Andrew Jackson became an American military hero when in 1815 his defence of New Orleans ended in a decisive victory over the British. After the battle, Jackson put in jail a local editor who had attacked him in his newspaper. The editor appealed to federal judge Dominick Hall and obtained a writ of habeas corpus. Jackson then had the judge jailed too. But as soon as Jackson lifted martial law, Hall returned to his bench and summoned Jackson before him on a contempt citation. Jackson appeared and paid a $1,000 fine.
As Jackson left the courtroom, he was surrounded by an angry crowd eager to avenge him. But Jackson silenced them, saying, "Considering obedience to the laws, even when we think them unjustly applied, as the first duty of a citizen, I did not hesitate to comply with the sentence, and I entreat you to remember the example."
