UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

Darlington Memorial LiLi

%/ S3' >37

THE CASE

Elizabeth Rutgers

Joshua Waddington,

DETERMINED IN THE

MAYOR'S COURT,

IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK,

August 7, 1786.

WITH AN HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION
BY HENRY B. DAWSON.

MORRISANIA, N. T,
1866.

ONE HUNDRED COPIES OCTAVO, AND TWENTY-FIVE COPIES
QUARTO, NUMBERED AND SIGNED.

Jb.tt.

ol=6w^ r2^cxw^5

BRAnSTRlTET FsESS.

TO

CHARLES P. KIRKLAND, LL. D.,

OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK,

In recognition of his worth, both as a Lawyer and a Man,

THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED BY

HIS FRIEND,

THE EDITOR.

Morrisania, N. Y., April joth, 1866.

Introduction,

IN the fummer of 1776, there flood on the
northern fide of Maiden Lane, near where Gold
" ^ Street now enters it, a large Brewery, with its at-
tendant dwelling, malt-houfe, fheds, ftorehoufes,
etc. The premifes extended from Smith, now Wil-
f=i Ham, Street, on the weft, to Queen, now Pearl,
Street, on the eaft ; and from Maiden Lane, on the
I fouth, to the prefent line of John Street, on the
^ north ; and it was one of the mod notable features
""" in that part of the city.

The greater portion of this property had formed,
^* in the earlier days of the Colony, a part of the
£"" homeftead of Dirck Jansen van der Clyff, and a
connderable portion of it, on Smith's Vly, now
Pearl Street, had paffed from his widow, Geesie
Hendricks,* to Thomas Parcell, of Barn, now
Ward's, Ifland, by deed dated July 13, i6o6.f

* The Regijier of Marriages in the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church,
fliows that they were married on the 3d of April, 1667.
f~- f Records in the Regifter's Office, New-York, Liber 30, Folios 22, 23.
— _ I

. [ yi ]

Parcell, after conveying two feparate portions to
his two fons-in-law, William Dobbs and Jeremiah
Reding, and repurchafing them, had conveyed the
whole to Harmanus Rutgers, Junior, by deeds
dated November 13, 1708,* and February 19,
1 713/j* Other portions of the premifes had been
conveyed to the fame gentleman, from time to
time, by Abraham Santvoordt,J Andrew Har-
denbrook,§ Catarina Rutgers,|| his mother,
Johannis de Graaf,T[ Clement and George Els-

WORTH,** GRIETIE VAN DER WaTER,^ PATRICK

Macknight,JJ the heirs of Joost Carelse,§§
George Elsworth,|||| and Richard Parcell;^
and they had been occupied by him and his de-
fendants, as a Homeftead and Brewery, for more
than flxty years. *,*

* Records in the Regifter's Office, New-York, Liber 30, Folio 26.

-j- Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 29.

J Ibid., Liber 30, Folios 32 and 52.

\ Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 34.

|| Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 38.

\ Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 43.

** Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 46.

ff Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 48.

\\ Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 51.

\\ Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 58.

Illl Ibid., Liber 30, Folio 142.

W Ibid., Liber 30, Folios 243, 245.

*#* Harmanus Rutgers, Junior, removed from his mother's houfe, in Broad
Street, between Marketfield and Stone Streets, to his own houfe, then newly
built, on Maiden Lane, in 171 1 ; and it is alfo a matter of record, among the

[ vii ]

The particular family of Rutgers, of which this
Harmanus, Junior, was a member, defcended from
Ry^kert Rutgersen, who, on the ift of October,
1636, failed for New-Netherland, in the good lhip
Renjfelaerfwyck. He was probably a farmer; and
he fettled in RenfTelaerfwyck, under a contract for
fix years' fervice, at a hundred and twenty guilders
per annum. In 1648, he took a fix years' leafe of
Bethlehem, now Ryerfen's, Ifland, at a rental of.
three hundred guilders per annum, befide the
tenths ; but, four years after, he furrendered it to
Jan Ryersen, whofe name the property has fince
borne.*

It has not been clearly eftablifhed when, nor by
what member of the family, the name of Rutgers
firft appeared on the lift of refidents of the city of
New-Amfterdam ; but there appears to have been
one, Jan Rutgersen, a Drayman,f a Small Burgher,
of the date of the nth of April, 1657, J and, in
1658, a refident of the eaft fide of the Heere Graft,
now Broad Street ; § and another, Peter Rutgers,
lived on the Prince's Graft, now Beaver Street, in

family papers, that the firft beer was brewed in his Brewery, on the latter ftreet,
on the 24th of December, in that year.

* O'Callaghan's New NetHerland, i., 437.

I Paulding's New Netherlands m.

J O'Callaghan's Regijler, 175.

\ Conveyance of land to him, by Abraham Rycke, June 7, 1658, cited by
Mr. Valentine, in The Corporation Manual for 1861, Firft edition, 599.

[ vlii ]

1665.* On the nth of March, 1666, Maria
Rutgers, of Amersfoordt, was married to Joris
Jansen, in the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church,
in New-York; on the 8th of October, 1670, the
widow Geestje Rutgers was married to Gerrit
Huygens De Cleyn, by whom, on the 15th of the
following October, fhe had a daughter, Ruth ; on
the 14th of January, 1672, Magdaleentje Rut-
gers, of New-York, was married to Joris Wal-
graef, of London; on the 1 ith of October, 1673,
Sara Rutgers, of No/op, was married to David
Waldron ; and on the 21ft of October, 1685,
Maryhen, widow of Robert Rutgers, was mar-
ried to Jan Barentz, by whom fhe had, at leaft,
two children, who were "chriftened" in the Colle-
giate Church.f

It is very probable, however, that thefe belonged
to fome other family than that which is the fubject
of this inquiry, fince there is evidence among the
family papers of the latter, that a fon of the tenant
of Bethlehem Ifland, Harmanus by name, was a
prominent Brewer at Albany; J that the difficulty

* Affeffment lift, April 19, 1665.

f The particulars relating to the above-mentioned Marriages and Births are
recorded in the Rcgijlers of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church, New-
York.

% The Deacon's Account Book, in the archives of the old Dutch Church at
Albany, fhows that, in December, 1667, Harman Rutgers was paid i-jg. lost.
for beer furnifhed to Hans de Noorman; and that, in February, 1695, he was

[ ix ]

encountered by him in protecting his barley-fields
from the Indians, induced him to remove to New-
York, in the latter part of the feventeenth century,
when he eftablifhed himfelf in Broad Street, between
Marketfield and Stone Streets ; and that his two
fons, Anthony and Harmanus, Junior, fubfe-
quently became noted Brewers in the latter city —
his only daughter, Elsje, the wife of David
Schuyler, of Albany, having been left in that
city.*

Harmanus, Junior, the youngeft of thefe — a
grandfon of the original leffee of Bethlehem Inand, —
by whom the premifes in queftion were purchafed
and occupied, as before ftated, was married to
Catharina Meyer,-)* on Chriftmas day, 1706 ; and
the following children were the fruits of that union :
I. Harmanus, 3D, born on the 30th of April,

paid I5g. for a half vat of beer, delivered to Johannes Bensing, for the burial
of Egbert Norsen. — Munsell's Co/leclions of the Hijiory of Albany, i., 28, 50.

* Harmanus Rutgers's Will, Records of the Surrogate's Office, Liber 8,
Folios 32-35 ; Munsell's Annals of Albany, iii., 76, 86, 99.

•j- This lady died fuddenly, on the 28th of February, 1736. The following
notice of that event appears in The Nctv-Tork Gazette, Numb. 591, From
Tuefday, March 1, to March 8, 1736 :

"N. York, February 28, 6 o'Clock P. M. Juft now we received the melan-
" choly account, That this Morning the Wife of Capt. Harmanus Rutgers of
" this City, being in perfedl Health, eat her Breakfaft as ufual, and about nine
"or ten o'Clock was taken with a Fit, and dyed about Four in the Afternoon,
"without fpeaking a word, to the great Surprize of her forrowful Hulband,
11 Family and Friends."

[ 1 ]

1708 ; married to Elizabeth Benson, on the 7th
of June, 1728 ; and died during the lifetime of his
father; leaving Harmanus,4TH, Anthony, Robert,
Cornelia, Catharina, and Mary. II. Elsje,
born on the 27th of January, 1710; married to
John Marshall, on her birth-day, 173 1 ; and had
Edward, John, and Anna Maria. III. Hen-
drick, born on the 20th of February, 17 12 ; mar-
ried Catharine de Peyster, on the 9th of Janu-
ary, 1732; and had Catharine, married toWiLLiAM
Bedloe ; John ; Anna, married to William
Bancker ; Harmanus ; Elizabeth, married to
Gerard de Peyster ; Harmanus; Hendrick —
fubfequently known to every New-Yorker of his
time, as Colonel Henry ; — Maria, married to
Doclor McCrea, brother of the noted Mifs Jane
McCrea; and Harmanus, who was killed in the
Battle of Long Ifland. IV. Catharina, born on
the 13th of February, 1714; married to Abraham
Van Horne, Junior, on the 27th of December,
1729 ; and had Catharina, married to Cornelius
Beekman, Abraham, Margaret, Elizabeth,
James, and Eva. V. Mary, born on the 10th of
April, 1716; and died on the 14th of Oclober,
1723. VI. Anthony, born on the 7th of June,
1718 ; and died on the 17th of the following Sep-
tember. VII. Eva, born on the 29th of Auguft,
1719; married to John Provost ; and had John.

[ xi ]

VIII. John, born on the 9th of February, 1722;
and died on the 4th of Auguft, in the fame year.*

Mr. Rutgers died on Thurfday, the 9th of
Auguft, 1753, f and his Will, dated the 26th of June,
1750, was proved on the 28th of Auguft, 1753.

By that Will he made various bequefts to his
feveral children ; but to the widow of his eldeft
fon, Harmanus, (Elizabeth Benson,) he left the
property in Maiden Lane, including the dwelling,
brewery, and malt-houfe, during her widowhood,
with remainder to her then eldeft fon, Robert,J
who, on the 23d of September, 1755, was married to
Elizabeth, the daughter of William Beekman;§
and, in September, 1776, when General Howe oc-
cupied the city, with the Royal army, the premifes
were held under that bequeft, by the aged widow of

* The Births of the different members of this family were recorded in the
family Bible of Mr. Rutgers; and I am indebted to the Rev. Howard Crosby,
D. D., for the opportunity to correct and perfect this Iketch from that authori-
tative record. The Marriages have been found recorded in the Rcgifters of the
Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church, in New- York. The Deaths have been
noticed on information derived exclufively from Doctor Crosby.

•j- The following notice of that event appeared in The New-York Gazette : or,
the Weekly Poft-boy, Numb. 550, Auguft 13, 1753:

"NEW-YORK, Augufi 13.
* * * *

" Thurfday laft departed this Life, in an advanced Age, Mr. Harmanus
" Rutgers, a very eminent Brewer of this City, and a worthy honeft Man :
" His Remains were decently interred the next Evening."

\ Record of Wills, in Surrogate's Office, Liber 18, Folios 347—356.

\ Regijier of Marriages, in the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church.

[ «a ]

Harmanus, by whom they had been let to her Ton
Robert, who carried on the hereditary bufinefs of
a Brewer.

As the family belonged to the popular party,
both Robert and his aged mother fled from the
city when the enemy entered ; and the premifes in
queftion were occupied by the Royal forces, for
public purpofes,* until the ioth of June, 1778,
when the CommifTary-General of the army gave his
licenfe for their ufe to Benjamin Waddington and
Evelyn Pierrepont, Merchants, by whom or by
whofe tenants they were occupied, without interrup-
tion, until the ift day of May, 1780, when Sir Hen-
ry Clinton's licenfe to occupy them, at an annual
rent of One hundred pounds, payable quarterly, was
obtained by the fame perfons.f Under the latter au-

* It appears from The Jones Manujcrift that three large breweries were occu-
pied by the Royal troops, and there is little doubt that this was one of them.

I It will be proper, in this place, to notice the policy adopted by the Royal
Commanders-in-Chief, relative to the abandoned property of the refugee inhab-
itants of New- York.

In the abfence of any fund from which the Poor of the city could be pro-
vided for, on the 27th of December, 1777, General Robertson, the com-
mandant in the City of New-York, iffued an Order authorizing nineteen of the
principal inhabitants to form a "Veftry," for the purpofe of foliciting donations
from the charitable, and of difpofing of it among the needy.

