Lincoln and Citizens' Rights in Civil War Missouri: Balancing Freedom and Security (Conflicting Worlds: New Dimensions of the American Civil War)

During the Civil War, the state of Missouri presented President Abraham Lincoln, United States military commanders, and state officials with an array of complex and difficult problems. Although Missouri did not secede, a large minority of residents owned slaves, sympathized with secession, or favored the Confederacy. Many residents joined a Confederate state militia, became pro-Confederate guerrillas, or helped the cause of the South in some subversive manner. In order to subdue such disloyalty, Lincoln supported Missouri's provisional Unionist government by ordering troops into the state and approving an array of measures that ultimately infringed on the civil liberties of residents. In this thorough investigation of these policies, Dennis K. Boman reveals the difficulties that the president, military officials, and state authorities faced in trying to curb traitorous activity while upholding the spirit of the United States Constitution. Boman explains that despite Lincoln's desire to disentangle himself from Missouri policy matters, he was never able to do so. Lincoln's challenge in Missouri continued even after the United States Army defeated the state's Confederate militia. Attention quickly turned to preventing Confederate guerrillas from attacking Missouri's railway system and from ruthlessly murdering, pillaging, and terrorizing loyal inhabitants. Eventually military officials established tribunals to prosecute captured insurgents. In his role as commander-in-chief, Lincoln oversaw these tribunals and worked with Missouri Governor Hamilton R. Gamble in establishing additional policies to repress acts of subversion while simultaneously protecting constitutional rights--an incredibly difficult balancing act. For example, while supporting the suppression of disloyal newspapers and the arrest of persons suspected of aiding the enemy, Lincoln repealed orders violating property rights when they conflicted with federal law. While mitigating the severity of sentences handed down by military courts, Boman shows, Lincoln advocated requiring voters and officeholders to take loyalty oaths and countenanced the summary execution of guerrillas captured with weapons in the field. One of the first books to explore Lincoln's role in dealing with an extensive guerrilla insurgency, Lincoln and Citizens' Rights in Civil War Missouri illustrates the difficulty of suppressing dissent while upholding the Constitution, a feat as complicated during the Civil War as it is for the War on Terror. During the Civil War, the state of Missouri presented President Abraham Lincoln, United States military commanders, and state officials with an array of complex and difficult problems. Although Missouri did not secede, a large minority of residents owned slaves, sympathized with secession, or favored the Confederacy. Many residents joined a Confederate state militia, became pro-Confederate guerrillas, or helped the cause of the South in some subversive manner. In order to subdue such disloyalty, Lincoln supported Missouri's provisional Unionist government by ordering troops into the state and approving an array of measures that ultimately infringed on the civil liberties of residents. In this thorough investigation of these policies, Dennis K. Boman reveals the difficulties that the president, military officials, and state authorities faced in trying to curb traitorous activity while upholding the spirit of the United States Constitution. Boman explains that despite Lincoln's desire to disentangle himself from Missouri policy matters, he was never able to do so. Lincoln's challenge in Missouri continued even after the United States Army defeated the state's Confederate militia. Attention quickly turned to preventing Confederate guerrillas from attacking Missouri's railway system and from ruthlessly murdering, pillaging, and terrorizing loyal inhabitants. Eventually military officials established tribunals to prosecute captured insurgents. In his role as commander-in-chief, Lincoln oversaw these tribunals and worked with Missouri governor Hamilton R. Gamble in establishing additional policies to repress acts of subversion while simultaneously protecting constitutional rights -- an incredibly difficult balancing act. For example, while supporting the suppression of disloyal newspapers and the arrest of persons suspected of aiding the enemy, Lincoln repealed orders violating property rights when they conflicted with federal law. While mitigating the severity of sentences handed down by military courts, Boman shows, Lincoln advocated requiring voters and officeholders to take loyalty oaths and countenanced the summary execution of guerrillas captured with weapons in the field. One of the first books to explore Lincoln's role in dealing with an extensive guerrilla insurgency, Lincoln and Citizens' Rights in Civil War Missouri illustrates the difficulty of suppressing dissent while upholding the Constitution, a feat as complicated during the Civil War as it is for the War on Terror. CONTENTS......Page 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......Page 14 Introduction: Lincoln and Civil Liberties in Missouri......Page 18 1 The Secession Crisis and Missouri......Page 36 2 The Command of John C. Frémont......Page 53 3 General Henry W. Halleck and the Law of War......Page 80 4 Military Government and Civil Liberties......Page 110 5 The Struggle for Missouri and Martial Law......Page 132 6 Civil Liberties under General Samuel R. Curtis......Page 163 7 Radical Policies and the Removal of General Samuel R. Curtis......Page 188 8 Emancipation and Civil Liberties......Page 210 9 Lincoln's Showdown with the Radicals......Page 234 10 General William S. Rosecrans and Price's Raid......Page 258 11 Lincoln and the Return to Civilian Rule in Missouri......Page 280 NOTES......Page 298 BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 344 B......Page 360 C......Page 361 F......Page 363 G......Page 364 H......Page 365 L......Page 366 M......Page 367 O......Page 369 S......Page 370 T......Page 372 Y......Page 373 During the Civil War, Missouri presented President Abraham Lincoln, United States military commanders, and state officials with an array of complex and difficult problems. Although Missouri did not secede, a large minority of residents owned slaves, sympathized with secession, or favored the Confederacy. Many residents joined a Confederate state militia, became pro-Confederate guerrillas, or helped the cause of the South in some subversive manner. In this intriguing study, Dennis K. Boman reveals the difficulties that the president, military officials, and state authorities faced in trying to The secession crisis and Missouri The command of John C. Fremont General Henry W. Halleck and the law of war Military government and civil liberties The struggle for Missouri and martial law Civil liberties under General Samuel R. Curtis Radical policies and the removal of General Samuel R. Curtis Emancipation and civil liberties Lincoln's showdown with the radicals General William S. Rosecrans and Price's raid Lincoln and the return to civilian rule in Missouri. Reveals the difficulties that President Abraham Lincoln, military officials, and state authorities faced in trying to curb traitorous activity while upholding the spirit of the United States Constitution. Dennis Boman explains that despite Lincoln's desire to disentangle himself from Missouri policy matters, he was never able to do so.