Type of trial - Debate

[KateH.]

Laurie, I find your point very interesting. Why do you feel that a military tribunal, as opposed to a civilian court, was the correct route for the Union to take in order to deal with the eight captured conspirators?

Also, John E, why do you think the pursuit and trial of the conspirators by the government was absolutely justifiable and legal as it stood?

I'm intrigued to hear the different opinions


As for my stance on Corbett shooting Booth, sometimes you have to take an eye for an eye. Booth would have died on the gallows if he'd been captured. I think his death brought a sense of peace to the people. Lincoln had been avenged and his killer was no longer running free. It also helped put some faith back in the Lincoln-less government. 12 days is a rather long while. Every time the government turned up with no Booth the people lost faith in their superiors. It seemed like Lincoln was the driving force of action and, without him, everyone else just crumbled. Killing Booth proved that the government was capable of carrying on with Lincoln.