This meafure, although temporarily fuccefsful, was not of fuch a character as
would make it permanently ufeful j and, foon after, Sir Henry Clinton added
to the "Veftry," the Mayor of the City and the Overfeer of the Poor; gave to
it the cuftody of the out-door Poor, the Almftioufe, the city pumps, the clean-
ing of the ftreets and flips, the care of the public buildings, ferries, lamps, fire

[ xiii ]

thority, the premifes were occupied from the ill of
May, 1780, until the 17th of March, 1783, when
they appear to have been furrendered by the ten-
ants ; and when the Royal army embarked for Eng-
land, they were reftored to thofe to whom they
legally belonged.

In the meantime, the Legiflature of the State of
New York had taken meafures to protect the in-
terefts of her fubjects who were in exile; and, for
that purpofe, on the 8th of February, 1783, Mr.
Ebenezer Purdy, of Weftchefter County, had in-
troduced a bill into the ArTembly, entitled "A
" Bill for granting fpeedy Relief in Cafes of certain
" Trefpajfesr

apparatus, arms of the militia, etc. ; and authorized it to demand and collet!
rents, for the half-year which would terminate on the ift day of May, 1778,
from all perfons ivho had entered and occupied the property of thofe friends of the
popular caufe ivho had left the city and remained outfde the lines, for the liquida-
tion of its expenfes.

For the more effecYive difcharge of its duties, the " Veftry " appointed a Col-
lector and Treafurer, John Smythe, Efquire ; and, as the authority was con-
tinued, by fubfequent Orders, the papers of that period contained, regularly, his
femi-annual notices to his tenants to make payment of their rents, while the
occafional Reports of the "Veftry" itfelf, mow the fidelity and fuccefs with
which that body difcharged its various duties, 'without draining a penny from the
Royal Treafury, and "without levying a fugle tax on the inhabitants of the city.

Thofe who are curious enough to look further into this fubjecl, will find the
particulars, including the entire feries of the Reports of the "Veftry" in a letter
addreffed to the Mayor of the City by Henry B. Dawson, May 1, 1862; by the
former communicated to the Common Council, with a Special Meffage, May 15,
1862 ; and by the Board of Aldermen, on the fame day, entered, in extenfo, on its
Minutes. Minutes, Stated Seffion, May 15,18 62— Vol. LXXX VI., pp. 208-227.
2

[ xiv ]

On the ioth, it was read a fecond time, and re-
ferred to the Committee of the Whole, by which,
on the 24th, it was reported complete. The Houfe
agreed to the Report, on the fame day, and ordered
the Bill to be engroffed ; and two days later (Feb-
ruary 16th) it was pafTed.*

On the 14th of March, with amendments, it was
patted by the Senate ; on the fame day, the amend-
ments were agreed to by the AfTembly ; ancfon the
17th of the fame month — the day on which the
premifes of the Plaintiff in this action were fur-
rendered by the Defendants, who had occupied them
— the Council of Revifion returned the Act, with its
approval,f and it became a law.

The Act referred to, was in thefe words :J
"CHAP. XXXI.
" An Abl for granting a more effectual Relief in Cafes

" of certain Trefpajfes. Paffed 17th March, 1783.
46 T> E it enabled by the People of the State of New-
" York, reprefented in Senate and AJfembly^ and
11 it is hereby enabled by the Authority of the fame ^
" That it mail and may be lawful for any Perfon or
" Perfons, who are, or were Inhabitants of this
"State, and who, by Reafon of the Invafion of the
" Enemy, left his, her, or their Place or Places of

* Journal of the AiTembly, Original edition, 109-1325 157, 158 -161.
j- Journal of the Senate, Original edition, 1 21-144; "47-
J Sefiions Laws, 1783, Original edition, 283, 284.

[ xv ]

"Abode, and who have not voluntarily, put them-
"felves refpectively, into the Power of the Enemy,
"fince they refpectively left their Places of Abode,
"his, her or their Heirs, Executors or Adminiftra-
" tors, to bring an Action of Trefpafs againft any
" Perfon or Perfons who may have occupied, in-
jured, or deftroyed his, her, or their Eftate, either
" real or perfonal, within the Power of the Enemy,
"or againft any Perfon or Perfons who fhall have
" purchafed or received any fuch Goods or Effects,
"or againft his, her or their Heirs, Executors or
" Adminiftators, in any Court of Record within
" this State, having Cognizance of the fame ; in
"which Action, if the fame fhall be brought againft
"the Perfon or Perfons who have occupied, injured
" or deftroyed, or purchafed, or received fuch real
" or perfonal Eftate as aforefaid, the Defendant or
" Defendants fhall be held to Bail ; and if any
"fuch Action fhall be brought in any Inferior
" Court within this State, the fame fhall be finally
"determined in fuch Court, and every fuch Action
" fhall be confidered as a tranfitory Action. That
" no Defendant or Defendants fhall be admitted to
"plead, in Juftification, any military Order or
" Command whatever, of the Enemy, for fuch Oc-
"cupancy, Injury, Deftruction, Purchafe or Re-
" ceipt, nor to give the fame in Evidence on the
"general Iflue."

[ xvi ]

Under the provifions of this ftatute, numerous
a&ions were inftituted by the owners of property,
againft thofe by whom that property had been oc-
cupied during their abfence ; among whom were
the venerable Elizabeth Rutgers, in the proceed-
ings which are the fubjecl of this work.

The latter appears to have been confidered a teft
fuit ; and, confequently, the moft diftinguifhed
Counfel of the times appear to have been retained
on either fide. The State of New York, alfo, ap-
peared in Court, by her diftinguifhed Attorney-
General, to maintain her right, as a Sovereign State,
to control the great principles at iflue ; and the
relative rights and duties of the feveral States, and
thofe of the Confederacy of which they were refpecl-
ively members, as well as the rights which neceflarily
belong to a Commanding General, in an enemy's
country, in a time of war, fo far as they affecled
the inhabitants and fubje&s of New-York, were
made dependent on this a&ion, which had been
brought in a Court from whofe decifion, under the
provifions of the ftatute, there was no appeal. In
view of thefe circumftances, as well as from the
relative pofitions of the parties, the angry feelings
which then prevailed throughout the State — the
refult of the recent war — and the great number of
cafes, covering claims to a large amount, which
depended upon it, it excited a degree of intereft

xvii

that no other cafe in this State has ever pro-
duced.

The action was brought in the Mayor's Court,
in the City of New York ; and each of the parties
demurred to the plea of the other, the pleadings
clofing with joinders in demurrer, in the ufual
form.

The cafe came up for argument on thefe demur-
rers, on Tuefday, the 29th of February, 1784; and
the moft intenfe excitement feems to have prevailed
throughout the city.

The bench was occupied by James Duane, May-
or, and Richard Varick, Recorder, of the city ;
and Aldermen Blagge, Gilbert, Neilson, Ran-
dal, and Ivers were affociated with them, under
the provifions of the Charter. Mrs. Rutgers, the
Plaintiff in the action, appeared by her Counfel,
Mefirs. John Lawrence, William Wilcox, Col-
onel Robert Troupe, and Egbert Benson, the
Attorney-General of the State, who was, alfo, Mrs.
Rutgers's nephew. Mr. Waddington, the De-
fendant, appeared by his Counfel, Alexander
Hamilton, Brockholst Livingston, and Mor-
gan Lewis ; and the argument was liftened to by a
crowded and attentive auditory.

It is faid that fix of the Counfel were heard by
the Court ; and the following pages will fhow with
what tact and ability the cafe was argued on either

xviii

fide. Unfortunately, the files of the Court, in
which were the pleadings and other papers in this
action, were deftroyed by fire, when the upper ftory
of the City Hall was confumed, on the ift of
September, 1858 ; and there is no original evidence
now in exiftence to fhow the particular parts in the
argument which were taken by the feveral Counfel
engaged.

The Defendant's Counfel did not deny that Mrs.
Rutgers had been an inhabitant of this city ; nor
that, by reafon of the invafion of the enemy, me
had left her place of abode ; nor that me had not
fince voluntarily put herfelf into the power of the
enemy ; nor that the premifes in queftion were her
property ; nor that the Defendant had occupied
thofe premifes, as charged in the Declaration ; and
Mrs. Rutgers was thus admitted to be a complete
Plaintiff, under the provifions of the ftatute. They
denied, however, that the Defendant was fuch a
" Perfon," againft whom an aftion could lie as was
defcribed in the ftatute, becaufe he was a Britijh
fubjeft, a merchant , refiding in an enemy's city,
under the protection of the Britijh army, by whom
it had been conquered; and they evidently main-
tained that, for thofe reafons, he was not amenable
to the State of New York, who was the vanquijhed
party, when the caufe of action accrued. This point
was contefted, of courfe, by the Plaintiff's Counfel ;

[ xix ]

and it is faid that "great pains were taken on both
" fides to enforce the rules by which the ftatute
"ought to be expounded,"* the neceffity of which
mull have been evident to both, fince on this point
the whole cafe depended.

The Defendant's Counfel alfo infifted that the
obtaining of the premifes and their fubfequent oc-
cupation, related to the war and were incidental to
it. They infifted, alfo, that the ufe of the premifes
was veiled in the conqueror by the Law of Nations ;
and they claimed that his licenfe to the Defendant
to ufe it continued the relation ; but it was denied
by the Plaintiff's Counfel that a licenfe from the
enemy's Commander-in-Chief to ufe thofe premifes
for civil purpofes related to the war ; while the un-
authorized permifiion to occupy them for like civil
purpofes, which the enemy's CommifTary-General
had given to the Defendant, it was maintained, was
even lefs related to the war than the former.

The rights of the captors, under the Law of
Nations, and thofe of the Defendant derived from
the captors, were elaborately and learnedly difcuffed
by Mr. Waddington's Counfel ; but the Plain-
tiff's Counfel denied that the Law of Nations
afforded any rule of right, or ought to have any
influence on the Government of a People, to which

* Decifion, 14.

[ xx ]

the ftatute efpecially related. Indeed, the latter
objected, that thefe States are not bound by the
cuftomary and voluntary Law of Nations, any
further than they had refpectively adopted it, or
engrafted it on their feveral codes.

The character of the recent war, and the relative
rights of the oppofing parties — "parts of the fame
" Nation' — were alfo elaborately difcuffed ; and the
applicability of the Law of Nations thereto,
efpecially in view of the common origin and com-
mon allegiance of both parties, were alfo carefully
examined.

The Defendant's Counfel denied the right of
any particular State or Nation — " a particular
"fociety," as the Court defcribed it, — to fo alter
or annul any portion of the Law of Nations as to
deprive a foreigner, when rending in that country,
from appealing to it ; and they confidered and
urged that the Federal compact had given addi-
tional force to that principle.

The Plaintiff's Counfel infifted that the war was
waged by Great Britain for unjuji purpofes ; that the
unjujl party acquires no rights in fuch a war ; that
under the Law of Nations, no right can be derived
from an injury; and that this principle was confonant
to the Common Law. They maintained, alfo, that the
Rights of War are only appropriated to " folemn"
wars ; and they denied that the War of the Revo-

[ xxi ]

lution, being a rebellion, was fuch a "folemn" war.
On the other hand, the Counfel for Mr. Wad-
dington maintained that, by the Law of Nations,
every "folemn" war is considered as a juji war;
that the War of the Revolution was a "folemn"
war; and that, therefore, neither the juftice or in-
juftice of Great Britain was of any confequence for
the purpofes of that action.

Mrs. Rutgers's Counfel denied that the capture
and occupation of the City of New York was
fuch a conqueft as vefted the Britifh Commander
with the difpofal of the rents and profits of real
property ; which they fuftained by a reference to
the Postliminium, and to the facl that no conqueft is
considered complete until conceded by the van-
quished, or by a Treaty of Peace ; and the Counfel
for Mr. Waddington made a fpirited, but evidently
an unfuccefsful, effort to overcome that portion of
the argument of their opponents.

