Can an idealistic slave-holding lawyer overcome his brother’s potentially treasonous ambition and avert the Civil War through the brilliance of his blind slave and the power of the Supreme Court?
Through the legal creativity of state representative Jerald Scott, Tennessee passes ordinances of secession in January 1860, but then seeks a ruling from the Supreme Court that such action is not prohibited by the Constitution.
Volume one of the trilogy sets the stage for a battle in the United States Supreme Court between Tennessee and every other state, slave and free, to determine the meaning of the Constitution and the question of the perpetuity of the Union. As the matter is pending before the Court in 1860, the story of the previous four decades in the nation is retold to reveal how two fundamentally different principles of governance came together in the uneasy alliance that is the American Constitution.
___________________________
“Riddle’s novel intriguingly explores its themes of legality and justice.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Skillful writing and an extraordinary idea.” – Amazon reviewer
“An illuminating and informative novel of the pre-civil war.” – Amazon reviewer
“The central characters were well developed and compelling. Riddle is a very vivid writer!” – Amazon reviewer
____________________________
JACKSON S. RIDDLE 