Fayetteville (NC) Observer, “The Final Blow to Liberty,” October 31, 1861

    Source citation
    “The Final Blow to Liberty,” Fayetteville (NC) Observer, October 31, 1861, p. 3: 2.
    Newspaper: Publication
    Fayetteville Semi Weekly Observer
    Newspaper: Headline
    The Final Blow to Liberty
    Newspaper: Page(s)
    3
    Newspaper: Column
    2
    Type
    Newspaper
    Date Certainty
    Exact
    Transcriber
    Don Sailer, Dickinson College
    Transcription date
    The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.

    THE FINAL BLOW TO LIBERTY. – Lincoln has arrested Judge Merrick, of the U. S. circuit Court in Washington, for issuing a writ of habeas corpus requiring the Provost Marshal of that city to produce the body of a boy under 18 held as an enlisted soldier. When the fact of the arrest was made known to his associate Judges, they ordered a writ to be served on the Provost Marshal for contempt in not obeying the writ of habeas corpus. The venerable Judge Morsell, in some remarks on the case, declared he would do his duty and vindicate the character of the court as long as he sat upon the bench. “I am an old man,” he said, “my life may be but a day – but while I have life I shall be true to the duty before me.”

    Here there were indicators of applause by the large number of attorneys and people present, but the officers suppressed it. It was a noble sentiment, boldly avowed.

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