Mr. Waddington's Counfel alfo argued that
every Treaty of Peace implies an amnefty and
oblivion of damages and injuries inflicted during
the war ; and the oppofing Counfel admitted that,
although a Treaty is only an agreement, and has no
force beyond the exprefs terms of its Articles, an
amnefty on all fubjedts relative to the war is properly
implied in every Treaty. They denied, however,
that the occupation of Mrs. Rutgers's premifes by

3

xxii

Mr. Waddington had been relative to the war;
and they denied, therefore, that the amnefty included
in the Treaty was properly applicable to his cafe.

The right of Congrefs to form a Treaty which,
in its operations, mould reach the internal police of
a State was denied by Mrs. Rutgers's Counfel; but
the legality of the Union, the constitutional au-
thority of Congrefs to make Peace, the legal con-
clusion and ratification of the Treaty, and its
binding effects on the feveral States, were ably and
fuccefsfully urged, in opposition, by the Defendant's
Counfel.

In fhort, the Defendant's Counfel relied, chiefly,
on two points : First, The rights of captors, under
the Law of Nations ; and, Secondly, The amnefty
which the Treaty, by implication, at leaft, fecured to
their client; while the Counfel for Mrs. Rutgers
appear to have depended on the uncontrollable
power of the Legislature, within the limits of the
Constitution of the State, and the fanftity of the
laws.

The Court took time to advife ; and on Tuef-
day, the 27th of Auguft, the Decifion, which ap-
pears in the following pages, was delivered by the
Mayor.

It is unneceffary to recapitulate the argument of
the Court ; but it may be remarked, without im-
propriety, that a careful examination of the Decifion

xxiii

has failed to furnifh any evidence concerning fome
alleged features of it, of which much has been faid
by fome of thofe who had never feen it.

The argument of Mr. Waddington's Counfel
that he was not fuch a "perfon" as was referred to
in the ftatute was difregarded (pp. 13-18); as were,
alfo, their arguments on the relations to the war^ of
the Defendant's occupation of Mrs. Rutgers's
premifes (pp. 1 8-20) ; that the rights of the conqueror
became vefted in him, on the receipt of the Com-
mi/fary- General's licenfe (pp. 33-36); and that the
Treaty had furnifhed an amnefty for that "aft of
"usurpation" (pp. 36, 37). The Court alfo de-
cided that there " was not a tittle in the Treaty to
"which the ftatute was repugnant" (p. 44), while it
decided, alfo, that the licenfe from Sir Henry
Clinton, under which the premifes were occupied
between the ift of May, 1780, and the 17th of
March, 1783, was legally iflued and entitled to its
refpeft

It was, in faft, a decision which, in fome refpefts,
at leaft, favored the views of each party ; and it is
not furprifing that neither the one nor the other
was particularly pleafed with it.

On Thurfday evening, the 2d of September, a
jury of twelve citizens was fummoned to meet at
Simmon's Tavern, near the City Hall, to afcertain
the fum due from Mr. Waddington, the De-

xxiv

fendant in the action, for the occupation of the
premifes in queftion ; when the inqueft gave a
verdict of feven hundred and ninety-one pounds,
thirteen fhillings and four pence for Mrs. Rut-
gers.* Mr. Waddington, therefore, had reafon
to difapprove the Decifion, whether confidered the-
oretically or practically.

The "violent Whigs," as Chancellor Livingston
called thofe who were of the Clinton party, con-
fidered the decifion as fubverfive of good order and
the Sovereignty of the State; and, on the 13th of
September, 1784, a meeting was called to confider
the fubje6t. It is not now known by what particu-
lar perfons this meeting was called, nor where it
was held, nor the character and extent of its action ;
but it is evident that a Committee was appointed
to prepare and publifh an Addrefs to the People of
the State, on the action of the Court ; and that
Meffrs. Melancton Smith, Peter Riker, Jona-
than Lawrence, Anthony Rutgers, Peter T.
Curtenius, Thomas Tucker, Daniel Shaw,
Adam Gilchrist, Junior, and John Wiley were
named for that purpofe.f

That Committee duly performed the duty to
which it had been afligned ; and the following,

* The New York Packet, and the American Ad-vertifer, Num. 41 7, Monday,
September 6, 1784.

f Davis's Memoirs of Aaron Burr, ii., 45.

[ XXV

taken from one of the newfpapers of the day,* is
the Addrefs which it iflued :

"TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW- YORK:

" Fellow Citizens :

"It is the happinefs of people who live in a free
" Government, that they may upon every occafion,
"when they conceive their rights in danger, from
" whatever caufe, meet, confult, and deliberate upon
" the proper mode of relief, and addrefs their fellow-
" citizens, pointing out the dangers which they ap-
" prehend, and inviting them to concur in meafures
" for their removal.

" In the exercife of this privilege, a number of the
" free citizens of New York did aflemble, and hav-
" ing appointed us their Committee, gave it in
"charge to us to addrefs you on the fubject of a
cc late decifion of the Mayor's Court, in this City,
" on the law commonly called the Trefpafs Law, in
" a cafe brought to iflue in that Court, between
" Rutgers and Waddington.

cc This action was founded on a law of this State,
" entitled 'An Act for granting more effectual relief
" c in cafes of certain trefpafles,' pafTed in March,
" 1783, by which it is declared, that it mail and may
" be lawful for any perfon or perfons who are or were

* The Netv-Tork Packet, and the American Advertijer, Num. 434, Thurf-
day, November 4, 1784.

xxvi ]

" inhabitants of this State, and who by reafon of the
" invafion of the enemy, left his, her, or their place
" or places of abode, &c, to bring an action of tref-
" pafs against any perfon or perfons who may have
"occupied, injured, or deftroyed, his, her, or their
" eftate, either real or perfonal, within the power of
" the enemy. And that no Defendant or Defendants
" ihall be admitted to plead in j unification, any mili-
" tary order or command whatfoever, for fuch oc-
" cupancy.

" The Plaintiff charged the Defendant for the ufe
" and occupancy of a certain brew-houfe and -malt-
" houfe, in the City of New- York, the property of
" the Plaintiff.

"To this charge the Defendant plead, that the
" premifes in queftion were occupied part of the
" time under the Britifh army, who took poffemon
" thereof by virtue of a permiffion from the Com-
" mander-in-chief of faid army, and the remainder
" of the time by virtue of licenfe and permiffion
" granted by the faid Commander-in-chief to a
" certain perfon, under whom the Defendant held ;
" which licenfes and permirlions the faid Commander
"had authority to give by the Law of Nations.

" The Defendant further plead, that by the Treaty
" of Peace, all right, claim, &c, which either of the
" contracting parties, and the fubjects and citizens of
"either of them, might otherwife have to any com-

xxvii

" penfation, &c, whatfoever, for or by reafon of any
" injury or damage, whether to the public or individ-
" uals, which either of the faid contracting parties,
" and the fubjects or citizens of either, might have
" done, or caufed to be done to the other, in con-
" fequence of, or in any wife relating to, the war
"between them, from the commencement to the
" determination thereof, were mutually and recip-
" rocally, virtually and effectually relinquished,
" renounced and releafed to each other; and further
"averred that the Defendant was, from the time of
" his birth, and at all times fince hath been, a Britifh
"fubject.

" The Plaintiff, to the firft plea of the Defendant,
" namely, that the premifes were held by virtue of
" authority and permiffion from the Commander-in-
" chief of the Britifh army, replied, that me ought
" not to be barred of her action by reafon of that
" plea ; becaufe the law under which me brought her
" fuit did expreffly declare, that no Defendant or De-
" fendants fhould be admitted to plead any military
" order or command whatfoever for the occupancy.

"As to the further plea of the Defendant, namely,
" the Treaty of Peace, the Plaintiff demurred, or
" denied its fufficiency in the law.

" The caufe, as above ftated, was argued on the
" 29th of June pari, before the Mayor's Court, and
"on the 27th of Auguft judgment was given.

xxviii

" The two points which prefented for the Court's
'determination upon, arifing from the two pleas of
' the Defendant, were,

" i ft. Whether permiflion and authority from the
c Commander-in-chief of the Britifh army, agree-
c ably to the Law of Nations, was a fufficient jufti-
' fication to the Defendant for the ufe and occu-
c pancy of the premifes in queftion ; notwithstanding
1 the Ad: of the Legiilature declares, ' that no De-
' cfendant or Defendants fhall be admitted to plead
c<in juftification any military order or command
' 'whatfoever.'

<c 2d. Whether the Treaty of Peace includes in it
'fuch an indemnity as to juftify the Defendant for
' his ufe of the premifes.

" With refpecl to the firft point, the Judgment of
' the Court was, that the plea of the Defendant was
c good for fo much of the time as he held the premi-
f fcs under the immediate authority of the Britifh
1 Commander-in-chief; or in other words, notwith-
' ftanding the law declares that no Defendant fhall
cbe allowed to plead in juftification any military
' order or command whatfoever, yet the authority
1 and permiftion of the Britifh Commander-in-chief
4 fhall be deemed a fufticient juftification; becaufe in
c the opinion of the Court, a liberal conftrudion of
' the Law of Nations would make it fo, and becaufe
' the Court could not believe that a repeal of, or

xxix ]

" interference with, the Law of Nations entered into
" the fcheme of the Legiflature.

" The fecond plea, namely, the Treaty of Peace,
" the Court declared inefficient.

" From this ftate of the cafe it appears that the
" Mayor's Court have affumed and exercifed a power
" to fet afide an Act of the State. That it has per-
" mitted the vague and doubtful cuftom of Nations to
" be plead againft and to render abortive, a clear
" and pojitive ftatute; and military authority of the
"enemy to be plead againft the exprefs prohibition
" of our Legiflature.

"This proceeding, in the opinion of a great part
" of the citizens of this Metropolis, and in our
" opinion, is an aflumption of power in that Court,
" which is inconfiftent with the nature and genius of
"our Government, and threatening to the liberties
"of the People.

" We think the controverfy, notwithstanding the
" immenfe learning and abilities which we are told
" have been difplayed in it, lies within a narrow
"compafs, and within the reach of every common
" underftanding.

" It is reducible to the two following queftions :
" Does the plain and obvious meaning of the ftatute
"prohibit the pleading of any military orders,
" commands, permiflion, and authority of the enemy,
" in justification of any trefpafs for which a fuit can
4

XXX

" be brought under it ? Can a Court of Judicature,
" confiftently with our Conftitution and Laws, ad-
judge contrary to the plain and obvious meaning
"of a ftatute?

" If thefe queftions are anfwered in the negative,
" authorities from Grotius, Puffendorf,Wolfius,
" Burlamaqui, Vattel, or any other Civilians, are
" no more to the purpofe than fo many opinions
" drawn from the fages of the Six Nations.

" If they are anfwered in the affirmative, then
" there can be no difputing againft the opinion of
" the Court.

"With regard to the meaning and intention of
" the Legislature, it may be inferred from the very
" ena&ing of the Law ; for in doing that, they fup-
" pofe that as laws before flood, aftions could
" not lie in cafes of this nature ; to remedy this,
" they make it lawful for perfons defcribed in the
ct Ad, to bring aftions of trefpafs againft, &c, and
" declare that no military authority whatfoever of
" the enemy mall be plead, or evidenced in juftifica-
" tion of the trefpafs.

" No point of controverfy can arife on the cafe,
" but muft turn upon the propriety or impropriety
" of the law itfelf; not upon its conftruclion. For
" the plain language of the law is this, that the
" military power of Great-Britain, by taking pofTef-
<cfion of thefe eftates and giving authority, per-

xxxi

" miSIion, order, or command to perfons for occu-
pying and improving them, mould not excufe the
" occupier from being considered as a trefpaffer,
"and thereby not liable to pay damages to the
" owner. We can hardly conceive it poffible for
" the Legislature to have chofen words that would
" make the intention of their law more clear.

" If what we have ftated be not the true meaning
" of the law, then we conceive that it has no mean-
"ing.

" The time of pafling the law, and the evident
"grounds of it, mow the intention of the Legillature,
" and put it beyond a doubt that the fpirit and literal
" construction of it are the fame. To give a remedy
" to those citizens who had abandoned their eftates
" on the approach of the enemy, and who had ad-
" hered to the fortunes of their country in all its
" viciffitudes; moft of whom had fuffered very great
" lofs of perfonal property, and many of them re-
" duced from affluence to penury and want. The
" real eftates which they owned in the Southern
" District, it was well known, had been greatly in-
jured; moft of them irreparably fo.

