http://www.civilwarhome.com/marylandcmh.htm

Go to the above link and read the first 4 chapters.

The 'writ of habeas corpus' is a court order to bring the person before a judge and state the reasons he has been arrested, set a court date, etc. There was a big to-do over this issue when lincoln suspended it. Many [even today] think that only the Congress can order the suspension of it, not the president.

"Habeas corpus (/'heɪbiəs 'kɔɹpəs/), Latin for "you [should] have the body", is the name of a legal action or writ by means of which detainees can seek relief from unlawful imprisonment. The Suspension Clause of the United States Constitution specifically included the English common law procedure in Article One, Section 9 which states:

“ The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. ”

United States federal law affords persons the right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Habeas corpus petitions are generally argued as ex parte cases. Individual states also afford persons the ability to petition for habeas corpus pursuant to their respective constitutions and laws when held or sentenced by state authorities.

During the Civil War and Reconstruction and during the War on Terrorism the right to petition for a writ of habeas corpus was substantially curtailed for persons accused of engaging in certain conduct."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habeas_corpus_in_the_United_States

JR