination: Scholarly and EntertainingBy CustomerFollowing his work in such classics as "The Madonna of 115th Street" and "Between Heaven and Earth;" Orsi returns with another valuable contribution to the field of religious studies which still manages to be of interest (entertaining even!) to a wide readership. Orsi writes in a conversational style; using his considerable skill as a storyteller to distill three decades of fieldwork into an intelligent argument about the place of Presence in scholarship. Whether you carry around memories of your Italian Catholic grandmother; or you're unfamiliar with the term transubstantiation; there is something here for everyone; Richly detailed footnotes which tune into ongoing conversations; as well as moving and humorous anecdotes about Catholic life in the 20th century and in the present. Orsi's work is indispensable for those interested in religious studies; history; or theology; and "History and Presence" is a fine addition to the list.0 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy John E. BanksThis is a splendid book.