" We were then at the clofe of the war. The
" Legislature had certain accounts that the prelimi-
" nary Articles of Peace were Signed. The time
" was considered as juft at hand when the exiles, the
"greater part of whom had expended all their loofe

xxxii

" property, were to be put in poffeflion of their real
" eftates, from which they had fuffered voluntary
" banifhment for more than^feven years. The bad
" condition of their eftates, and their incapacity to
" improve them, made the cafe which the Legifla-
" ture thought proper to afford relief in, by the
"law.

" It is well known that moft of thefe eftates
" were at that time held, or pretended to be held,
" by virtue of authority from the Britifh Com-
" mander-in-chief. The Law of Nations was the
" fame then as at this time, and the immutable
"principles of juftice have not changed. Yet the
"wifdom and fupreme authority of the State did
" declare that no military order or command of the
" enemy fhould be plead or given in evidence.
" The law being thus plain and explicit, it was
" never apprehended that its operation would be
" defeated by the plea of authority from the
" enemy.

" Impreffed with a belief of its complete and
"entire operation, many of the perfons themfelves,
" who held the eftates of exiles under the Britifh,
"abandoned the place with them, to avoid paying
" the damages which would accrue from it.

" The Gentlemen of the Law, we are confident,
"almoft univerfally confidered it as expreffed in
"plain and unequivocal language, that could nob

xxxiii

"be mifunderftood or explained away. In fhort,
" no doubt was entertained of the meaning of the
" law until the cafe of Rutgers and Wadding-
"ton was agitated; and then there was no way
"left for the Defendant to juftify himself but by
"inventing diftin&ions where there was no dif-
" ference, and introducing matter which the law
" prohibited.

" From what has been faid, we think that no one
" can doubt of the meaning of the law. It remains
" to enquire whether a Court of Judicature can
" confidently, with our Conftitution and Laws,
"adjudge contrary to the plain and obvious mean-
" ing of a ftatute.

" That the Mayor's Court have done fo in this
"cafe, we think is manifeft from the aforegoing re-
" marks.

" That there mould be a power veiled in Courts
"of Judicature, whereby they might control the
" fupreme Legiflative power we think is abfurd in
" itfelf. Such power in Courts would be destructive
" of liberty, and remove all fecurity of property.
" The defign of Courts of Juftice, in our Govern-
" ment, from the very nature of their inftitution,
" is to declare laws, not to alter them.

"Whenever they depart from this defign of their
"inftitution, they confound Legiflative and Judicial
" powers.

xxxiv

" The laws govern where a Government is free ;
'and every citizen knows what remedy the laws
'give him for every injury. But this cannot be
c the cafe where Courts, if they deem a law to be
' unreafonable, may fet it afide.

" Here, however plainly the law may be in his
'favor, he cannot be certain of redrefs, until he
'has the opinion of the Court.

" It may be exprejjjed generally , and only fay, that
'all perfons in certain circumftances mall recover
' in certain cafes. But it may not by name bar
'every objection that might poflibly be argued
' againft it, where intereft and inclination hold in-
' vention on the rack.

"It may not particularly defcribe the man, say what
' country he is to fpring from, or what his occupa-
' tion is to be ; and being thus generally exprejfed,
' it cannot be, from the nature of things, but it will
' admit of fome exceptions ; and as it may admit
' of fome exceptions, it muft receive a reasonable
' and liberal interpretation from the Court, how-
' ever arduous the tajk may be. Now the reafoning
' of the Court and the reafoning of the Legiflature
' may lead them to very different conclusions, and
' as the Court reafons laft upon the cafe, it is utterly
' impomble for any man to guefs, when he brings
' a fuit, however exa&ly it may apply to the law,
' until by a tedious and expenfive procefs, he ob-

XXXV

11 tains the opinion of the Court whether he mall
" recover or not.

" It is not our intention to enter into a particular
" confederation of the evils which would refult from
"the exercife of fuch a power in our Courts; much
"lefs to confider all the arguments ufed to vindicate
" the decision in the cafe of Rutgers and Wadding-
s-ton. We are addreffing an enlightened people,
cc who are awake to everything that may affect their
" dearly attained freedom ; who know that the con-
cc fequences which would flow from the eftablifhment
cc of fuch a power would be of the moft ferious and
" pernicious kind ; rendering abortive the firft and
" great privilege of freemen, the privilege of making
" their own laws by their Reprefentatives. For if
" the power of abrogating or altering them may be
" aflumed by our Courts, and be fubmitted to by the
" People, then, as far as liberty and the fecurity of
£c property are concerned, they become as ufelefs as
" other opinions which are not precedents ; and
" from which Judges may vary.

" It is to be obferved that the principal Judges
"are, in moft cafes, appointed to act within the
" limits of a certain age or during good behavior.
"We do not wifh to lerTen their independency; for,
" while they are content to move in their proper
" fphere ; while they fpeak the plain and obvious
" meaning of the law, and do not prefume to alter

xxxvi

"it or to explain it to mean anything or nothing;
"while in the duties of their real province, they
"cannot be too independent; nor ought they to
" be liable to a remove but for misbehaviour. But
" if they are to be inverted with a power to over-
" rule a plain law, though expreffed in general words,
"as all general laws are and mufl be: when they
"may judge the law unreafonable, becaufe not con-
"fonant to the Law of Nations or to the opinions
" of ancient or modern civilians and philofophers,
"for whom they may have a greater veneration
" than for the folid ftatutes and fupreme Legflative
" power of the State : we fay, if they are to affume
"and exercife fuch a power, the probable confe-
"quences of their independence will be the moft
" deplorable and wretched dependency of the Peo-
" pie. That the laws mould be no longer abfolute,
" would be in iftelf a great evil ; but a far more
" dreadful confequence arifes, for that power is not
" loft in the controverfy, but transferred to Judges
"who are independent of the People.

" Thefe being our apprehenfions, we have, in
" compliance with thr requeft of our fellow-citi-
"zens, and from a conviction of its propriety,
"briefly ftated to you our ideas on this important
" affair.

" In a free Government, people mould be in-
" formed of the conduct of their rulers and rhagif-

xxxv ii

" trates. It is a knowledge that is absolutely necef-
" fary to the preferring of their freedom.

" Power prefents so many charms to mankind,
" that there are very few indeed, even of the beft
" of men, who have their avarice and ambition fo
" perfectly under the correction of virtue and true
" wifdom, as not to feel an inclination to furmount
" the limits affigned them ; efpecially when the ad-
ditional temptation of ignorance or inattention
"on the fide of the People prompts to it.

" A private and individual cafe would not juftify
" the meafures which we have taken. But we con-
" fider the decifion in the cafe of Rutgers and Wad-
" dington as an adjudication which may be drawn
" into precedent, and eventually affect every citizen
" of this State. It therefore merits the attention
"of us all.

" To prevent this mifchief, we do not advife our
" fellow-citizens to meafures which are unconftitu-
" tional ; nor do we mean to ufe them ourfelves.
" The mode of redrefs which our excellent Confti-
" tution points out, is,

" First : By an appeal to the Supreme Court,
"where this caufe will be carried by a. Writ of
" Error. We feel a confidence from the characters
" of the gentlemen who prefide in that Court, that
" the law will have its operation reftored in its plain
" and obvious meaning. But if we mould be dif-
" appointed, the caufe is of too much confequence
5

xxxviii

c to reft here. Its importance will grow with the
1 difficulties and defeats it may meet with ; for each
1 of thefe will make a new difcovery of the ftrength
' of its opponents ; each defeat will create a new
' triumph over freedom, and give additional cour-
' age and importance to her adverfaries, and all call
1 upon us the more earnestly to fupport that caufe,
c to defend that ground upon which the ftandard
1 of liberty is erected, and which, if ever furren-
' dered, we mould be prepared to furrender with
1 it every lefs and confequent privilege, whereby we
1 might be* allowed better terms, from defpotifm,
1 than we mould by difcovering our wretchednefs
1 and imbecility in a conteft which the firft defeat
1 will have rendered vain and hopelefs.

" The next mode pointed out by the Conftitution
c is an appeal to the Court of Errors, one part of
' which the Senate conftitutes. Preparatory to fuch
c an event, we exhort you to be cautious in your
c future choice of members, that none be elected
'but thofe on whom, from long and certain ex-
' perience, you can rely, as men attached to the
c liberties of America, and firm friends to our Laws
c and Conftitution : men who will fpurn at any
' propofition that has a tendency to curtail the
'privileges of the People, and who at the fame
1 time that they protect us againft Judicial Tyranny,
' have wifdom to fee the propriety of fupporting
' that neceflary independency in Courts of Juftice,

xxxix

' both of the Legiflature and People, without which
c the fear of difmiflion from office on the one hand,
' and of perfonal violence on the other, might fteal
c into their decifions, and render them interefted and
' corrupt.

" Having confined ourfelves to Constitutional
1 meafures, and now folemnly declaring our difap-
c probation of all others, and having folely for our
'object the fupport of our excellent Constitution
' and the abfolute and entire operation of our Laws,
f we feel a freedom in founding the alarm to our
c fellow-citizens.

" If that independence and freedom, which we
1 have obtained at a rifk which makes the acquifi-
1 tion little lefs than miraculous, was worth con-
tending for againft a powerful and enraged Mon-
c arch, and at the expenfe of the beft blood in
' America, furely its prefervation is worth contend-
£ ing for againft thofe, among ourfelves, who might
c impioufly hope to build their greatnefs upon the
c ruins of that fabric which was fo dearly eftab-
< limed.

" That the principle of the decifion in the cafe of
c Rutgers and Wadbington is dangerous to the
4 freedom of our Government, and that a perfever-
fance in that principle would leave our Legiflature
1 nothing but a name, and render their feffions
c nothing more than an expenfive form of Govern-
c ment, the preceding remarks muft evidence.

[ *1 ]

" Permit us, upon this occafion, earneftly to
"entreat you to join us in a watchful nefs againft
"every attempt that may be ufed, either violently
" and fuddenly or gently and imperceptibly, to
" effecl a revolution in the fpirit and genius of our
" Government ; and mould there be, amongft us,
" characters to whom the Simplicity of it is offen-
" five, let our attention and perfeverence be fuch as
" to preclude the hopes of a change. For even if
" our Government was lefs excellent than it is, it
" would be better for us to be reconciled to a few
"inconveniences than, by a hafty and ill-judged
" Revolution, to put to the hazard all that we now
"enjoy under the prefent.

" Frequent changes or even alterations in Gov-
" ernment, where the People have fo lately come
" to the exercife of one, may produce an inftability
" in them that will be more difagreeable than trifling
" inconveniences in the one already eftablifhed.
" Melancton Smith,
"Thomas Tucker,
" Peter Riker,
" Daniel Shaw,
"Jonathan Lawrence,
"Adam Gilchrist, Jun'r.,
"Anthony Rutgers,
"John Wiley,
"Peter T. Curtenius."

[ xli ]

It is evident that an event of fo much importance,
concerning which fo much excitement prevailed
among the folid men of the State, would not be
allowed to pafs unnoticed in other and more au-
thoritative bodies than primary affemblages of the
People.

On the twelfth of October, 1784, the Legislature
of the State affembled in the City of New York ;
and on the twenty-feventh of the fame month, Mr.
Harper made a motion in the words following,
to wit :

" Whereas at a late trial, had before the Mayor's
" Court, in the City and County of New-York, in
"a fuit commenced by Rutgers againft Wadding-
" ton, on the A5i for granting a more effectual relief
"in cajes of certain tref-pajfes^ in the judgment of
" the faid Court, on the faid trial, it was declared,
" that fuch part of the Act as fpecially provides that
" no Defendant or Defendants mail be admitted to
"plead in justification any military order or com-
" mand whatfoever for fuch occupancy in any action
" brought in purfuance of the Act aforefaid, was in-
" compatible with the Law of Nations ; and that the
" Plaintiff ought not to recover in the fuit for fuch
" part of the time of occupancy of a meffuage as
" the Defendant occupied under the order of the
" Britifh Commander-in-chief."

" Refohed, That the adjudication aforefaid, is in

[ xlii ]

" its tendency, fubverfive of all law and good order,
" and leads directly to anarchy and confufion,
" becaufe if a Court inftituted for the benefit and
"government of a Corporation, may take upon
"them to difpenfe with, and act in a direct viola-
" tion of a plain and known law of the State, all
"other Courts, either fuperior or inferior, may do
" the like ; and therewith will end all our dear-
" bought rights and privileges, and Legiflatures
" become ufelefs.

