{You provided Blackstone, which is only partially useful since we are dealing with specific Constitutional law, not basic common law.}

All laws created inthe United Stastes are based upon Common Law. Check it out I believe you will find that Common Law deals with all of our Constutition laws.

{I ask again, where is your evidence that Chase released Davis because he supposedly saw secession as legal? I'm not looking for your belief, but evidence of what Chase was thinking.}

Chase knew better than to do that, but he saw his wqay out under Ex Post Facto and the 14th Amandment. Like I said, he didn't come out and say it but any reasonabe man can figure it out. Unless you are stuck in trying to prove your point.

Good arguments but Chase was also a politician, a Unionist (like You), but he saw a way to get by a situation that could have made a martyr of Davis and start another War. He took the easy road, and left us something to debate.

I personaly think Davis could have won his court battle.