Lenoir-Wake County NcArchives News..... Writ of Habeus Corpus Resisted (Loftin) January 14, 1863
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Carolyn Shank Carolynshank@msn.com August 26, 2007, 1:28 pm

The Raleigh Standard: 14 Jan. 1863 January 14, 1863
The Raleigh Standard: 14 Jan. 1863
   THE WRIT OF HABEUS CORPUS RESISTED
   We publish below the card of MR. BADHAM, of this City, detailing the 
circumstances attending the resistance of the habeous corpus in the case of 
MR. LOFTIN. Comment is not necessary in so plain a matter. That great writ is 
secured by the Constitution and the laws of this State to every person who is 
arrested and held in prison. Its object is to give a hearing to the suspected 
party, in order that if good cause exists for is imprisonment shall continue 
until a trial can be had; and if cause exists, he shall be set a liberty.
   This was all MR. LOFTIN asked, but this was denied him. We are neighter his 
champion nor apologist, for we know nothing of the facts in this case, we are 
simply contending for a great principle as old as civil liberty itself. If MR. 
LOFTIN has committed treason, or adhered to our enemies, we trust he will be 
punished, but if he be innocent of this great crime, or any crime, he is 
entitled to his liberty. He has demanded an investigation of his case, which 
has been denied him. Meanwhile he languishes in the Bastile at Salisbury under 
the iron hand of military power, with many others, who have asked in vain that 
their cases may be investigated.  The Judge who issued the writ in his case 
has backed, and backed, and the judicial ermine has been lowered and dragged 
in the dust at the feet of a subordinate military office.

Additional Comments:
Note: This story is a follow-up to two other stories about the arbitrary 
arrest and imprisonment by military police of W. C. LOFTIN of Lenoir County, 
for crossing military lines in search of his slaves. The editor argues for the 
basic constitutional right of freedom from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment. 
LOFTIN'S counsel was an attorney from Wake County, MR. BADHAM.

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