" Therefore refohed, That it be recommended to
"the Honorable the Council of Appointment, at
"their next appointments, to appoint fuch perfons
" to be Mayor and Recorder of the City of New-
"York, as will govern themfelves by the known
"laws of the land."*

Debates arofe on this motion ; and, after fome
time fpent thereon, the Houfe ordered that the
further confideration of the fubject be poftponed.f

In the afternoon feffion of the Houfe, on Friday,
the 29th of the fame month, Mr. Harper called
the fubject up ; and, by a vote of twenty to nine-
teen, the Houfe fuftained the call.

The fubject was again debated; and, "after fome
"time fpent thereon," Mr. Adgate, of Albany,
moved that " Mr. Speaker afk Mr. Randall, a

* Journal of the Ajfembly, Original edition, 22.
f Ibid., 23.

[ xliii ]

"member of this .Houfe,* in his place, whether in
" a late trial had before the Mayor's Court, held
" for the City and County of New-York, in a fuit
"commenced by Rutgers againft Waddington,
" on the Acl for granting a more effectual relief in
" cafes of certain trefpajfes^ it was declared by the
" faid Court, that the Plaintiff ought not to recover
" any damages for the time the Defendant occupied
" a mefluage under the order of the Britifh Com-
" mander-in-chief."

After a fpirited oppofition, this motion was re-
jected by the Houfe, by a vote of twenty to feven-
teen;f but, on motion of Mr. Harper, after
further debate, the Clerk of the Mayor's Court was
ordered to appear before the Houfe, on the follow-
ing Tuefday (November 2), with the records of the
trial.J

At the defignated time, Robert Benson, the
Clerk of the Court, produced cc the records and'
"papers in the faid caufe;" when the Houfe re-'
fumed the confideration of the fubjedt. The Pre-
amble and Refolutions offered by Mr. Harper,
together with the Pleadings and the Judgment in
the action, were firft read for the information of the
Houfe; when Mr. Purdy, of Weftchefter County,

* Who had fat on the Bench when the cafe was argued and decided.
f Journal of the Ajfembly, Original edition, 29.
% Ibid., 30.

[ xliv ]

the author of the Act under which the action was
brought againft Mr. Waddington, offered a fubfti
tute for Mr. Harper's propofed Preamble, which
the Houfe adopted. After further debate, and an
ineffectual attempt by the minority to fecure another
poftponement of the fubject, the Houfe adopted
the amended Preamble and the firft Refolution, by
a vote of twenty-five to fifteen. The fecond Refo-
lution offered by Mr. Harper — requeuing the
Council of Appointment to appoint a Mayor and
Recorder in New-York, who mould "govern them-
"felves by the known laws of the land" — was
rejected by a vote of nine in favor againft thirty-
one oppofed.*

The Preamble and Refolution thus adopted were
in thefe words :

" Whereas in a late trial had before the Mayor's
" Court in the City of New-York, in a fuit com-
" menced by Rutgers againft Waddington, on the
c< Atl for granting a more effectual relief in cafes of
"certain trefpajfesy notwithstanding it is fpecially
cc provided by the faid Act, that no Defendant or
" Defendants mall be admitted to plead in juftifica-
"tion any military order or command whatever
"of the enemy, for any occupancy, injury, deftruc-
" tion, purchafe, or receipt, nor to give the fame in

* Journal of the AJfembly, Original edition, 32-34.

[ xlv ]

"evidence on the general iffue, the faid Court did
"admit of a plea of the Defendant, wherein he did
" plead that he occupied under the licence and per-
" miflion of the then Britifh Commander-in-chief,
" for a part of the time of occupancy charged againft
" him ; and that therefore the Plaintiff ought not
" to recover for the time of his fo occupying; which
" plea being admitted by the faid Court, Judgment
"was given accordingly.

" Refolved, That the Judgment aforefaid, is, in its
" tendency, fubveriive of all law and good order,
"and leads directy to anarchy and confufion ; be-
"caufe if a Court inftituted for the benefit and
"government of a Corporation may take upon
" them to difpenfe with and a<5l in dired violation
" of a plain and known law of the State, all other
" Courts, either fuperior or inferior; may do the
" like ; and therewith will end all our dear-bought
"rights and privileges, and Legiflatures become
" ufelefs."

It is faid,* that Mr. Waddinton, alarmed at thefe
manifestations, and at the threatened Appeal and
Writ of Error, foon after compromifed with Mrs.
Rutgers ; and the entire fubject became matter of
Hiftory, and, foon after, was entirely forgotten by
the great body of thofe who were moft interefted in
the great political principles which had been involved

Davis's Memoirs of Aaron Burr, ii, 47.

[ xlvi ]

— even thofe who had been moft adive in condemn-
ing the aftion of the Court, appear to have thought
no more of the fubjecl:.

H. B. D.

Morrifania, N. T.} June, 1866.

ARGUMENTS and JUDGMENT

OF THE

MAYOR'S COURT

OF THE

CITY of

NEW- YORK,

In a CAUSE

WEEN

ELIZABETH RUTGERS

AND

JOSHUA WADDINGTON

N E W- T O R K:

Printed by SAMUEL LOUDON.

M,DCC,LXXXIV.

ADVERTISEMENT

THE fuit between Elizabeth Rut-
gers and Joshua Waddington, ha-
ving from its peculiar circumftances been a
fubjecl of much public expectation, it has
been judged, that a publication of the princi-
ples on which the late determination in the
Mayor's Court was founded, might anfwer
fome beneficial purpofes ; and would at leaft
ferve to prevent mifapprehenfion.

In compliance with the wifhes and requeft
of feveral citizens, the arguments and judg-
ment of the Court are now given to the pub-
lic.

ELIZABETH RUTGERS

GAINST

JOSHUA WADINGTON.

THIS was an a&ion of trefpafs brought
againft the Defendant, upon an acl: of the
Legiflature of this ftate, pafled the feven-
teenth of March, one thoufand feven hundred and
eighty-three, for the occupation of a brew-houfe
and malt-houfeof the Plaintiff, from the thirteenth
day of Auguft, one thoufand feven hundred and fe-
venty-eight, until the time of paffing the acl above-
mentioned. The caufe came on to be argued upon
demurrer, before the Honorable James Duane, Efq.
Mayor, Richard Varrick, Efq. Recorder, Benja-
min Blagge, William W. Gilbert, William Neil-
fon, Thomas Randal, and Thomas Ivers, Efquires,
Aldermen, on Tuefday the twenty-ninth day of
June paft.

The Counfel for the Plaintiff, were Mr. Law-
rence, affifted by the Attorney-General, Mr. Wil-
cox, and Mr. Troupe. Thofe for the Defendant

[ 4 ]

were Mr. Hamilton, aflifted by Mr. B. Livingfton,
and Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Lawrence opened the pleadings and argu-
ments on the part of the Plaintiff, and was followed
by Mr. Wilcox. Mr. Livingfton, Mr. Lewis, and
Mr. Hamilton, were next fucceffively heard, in be-
half of the Defendant; and were replied to by Mr.
Lawrence, Mr. Troupe, and the Attorney-General.
The arguments on both fides were elaborate, and
the authorities numerous.

The Court took time to advife, until Tuefday the
twenty-feventh day of Auguft, and then the Hono-
rable the Mayor proceeded to deliver the judgment
of the Court, as follows :

"In the cafe of Elizabeth Rutgers, verfus Jofhua
Waddington, which we gave notice mould be de-
termined this day, the Court now proceed to judg-
ment. It is reprefented to be acontroverfy of high
importance ; from the value of the property, which
in this and other actions depends on the fame. princi-
ples; from involving in it queftions, which muft af-
fect the national char atler: — Queftions whofe decifion
will record the fpirit of our Courts to profperity !
Queftions which embrace the whole law of nations!

It were to be wifhed, that a caufe of this magni-
tude was not to receive its firft impreftion from a
Court of fuch a limited jurifdiction, as that in which
we prefide ; — from Magiftrates actively engaged in
eftablifhing the police of a difordered city, and in
other duties, which cut them off from thofe ftudious
refearches, which great and intricate queftions re-
quire. If we err in our opinion, it will be a
a confolation, that it has been intimated, " to be

probable

[ S ]

probable, whatever may be the determination that
it will not end here."

The Counfel on both fides, who have managed
this caufe, and by whofe diligence and abilities, fo
much learning, on an uncommon fubject, hath been
drawn into view, have fpared us much labour.

We cannot but exprefs the pleafure which we
have received, in feeing young gentlemen, juft call-
ed to the bar, from the aftive and honorable fcenes
of a military life, already fo diftinguifhed as public
fpeakers, fo much improved in an arduous fcience.*

That in aconteft, (which we are told) is not con-
fidered without temporary prepojfejfwn, we may exprefs
our fentiments with more deliberation and correcl:-
nefs ; and that nothing to be offered by us, may be
mifunderftood or mifapplied, we have taken the
trouble to preferve our remarks by committing them
to paper.J

The action is grounded on a ftatute of this ftate,
entitled, " an a<5t for granting a more effeclual relief
" in cafes of certain trefpafTes," paffed the fe-
venteenth day of March, one thoufand feven hun-
dred and eighty-three; and the declaration charges,
i ft. The fubftance of the ad, viz. "That it mail
and may be lawful for any perfon or perfons, who
are, or were inhabitants of this ftate, and who, by
reafon of the invafion of the enemy, left his, her, or
their place or places of abode, who have not volun-
tarily put themfelves refpeclively into the power of

the

* Omnet not pojfunt, ne multi quidem, aut jurifperiti ej/e, aut diferti, fays
Cicero, fpeaking of the fcience of the law in his day. The difficulty is fince
much enhanced by the progrefs of commerce, and the change of manners in
different ages.

f Omnis abjlt in judicando precifitantiat adtoqut txtcmporanca fententie<e te-
mtritat cane pejus ct angut fugiatur. Barbeyrac

[ 6 ]

the enemy, fince they refpeclively left their places of
abode, his, her, or their heirs, executors, or admini-
ftrators, to bring an action of trefpafs againft any
perfon or perfons, who may have occupied, injured,
or deftroyed his, her, or their eftate, either real or
perfonal, within the power of the enemy."

2. Complains that the Defendant, on the thirtieth
day of Auguft, 1778, with force and arms, &c. oc-
cupied one brew-houfe, and one malt-houfe of the
Plaintiff, fituate in the eaft ward of the city of New-
York, and within the jurifdiction of this Court, and
his occupation thereof fo continued, from the faid
13th day of Auguft, in the year 1778, until the
17th day of March, in the year 1783.

3. And alfo, that he the faid Jofhua, with force
and arms, &c. afterwards, to wit, the fame 13th
day of Auguft, 1778, and at divers days and times,
between the faid 13th day of Auguft, 1778, and
the 17th day of March, 1783, occupied one other
brew-houfe, and one other malt-houfe, of her the
faid Elizabeth, within the city and ward, and within
the jurifdiction, &c. et alia enormia, to the great da-
mage, &c. againft the peace, &c. And the faid Eli-
zabeth avers,

1 ft. That there was open war between the king
of Great-Britain, his vaffals, &c. and the people of
the ftate of New- York aforefaid, on the 10th day
of September, 1776, to wit, at the eaft ward, &c.
and within, &c. and that the faid open war con-
tinued from the faid day, until the time of paffing
the act aforefaid.

2d. That the King of Great-Britain, his vaffals,
&c. and the enemy mentioned and intended in the
faid act are one and the fame and not different.

3d. That

[ 7 ]

3d. That me was an inhabitant of the ftate of
New-York, and that the place of her abode was the
city of New-York, in the ftate of New-York, on
the tenth day of September, in the year laft afore-
faid, to wit, in the eaft ward, &c. and within the
jurifdiclion, &c.

4th. That by reafon of the invafion of the enemy,
me the faid Elizabeth afterwards, to wit, the faid
tenth day of September, in the year aforefaid, left
her faid place of abode, to wit, in the ward afore-
faid and within &c.

5th. That fhe did not, at any time after me left
her faid place of abode, as aforefaid, voluntarily put
herfelf within the power of the enemy aforefaid.

