Ex parte Vallandigham

Fri, 22 Jan 1864 13:00:00 +0000

Case Basics

Petitioner

Petitioner Type

Petitioner

Respondent Type

Respondent

Heard By

Taney Court (1863-1864)

Decided By

Taney Court (1863-1864)

Opinion

68 U.S. 243 (1864)

Argued

Friday, January 22, 1864

Decided

Monday, February 15, 1864

Facts of the Case

In 1863, soldiers arrested, tried and found guilty Democratic Sen. Clement L. Vallandigham of Ohio for violating Army orders against public expressions of Confederate sympathies. He had denounced the War and the Administration at home and in Congress. President Abraham Lincoln banished Vallandigham to rebel territory. He returned and appealed the action in the Supreme Court.

Question

Are the military proceedings constitutional?

Conclusion

The Court held, unanimously, that it had no jurisdiction over appeals from military courts.

Gelpcke v. Dubuque

Tue, 15 Dec 1863 13:00:00 +0000

Case Basics

Petitioner

Gelpcke

Petitioner Type

Petitioner

Respondent

Dubuque

Respondent Type

Respondent

Heard By

Taney Court (1863-1864)

Decided By

Taney Court (1863-1864)

Opinion

68 U.S. 175 (1864)

Argued

Tuesday, December 15, 1863

Decided

Monday, January 11, 1864

Facts of the Case

Iowa's constitution limited the amount of state debt and forbade the state to own stock in private corporations. But Iowa was enamoured with railroading. The legislature authorized municipal governments to issue bearer bonds to aid railroad construction throughout the state. The idea was that permitting municipalities to do what the state government could not do would circumvent the state constitutional limitation. Railroad prosperity did not materialize and the taxpayers were taxed to pay off the bonds which had been used to buy railroad stock. Bondholders filed suit in federal court to recover interest on the bonds.

Question

Is the obligation to pay a debt a contract beyond impairment by any state?

Conclusion

The Court sided with the bondholders, holding that when contracts are made on the basis of trust in past judicial decisions those contracts could not be impaired by any subsequent construction of the law. "We shall never immolate truth, justice, and the law, because a state tribunal has erected the altar and decreed the sacrifice."

Cases - 1863 term

Ex parte Vallandigham

Gelpcke v. Dubuque