150 years ago, on February 8, 1863, circulation of the Chicago Times was suspended, by military order, due to the offense of disloyal statements. Prior to this, at the start of the Civil War, President Lincoln authorized suspension of the right of habeas corpus. He did this in spite of the fact that the U.S. Constituition allows only Congress to take this action.
Besides the Chicago Times, a number of “newspapers, magazines and periodicals were threatened, fined, arrested or otherwise aggravated in their pursuit of truth, justice, and their right to editorialize.”
For more on Lincoln’s order:
For info on Susan’s books and novellas set in and around the American Civil War, visit her website: http://susanmacatee.com