6th. That the brew-houfe and malt-houfe afore-
faid, were parcel of the real eftate of the faid Eliza-
beth, and at the days and times they were occupied
by the faid Jofhua were in the power of the enemy,,
to wit, at the eaft ward, &c, and within &c.

Wherefore the faid Elizabeth faith me is made
worfe, and hath fuftained damage to eight thouland
Pounds et inde, &c.

The Defendant to this charge, as to the
force and arms and whatfoever is againft the peace,
and as to the whole of the trefpafs aforefaid, except
as to the occupying the faid brew-houfe and malt-
houfe of the faid Elizabeth, on the twenty-eighth
day of September 1778, and continuing the occupa-
tion thereof until the feventeenth day of March
1783, he pleads not guilty and takes ifTue.

And as to the occupying the brew-houfe and malt-
houfe, on the aforefaid twenty-eighth day of Septem-
ber, 1778, and continuing the occupation thereof
until the laft day of April 1780 inclufively, the faid
Defendant faith, that the faid Elizabeth actionem

non,

[ 8 ]

non, quia dicet, that long before the faid twenty-
feventh day of September 1778, to wit, on the
fourth day of July 1776, in (fubftance) the declara-
tion of independence by Congrefs, who did then and
there declare, that the United Colonies were, and of
right ought to be free and independent ftates ;
that they were abfolved from all allegiance to the
Britim crown, and that all political connection be-
tween them an the ftate of Great-Britain was, and
ought to be totally diflblved, &c. That the faid de-
claration was on the ninth of July, in the year afore-
faid, approved of by the Convention of the ftate of
New- York: And afterwards, on the 8th day of
May 1777, the fame was recognized and confirmed
by the Legislature of this ftate.

That upon the 10th day of September 1776, and
from that time until after the laft day of April
1783, there being open war between &c. the army
of the faid king, on the 10th day of September,
1776, conquered the city of New- York, and con-
tinued in uninterrupted pofleflion thereof, from that
time until and after the laft day of April 1778 ; and
the faid army fo being in pofTeflion, the faid brew-
houfe and malt-houfe, by virtue of authority from
the Commander in Chief of the faid army, on the
10th day of June 1778, was taken pofTeflion of by
the CommifTary-General of the faid army, for the
ufe of the faid army — as by the laws, &c. of nati-
ons in time of war he lawfully might do — and that
the faid CommifTary on &c. at &c. gave his licence
andpermiffionto Benjamin Waddington and Evelyn
Pierrepont, refiding in the faid city as Britim mer-
chants, under the protection of the faid Britifh army,
and having been from their birth and ftill being fub-
jects of the King of Great-Britain, to enter into,

use

[ 9 ]

ufe and occupy the fald malt-houfe and brew-houfe,
from the faid 28th day of September 1778 inclufive-
ly, to the laft day of April 1780 inclufively : By
virtue whereof they entered and occupied the pre-
mifes, from the flrft of the two laft mentioned days
to the laft inclufively ; and the Defendant as their
fervant and at their command, from time to time,
and at divers times from the flrft to the laft of thofe
days, entered into and occupied the faid brew-houfe
and malt-houfe, for the benefit of the faid Benjamin
and Evelyn : Quae eft eadem &c. whereof the Plain-
tiff complains, in the firft count of her declaration.

And as to the occupying the faid brew-houfe and
malt-houfe, from the laft day of April, 1780, to the
17th of March, 1783, he pleads over again the de-
claration of independence of thefeftates; the appro-
bation thereof by the Convention of the ftate; and
the recognition and confirmation thereof by the Con-
vention ; the conqueft of the city of New-York by
the Britifh : And that the brew-houfe and malt-
houfe, being out of the pofTeffion of the Plaintiff,
the Commander in Chief of the faid army, on the
laft day of April, 1780, gave his licenfe and permif-
fion (as by the laws of nations he might lawfully do)
to the faid Benjamin and Evelyn (defcribing them
as in the other plea) to enter into and occupy the
faid brew-houfe and malt-houfe, from the laft day of
April, 1780, until the faid licenfe and permiffion
mould be revoked; paying therefore to fuch perfon
as the Commander in Chief fnould authorize to re-
ceive the fame, at the rate of one hundred and fifty
pounds for each year, in quarterly payments, &c.

He then avers that they accordingly entered and
occupied the faid brew-houfe and malt-houfe, on the
B 1 ft

[ io ]

i ft day of May, 1780, and continued the occupa-
tion thereof until the 17th day of March, 1783, till
when the faid licenfe remained in force ; and then
avers as before, that he as their fervant, and at their
command, from time to time and at divers times,
between the two laft mentioned days, did enter and oc-
cupy the faid brew-houfe and malt-houfe, &c. quae
eft eadem &c. concluding with an averment, that
the faid Benjamin and Evelyn did pay the faid one
hundred and fifty pounds a year to John Smith, ap-
pointed by the faid Commander in Chief to receive
the fame.

For further plea to the whole of the trefprafs, ac-
cording to the form of the ftatute, the Defendant
faith, that the Plaintiff actionem non &c. Becaufe
he faith, that after the pafling the act of the Legifla-
ture of this ftate, in the declaration mentioned, to
wit, on the 3d day of September, 1783, at &c. a
certain definitive treaty of peace, between the king
of Great-Britain and his fubjecls, and the United
States and the fubjects and citizens thereof and of
each of them, was entered into, made and conclud-
ed by plenipotentiaries on the part of the faid king
and ftates refpeclively (naming them) in virtue of
full powers &c. which definitive treaty, on the 14th
day of January, 1784, at Annapolis, &c.bv the Uni-
ted States of America in Congrefs, then and there
afTembled in due form, was ratified and confirmed;
and afterwards on the fame day, announced and pub-
lished by proclamation under the feal of the United
States, to all the good citizens of the faid United
States; enjoining all magiftracies, legiflatures, &c.
to carry into effect the faid definitive treaty &c.
prout &c. In virtue of which faid definitive treaty,

all

[ II ]

all right, claim, &c. which either of thefaid contracting
parties, and the fubjects and citizens of either of
them might otherwife have had to any compenfation,
recompence, retribution, or indemnity whatfoever,
for or by reafon of any injury, or damage, whether
to the public or individuals, which either of the faid
contracting parties, and the fubjects and citizens of
either might have done or caufed to be done to the
other, in confequence of, or in any wife relat-
ing to the war between them, from the time of the
commencement to the determination thereof, were
mutually and reciprocally, virtually and effectually,
relinquished, renounced and releafed to each other &c.
— And he avers, as in his other plea, that from the
time of his birth, and at all times fince, he hath been
and ftill is a fubject of the king of Great-Britain:
And between the times in his plea mentioned, as a
fubjecl: of the faid king, refided in the city of New-
York, ufing the art, trade, &c. of a merchant, un-
der the protection of the army of the faid king, then
waging war a^ainft the faid ftate ; et hoc paratus eft
verifkari : Wherefore he prays judgment whether
the faid Plaintiff, her action againft him ought to
have or maintain ; with this, that the faid Jofhua
will verify that the whole of the trefpafs by him fup-
pofed to be committed, is for certain acts &c. by
him fuppofed to have been done while he was re-
dding as a fubject of the faid king, and under the
protection of the army of the faid king, and in re-
lation to the war aforefaid.

The Plaintiff replies as to the plea of the De-
fendant, as to the refidue of the trefpafs, by him
done as aforefaid, by him above pleaded in bar,
that me by reafon thereof ought not to be barred

from

[ " ]

from her faid action ; becaufe me fays, that by the
act &c. for granting a more effectual relief in cafes
ofcertaintrefpaffes, in her declaration in part recited,
it is alfo among other things enacted, that no De-
fendant or Defendants, mail be admitted to plead in
j uftiflcation any military order, or command what-
foever of the enemy, for fuch occupancy: And avers,
that the faid Commiftary-General and Commander
in Chief were, at the time of giving the permiffion
orlicenfe, fubjects to the faid king of Great-Britain,
the enemy mentioned and intended by the act afore-
faid,and in the military fervice of the faid king: Where-
fore feeing that the laid Joshua hath acknowledged the
trefpafs by him done as aforefaid, the faid Elizabeth
prays judgment and her damages, &c.

And as to the further plea of the faid Jofhua, to
the whole of the trefpafs aforefaid by him pleaded
in bar, the Plaintiff demurs.

And the Defendant on his part demurs to the plea
of the Plaintiff laft above pleaded.

The pleadings clofe with joinders in demurrer, in
the ufual forms.

From thefe pleadings, and the arguments which
they have produced, three queftions are prefented

for our confederation.

Ift. Whether the Plaintiffs cafe iswithinthe letter and
intent of the ftatute on which this action is grounded?

I Idly. Whether the laws of nations give the cap-
tors, and Defendant under them, rights which con-
troul the operation of the ftatute and bar the prefent
fuit?

I I Idly. Whether there is fuch an amnefly in-
cluded or implied in the definitive treaty of peace,
as virtually or effectually relinquifhes or releafes the
Plaintiff's demand under the faid ftatute ?

Under

[ -3 ]

Under one or other of thefe heads, all the reafons
and authorities which have been offered on both
fides, may be properly applied:

I. Then we are to enquire, whether the Plain-
tiff's cafe is within the letter and intent of the fta-
tute, on which this action is grounded.

From the conceffions which arife out of the plead-
ings, we find, that according to the letter of the fta-
tute, fhe was an inhabitant of this city, who by
reafon of the invafion of the enemy, left her place
of abode ; and that fhe hath not fince voluntarily
put herfelf into the power of the enemy ; that the
brew-houfe and malt-houfe in queftion, were part of
her real eftate ; " that they were occupied by the
" Defendant as charged in the declaration, and at
" the time of fuch occupancy, were in the power'
{C of the enemy :" and nothing more is required to
make Mrs. Rutgers a compleat Plaintiff, within the
ftatute.

Inftead of contesting this point, the Defendant's
counfel endeavour to fhew, that according to the in-
tention of the Legislature, the ftatute cannot com-
prehend the Defendant. For this purpofe, they
ftrongly rely on his being a Britifh fubjecl:, rending
in this city as a merchant, under the protection of
the Britifh army, when the caufe of aclion accrued.

Without embarraffing the queftion at prefent with
the privileges claimed for the Defendant, either
from the temporary conqueft of the city, or the defi-
nitive treaty^ — which will hereafter meet with due
attention — it feems proper to confider fimply, whe-
ther from the nature of the provifion, and the cir-
cumftances of the Defendant, he was intended to be
included in the ftatute, for if it doth not extend to

him

[ H ]

him there is an end of the fuit — if it doth extend,
there will be a fair opening to examine — whether the
temporary conqueft, or the treaty of peace, operate
as an extinguifhment, or releafe of the caufe of acti-
on ? And here it will be proper to enquire into the
occafion and nature of the ftatute — the remedy it pro-
vides— and the rules by which it ought to be con-
ftrued.

The ilatute was made at the eve of a war, when
peace, and an evacuation of the fouthern diftrid,
were like to take place. The objecl: of it, as the
title exprefTes, was for granting a more effectual re-
lief in cafes of certain trefpaffes. The perfons who
are to be redreffed are the exiles, who were compel-
Jed to retire from their eftates, on the invafion of the
fouthern diftrict: The perfons to be profecuted,
were thofe who had occupied, injured, or destroy-
ed, the real or perfonal eftates of those exiles, with-
in the power of the enemy: and it is provided, that
every Defendant who had occupied, injured or de-
ftroyed the property, mall be held to bail ; and
that no Defendant mall be admitted to plead in juf-
tification, any military order, or command of the
enemy for fuch occupation, &c.

This then is clearly a remedial law. Great pains
have been taken on both fides, to enforce the rules
by which it ought to be expounded.

The counfel for the Defendant urge, that a found
legal difcretion ought to be ufed in recurring to firft
principles; fo as to make law a rule of right, and
not a net to entangle juftice. That Ratio eft anima
legis : et qui haret in liter a haret in cortice; they point

out

[ i; 3

show, 405 to out jlow far ^ Common law is to be

10 mod. 20. r 1 j • 1 n • n

Bacon, p. 648, coniulted, in the conftru&ion of fta-

4 co. 71 a.

Vin. Stat. 512
4 co. p. 13.

