Lincoln apostate : the Matson slave case / Charles R. McKirdy.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McKirdy, Charles Robert, 1943-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Slavery--Illinois--Coles County--Legal status of slaves in free states--Cases.

Slavery.

Habeas corpus--Illinois--Coles County--Cases.

Habeas corpus.

Bryant, Jane--Trials, litigation, etc.

Bryant, Jane.

Matson, Robert, 1796-1859--Trials, litigation, etc.

Matson, Robert.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Career in law.

Lincoln, Abraham.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (182 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Jackson : University Press of Mississippi, c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In 1847, in a small rural courthouse in Coles County, Illinois, Abraham Lincoln represented a Kentucky slave owner named Robert Matson in his attempt to recover a runaway slave woman and her four children. Most Americans, even those with a penchant for the nation's history, have never heard of this court case. This is no coincidence. Lincoln's involvement in the case has troubled and bewildered most students and biographers of the ""Great Emancipator."" In many assessments, the case inspires rationalizations and distortions; in others, avoidance and denial. These approaches are a disservice to

Contents:

COVER; CONTENTS; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; INTRODUCTION; CHAPTER ONE: A Dark Canvas; CHAPTER TWO: The Initial Hearing; CHAPTER THREE: The Lawyers-Lincoln; CHAPTER FOUR: The Lawyers-Ficklin, Constable, and Linder; CHAPTER FIVE: The Law; CHAPTER SIX: The Trial; CHAPTER SEVEN: The Coils of Friendship; POST TRIAL BRIEFS; NOTES; INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-283-06969-5

9786613069696

1-60473-987-8

OCLC:

721194297