1 Domat. p. 78
Puff. b. 5 c. 1
p. 6.

Plow. 466, 7

Bac. Stat. 649
to 651.

tutes. —

That ftatutes againft law and reafon
are void. —

That many things are within the
letter, which are not within the equity
of a ftatute. —

That no ftatute can be conftrued fo
as to be inconvenient, or againft rea-
fon.—

They exemplify thefe rules by a number of par-
ticular cafes, to which if time does not fail us, pro-
per attention fhall be paid in another place.

They add, that this being an act ofamere private
nature ', may be the more eafily controuled.

On the other hand it is urged, — That when a fta-
tute gives a remedy for a wrong, it is to be conftrued
according to equity. —

That it ought to be conftrued in
fuppreftion of the mifchief, and in ad-
vancement of the remedy. —

That it ought to be* interpreted rea-
fonably, and according to the mean-
ing of the Legiflature.. —

That what is in the fame mifchief
is in the fame remedy, tho' out of the
letter. —

That even in the conftruftion of a
penal ftatute the intention is to be re-
garded.—

That a court ought fo to conftrue
a ftatute as not to fuffer it to be elu-
ded.—

In

Wood 10.

Wood 9
mod. 161.

Wcod 10.

8 mod. 65.

Hob. 97.

[ .6 ]

In one point, both parties agree, that the advice
of Plowden is moft worthy of attention. " In order,
" fays he, to form a right judgment whether a cafe
" be within the equity of a ftatute, it is a good
" way to fuppofe the law maker prefent, and that
" you afked him the queftion — did you intend to
" comprehend this cafe? Then you muft give your-
" felf fuch anfwer as you imagine, he being an upright
" and reqfonable man, would have given. If this be,
" that he did mean to comprehend it, you may fafe-
" ly hold the cafe to be within the equity of the fta-
" tute ; for while you do no more than he would
" have done, you do not acl contrary to but in con-
" formity with the ftatute.".

The remit of all thefe rules is obvioufly this —
that remedial laws are fo to be expounded as to have
their full force— m advancement of the remedy- -upon
an equitable interpretation—according to the inten-
tion of the Legiflature — to be fought after by zfound,
legal difcretion.

Under the impreffion of thefe maxims, it is aiked
whether the law intended to exempt, or to include a per-
fon under the circumftances or defcription of the
Defendant.

Here then is a Britifh merchant, who merely for
the purpofe of commerce refided in the city, while
it was in the power of the Britifh, for his own private
accomodation: He was permitted by the Commijfary-
Generaly and afterwards by the Commander in Chief,
to enjoy the Plaintiff's property for near fix years :
He has paid as a rent, one hundred and fifty pounds
a year, for three years only of the term, to the order
of the Britifh Commander in Chief. He remains in
the city, purfuing his bufinefs as a merchant, altho'

thofe

[ 17 ]

thofe under whofe protection he exercifed his func-
tion, are long fince withdrawn.

The temporary conqueft and the definitive treaty-
out of the queftion, what can exempt him from the
defcription of the ftatute ? Can any or all the max-
ims laid down by his counfel for its conftrudtion ?
Before affent is yielded to fuch a propofition, let
us take a nearer view of his cafe as connected with
his principals under whom he juftifies.

If they did not come to this country to join the
military in its oppreflion, and to enrich themfelves
by its fpoils — a fufpicion too difhonorable to be en-
tertained ! If they refided here under the protection
of the Britifh army, to purfue their private affairs as
merchants— as their pleas avow, and we are bound to
believe. — If for their private purpofes, without rela-
tion to or connection with the war, they occupied
the Plaintiff's tenements, confefTedly for a conflder-
able part of the time without any confideration at
all? why it is repeated mould they be exempted from
this ftatute ?

How, as applied to them perfonally and indepen-
dent of national confiderations, can it be hard or con-
trary to reafon or juftice, that they mould be com-
pelled to pay an adequate rent for the accommoda-
tions which they have enjoyed? why mould they
even wifh to be exempted at the expence of a widow,
driven into exile by the dread of zfiege, or the ex-
pectation of zjlorm ? would not this be unreafona-
ble, unjuft? If, according to the advice of Plow-
den, we were to fuppofe ourfelves converfing with
the members of the Legiflature ; that the Defen-
dant's cafe was fairly ftated, as it in fad exifted, at
the moment of parting the ftatute ; and that they
C had

[ i« ]

had been afked whether they meant to comprehend
fuch a cafe, what would probably be their anfwer ?
there is no doubt in our minds but it would be in
the affirmative. The fpirit import general terms of
the ftatute ; its defign and the circumftances which
gave it birth, feem fully to juftify this conclusion.

Befides that Legiflature knew too well the prac-
tice of war, to fuppofe that the Commijfary -General of
a Britifh army had competent authority to grant the
licenfe or'permiffion in queftion : From the nature
of his office the contrary would be prefumed,
efpecially when the pleas themfelves aver exprefsly,
" that the faid brew-houfe and malt-houfe, by virtue
" of authority from the Commander in Chief of the faid
" army, were taken pofTeffion of by the faid Com-
" mirTary-General for the life of 'the faid army ." The
licenfe then from the CommifTary to occupy thofe
tenements for the private purpofes of the Defendant's
employers was repugnant to the orders of his Com-
mander in Chief; an encroachment on other depart-
ments, for which there was no colour of right ; and it
is confequentlyto be confidered as a mere nullity. This
had the fads been fully reprefented, the Legiflature
could not but have obferved : To give it now its pro-
per weight will be the duty of the court.

As a circumftance of much moment to the Defend-
ant it is contended, that the obtaining and 'the occupancy
of the tenements in queftion, related to the war.

In arguments, which difplay great fkill, and an
uncommon degree of zeal and induftry, this interest-
ing point is ilightly touched.

The relation/hip to the war refults from the capture
of the city, fay the gentlemen, by which the right
to the ufe of the lands vefted in the conqueror : His

authority

• [ 19 ]

authority to the Defendant to ufe it continues the
relation, and by way of illustration this cafe is ftated
— cca prize fhip is condemned and fold — the pur-
" chafer is a merchant : tho' this is a private fpecula-
" tion on his part, yet the damage done was in rela-
" tion to the war, and the fale and purchafe good."

But this is a remote argument indeed. The mer-
chant here had no other agency than to purchafe a
prize lawfully condemned, in which, by the law of
nations, the original owner no longer had any inter-
eft, the property being abfolutely and effectually
changed. Can it then be faid with the leaft appear-
ance of reafon, that this purchafe was an act which bore
a relation to the war ? it is true the original capture and
the damage fuftained by it were confequences of the
war; but thefe circumftances could produce no rela-
tionship between the act done by the merchant —
The purchafe, which is the true point — and the war.

Let us fuppofe a cafe ; a ftatute partes to criminate
every man within the power of the enemy, who had
voluntarily done any act on the fide of the enemy, in
relation to the war; could this Defendanton thefacts
ftated in the pleadings, have been convicted ? Take
up that part of the cafe, which would have been moft
unfavourable to him — his contract with the Britifh
commander : He hired the tenements from him ;
but itwasfor thepurpofeof his own private commerce:
The rent which he paid contributed to ftrengthen
the hands of the enemy ; but they had a right to
raife contributions ; they had a force to collect them,
which could not be refifted. Here then is no evi-
dence of hoftility or enmity, of a concern in or rela-
tion to the war. The moft zealous of our friends,
within their power, could have been compelled to
be related to the war in this way: They muft either

fubmit

[ *o ]

fubmit to be accommodated on the terms ofthe con-
queror, or to perim in the ftreets. Under the pro-
fecution then which we have fuppofed, the Defendant
mull have been acquitted.

We muft not be amufed by high founding words
— too much is attempted — if a conftruction ofthe
licenfe from the Britifh commander to occupy the
tenements for the three laft years of the term,
had depended abftraftedly on the voice of reafon, we
muft have found it difficult to conceive how even
fuch a licenfe bore a relation to the war.

Here however, other considerations, which it will
be premature to explain in this place, muft have
their weight.

But when it is infifted that the remainder ofthe
term for which the tenements were held under the
bare unauthoritative permimon of the Comrniffary-
General, had any relation to the war, it is altogether
without foundation.

We proceed now to the fecond general head, in
which it is propofed :

Ildly. To enquire — whether the law of nations
gives the captors, and the Defendant under them,
rights which controul the operation of the ftatute, and
bar the prefent fuit ?

To maintain thofe rights and that controul, the
Defendant's counfel have entered into a large difplay
ofthe law of nations, its principles, divifions, obli-
gations and effects, and have pointed out the facred-
nefs of its authority, and the temerity and dimonour,
in a national view, of countenancing any act repug-
nant to it.

On the other hand, one of the Plaintiff's counfel
from a view of the contradictory opinions, which

were

[ « ]

were read, feemed to think that this law afforded
no rule of right, and ought to have no influence on
the government of a people.

The truth is, that the law of nations is a noble
and moft important inftitution : The rights of fove-
reigns, and the happinefs of the human race, are
promoted by its maxims and concerned for its vin-
dication.

We hitherto have not been fo loudly called upon
to form and inculcate an extenfive knowledge of
this interefting fcience; but now fince we are placed
in a new fituation, as one of the nations of the earth,
it is become an indifpenfable obligation. We pro-
fefs to revere the rights of human nature; at every
hazard and expence we have vindicated, and fuc-
cefs fully eftablifhed them in our land ! and we can-
not but reverence a law which is their chief guar-
dian— a law which inculcates as a firft principle — ■
that the * amiable precepts of the law of nature, are
as obligatory on nations in their mutual intercourfe,
as they are on individuals in their conduct towards
each other; and that every nation is bound to con-
tribute all in its power to the happinefs and perfec-
tion of others ! What more eminently diftinguiihes
the refined and polifhed nations of Europe, from the
piratical ftates of Barbary, than a refpecl or a contempt

for

* Principles of the Law of Nature, referred to. That man was made

for foci 'ety — that fociety is abfolutely neceffary for man — that the public good
ought always to be the fupreme rule — that the fpirit of fociability ought to be
univerfal — that we ought to have the fame difpofition towards other men, as
we defire they fhould have towards us — that we fhould behave in the fame
manner towards other men, as we would be willing they fhould behave to-
wards us in the like circumftances — that we fhould preferve a benevolence
even towards our enemies — that although the exercife of benevolence towards
our enemies may from neceffity be fufpended, yet we are not allowed to ft if e
its principle ; that revenge introducing, inftead of benevolence, a fentiment
of hatred and animofity is condemned ; becaufe fuch a fentiment is vicious
in itfelf, and contrary to the public good.

[ 2* ]

for this law. Books therefore which treat of the
law of nations have always been received with avi-
dity and applaufe.

The principal authorities adduced in this caufe,
are from Grotius, Puffendorff, Wolfius, Burla-
maqui and Vattel.

Grotius* in his book de jure belli et pacts, profeffes
to treat of but a fmall part of the law of nations —
marriage — the power of fathers — mailers— and fove-
reigns-promifes-contracls-oaths-treaties-ambana-
dors-burials-punifhments-peace and war.

Commentators have obferved, that tho' this ce-
lebrated work contains many excellent precepts, it
is neither methodical nor comprehenfive.

Puffendorff next compofed his treatife, de jure na-
ture et gentium, in which we find more order, and
great erudition : But it has been obferved, that this
work is not free from error, and that the author has
not fhewn how the civil does not deftroy natural fo-
ciety ; and that the latter only ferves to perfect the
former.

We are informed, that to illuftrate this was at-
tempted by Woljius;% and after him by Burlamaqui.\\
This laft work, fays a writer, is evidently rather an
introduction than &Jyftem ; and it ferved only to ex-
cite a defire to fee it continued with equal perfpicu-
ity and elegance. The honor of this tafk was re-
ferred for the great Vattel, whofe work is entitled
to the higheft admiration ! He modeftly takes Wol-
fius for his guide ; but in numberlefs paffages cor-
rects, abridges and improves him. What Wolfius
has diffufed into fourteen volumes, our author has
contracted into one ; at the fame time that his rea-

fonings

* A profeflbr of the law at Groningen. % The great Saxon philofopher.
II Profeffor of civil and natural law at Geneva.

[ n ]

fonings are clear and fatisfactory, and carry nothing
of the drynefs of an abridgment.

Thus we fee, that the writers on the law of na-
tions are diftinguimed philofophers, of different
countries and ages ; fome educated mrepublics; fome
in monarchies ; fome at a time when prejudice, and an
ignorance of the rights of mankind prevailed ; and
others when philojophy had refined the reafon, and in
fome meafure fubdued the fiercer paffions of the hu-
man mind.

Hence it can be no more an objection or re-
proach to the law of nations, than it is to any other
fcience (for all partake of imperfection)-- -that a dif-
ferenceoffentimentsandopinionsfhouldbedifcovered
among different authors !— A further ufe intended
by thefe obfervations, is to juftify the preference,
which we mall give to Mr. Vattel, in points where
we mail find him at variance with other writers.

But to return from this digreiTion, to the argu-
ments before us: It has been objected by one of
the Plaintiff's counfel, that thefe ftates are not bound
by the cuftomary and voluntary law of nations, any fur-
ther than as either of them, has adopted or engrafted
them.

But the objection has been fully anfwered : By
our excellent conftitution, the common law is de-
clared to be part of the law of the land ; and the
jus gentium is a branch of the common law. In re-
publica maxime confervandi Jut jura belli, is an ancient
adage.
CoLp. nb. The authorities cited on this point

Bum 3 'vol. P! for the Defendant are full and conclu-
i4 30. flve-

Indeed if we mould not recognife the law of na-
tions,

[ 24 ]

tions, neither ought the benefit of that law to be ex-
tended to us : and it would follow that our com?nerce,
and our p erf ons, in foreign parts, would be unpro-
tected by the great fanctions, which it has enjoin-
ed.—

After being thus explicit, it is almoft unneceffary
to touch a more limited queftion, of the fame na-
ture, wh ch has been debated in the courfe of the
arguments, viz.

Whether the common laws of war which apply
to two great nations, apply to two great parts of the
fame nation ?

The manner in which Mr. Vattel treats this quef-
tion, is highly fatisfactory ; and humanity forbids,
that his principles mould be ever called in queftion !

When a nation becomes divided into two parties
abfolutely independent, and no longer acknowledg-
ing a common fuperior, the ftate is diffolved ; and
the war betwixt the two parties, in every refpecl:, is
the fame with that of a public war, between two dif-
ferent nations. Independent of each other, they can
have no judge ; like two different nations, they ap-
peal to the ultima ratio regum— they decide the quar-
rel by arms— were it not for the reitraints impofed
by the law of nations, fuch a civil war would be be-
yond expreffion cruel and deftru&ive. Hafty pu-
nifhments, in the moment of rage and animofity,
would mark its progrefs with injuftice, ilaughter
and defolation.

But alas ! have the restraints of that benevolent
law protected our country in the late war, from the
miferies we have defcribed ? They have not !— Ven-
geance unreftrained, and undiftinguifhed, hath been
let loofe upon us in all her horrors !

But

[ H ]

But it is peace !— Let our injuries and our refent-
ments be buried forever in the definitive treaty ! —

What we have fuffered cannot alter the common
laws of war : they are founded upon reafon and hu-
manity, and will prevail as long as reafon and huma-
nity are cultivated. As philofophy and the love of
mankind extend themfelves, thefe beneficial inftitu-
tions will, we truft, be ftill further improved, to con-
troul the human paffions, and mitigate the afperities
of war ; till in the end hoftilities fhall be banifhed
from the world, as difgraceful to our nature.* But
to return to the point.

The words which follow, are the decifion of Vat-
tel, fpeaking of the cafe before us—" The obliga-
" tion" fays he, cc of obferving the common laws
vatt. b. 3, P. « of war, is therefore abfolute indifpenfi-

m.laft claui'e ,, 7 , J , , • j .1 r

of 1 3. ble to both parties; and the lame

" which the law of nature obliges all nations to obferve
" between ftate and ftate."

And here it is questioned, whether fince the law
of nations is obligatory, it may in any part be alter-
ed by a particular fociety, fo as to deprive a foreign-
er, when refiding in that country, of his appeal to
them ?

The Defendant's counfel deny, that in theory, a
particular ftate hath fuch a right. They raife this
diftinclion, that where there is merely an infringe-
ment of the local law, foreigners like all others, muft
D be

* The ancients it is remarked, were imprelTed with but a very faint idea
of the law of nations. Some are of opinion, that it had its origin in the
reign of Charlemagne, about the middle of the eighth century, before which
time the nations of Europe, but little civilized, oblerved few treaties : Others
fix it at a much later period, affirming that all knowledge of the fcience be-
fore the reign of Maximilian Ift. (about the beginning of the fixteenth cen-
tury) is rather matter of curiolity than inftruftion. However fince this la ft
period, its progrefs hath been gradual, and its influence more and more ex-
tensive.

[ *6 ]

be judged by that law: But where the tranfaction
originally affects a man's conduct, as a member of a
foreign nation, he may appeal to the law of nations,
and by that law, which is part of the law of the land,
the thing muft be decided.

And they confider the foederal compact as giving
additional force to this reftraint—

In fupport of this reafoning, a paffage from the
Eiem. jurifp. elements of jurifprudence, is cited to

page 62. tn}s effect :

" States like the individuals who compofe them,
are moral perfons, they have a public will and un-
derstanding, are capable of natural and acquired
rights, and fufceptible of refpective obligations.
The primary law of nations therefore is no other than
the law of nature, fo far as it is applicable to them.
Whatever, in this behalf, reafon dictates is a duty
of natural juftice, from the neceffary law of nations."

Thus far we could agree with the profeffor, that
no ftate can by its feparate ordinance, prejudice any
part of fuch a law— nay, that all the ftates of the
world united could not ; becaufe being of moral
obligation, it is immutable. But when this doctrine
is applied in general to all cuftoms, which prevail
by tacit confent as part of the law of nations ; we do
not find that he is warranted by authorities.
Hook. ec. poi. Hooker's ec. pol. not being at hand,
b. 1. g. 10. we nave not examined him.

But Vattel treating of the neceffary law of nations-
which Grotius calls the internal law of nations, and Se-
veral others the natural law of nations, ufes thefe
ftrong expreffions.

" Since then the neceffary law of nations confifts in
the application of the law of nature to ftates, and is

immutable

[ V ]

immutable, as being founded on the nature of things ,--
and in particular on the nature of man : It follows,
that the neceffary law of nations is immutable,
and whence, fays he, as this law is immutable,
the obligations that arife from it neceffary and indif-
penfable, nations can neither make any change in
it, by their conventions, difpenfe with it them/elves,
nor reciprocally with refpect to each other.

The reftraint then of which the lecturer fpeaks
is not perhaps fo general, as he teaches ; for accor-
ding to Mr. Vattel, it feems only to be applicable to
Vattei, P. 2 3. laws of moral obligation.

Now we know, that there are ufages of nations
which are indifferent, and which, as Mr. Vattel ob-
ferves, different ftates may agree to eftablifh by trea-
ty, or introduce by cuftom, at their pleafure.

With refpecl: to fuch ufages, it might perhaps
have been confidered that every nation by the law
of nature,, is free and independent of all foreign and
external controul ; but if one nation muft be fub-
jected, at all events, to ufages which me cannot ap-
prove, becaufe others may have thought fit to adopt
them, her liberty would no longer remain entire.

The ufages of ranfoming captures at fea, feems to
have been dictated by a fpirit of benevolence ; it fa-
voured perfonal liberty; it afforded fome alleviations
to the misfortune of the captive merchant and ma-
riner, who, unconnected with the war, were in-
terrupted in the purfuit of their private concerns ; it
was an ufage which, we believe, every polifhed na-
tion adopted : Neverthelefs, when Great-Britain con-
ceived, that this ufage did not correfpond with her
intereft, her Parliament did not hefitate to abrogate
it; for by a ftatute paffed fo lately as 1782, it is
made unlawful for any Britifh fubject to ranfom his
fhip or effects when captured, " and all contracts

[ »» ]

and agreements which fhall be entered into, and all
bills and other fecurities which mail be given to any
perfon or perfons, fhall be abfolutely void."

It cannot be faid, that this is a law operating only
on the fubjects of the Britifh ftate. All commer-
cial nations appear to be interefted in the ufage ; it
was a benefit to the captor as well as the captive ; nor
is any provifion made for ranfom bills, which might
have taken effect before the law could be promul-
Doug. KeP. gated to the different parts of the
p. 169. world.

This circumftance proves, at leaft, that the Bri-
tifh nation did not confider itfelf bound by thebroad
principles laid down by the lecturer.

Time will not permit us to give this fubject a ful-
ler difcuffion.

We muft acknowledge there appears to us very
great force in the obfervation arifing from the fede-
ral compact. By this compact thefe ftates are bound
together as one great independent nation; and with
refpect to their common and national affairs, exercife
a joint fovereignty, whofe will can only be mani-
fefted by the acts of their delegates in Congrefs af-
fembled. As a nation they muft be governed by
one common law of nations ; for on any other prin-
ciples how can they act with regard to foreign pow-
ers ; and how fhall foreign powers act towards them ?
It feems evident that abroad they can only be known
in their federal capacity. What then muft be the ef-
fect ? What the confufion ? if each feparate ftate
fhould arrogate to itfelf a right of changing at plea-
fure thofe laws, which are received as a rule of con-
duct, by the common confent of the greater! part
of the civilized world.

We fhall deduce only one inference from what

hath

[ *9 ]

hath been here obferved — that to abrogate or alter
any one of the known laws or ufages of nations, by
the authority of a fingle ftate, muft be contrary to
the very nature of the confederacy, and the evident
intention of the articles, by which it is eftablifhed,
as well as dangerous to the union itfelf.

We are next led by the arguments which have
been offered, to examine — whether the war was of
fuch a nature ; and the capture fuch a conqueft as ab-
folutely to transfer, under the idea of an ufufrucl,
the rents and ifTues of houfes and lands to the Bri-
tifh Commander, during his occupancy of the city ?

On the part of the Plaintiff it is infilled, that
the war which was waged againft us by Great-Britain
was unjuft. As a matter of facl: this cannot be
denied — the honour of every American is con-
cerned in its eftablifhment. Every patriot knows
and feels it. Upon account of the injuftice of the
war, he renounced his allegiance and committed
his fortune and his life to uncertain hazard.
Upon account of the injuftice of the war, Lord
Chatham exclaimed in the Britifh Houfe of Peers
that he rejoiced America had refilled. — Againft the
injuftice of the war Lord Cambden and his compeers
protefted ; and the great cities of England itfelf re-
monftrated: And finally, on account of the injuftice
of the war, even the Britifh Houfe of Commons,
in fpite of the influence of the court, refolved
againft its further profecution. — And it is not too
prefumptuous to think that upon account of its in-
juftice, all the aftonifhing efforts to fubdue our coun-
try were blafted by the hand of Heaven !
^°Vas fep" 79' Upon this ground then the Plaintiff's
Grot. 698. counfel enforce her demand; by an ««-

8 11. n. 9. juji war) thgy affirmj the unjuft party ac-
quires

[ 3° ]

quires no right ; all the ads of that party, however

otherwife allowable, imbibing the taint of the firftin-

juftice.

i Ruth. 33. That it is a maxim of the law of nations,

that no right can be derived from an injury.

mo°' E6i 54°' Tnat this principle is confonant to the

Bull. 92. common law ; for that wherever there has

been a difTeizen, and a recovery is had againft the

dirTeizer, or even an innocent purchafer, the diffeizee

mall recover the mefne profits ; the firft acl: being

tortious no fubfequent acl could be otherwife.

1 Va'- 7*- They fubjoinanotherpropofition,"that
3 Gro! 167*8. by the law of nations the rights of war

* l~t c o are only appropriated to war of the Jo-

2 Ruth. 678. ,./ £r r . j

aVatt. 10. lemn kind; and mint that the annuncia-
§ 26 28. t[on of hoftilities in the late war, was not
attended with the folemnities which the law of nati-
ons requires.

a' p V»tt'}* ll3' ^° ^^ OD^ervati°ns and authori-

3 Gro. 167 8. ties the Defendant's counfel reply —
2 3- 4- That the obligation to make restitution

2 Ruth. 678. c . , • , • • 1 • ■ n

2 Vatt. 10. or that which is acquired in an unjujt

g 26. 28. war , refts in for 0 conf dentin, and is not

external — that in the language of the law of nations
every folemn war is a juft war.a — That the late war
b. 2 Ruth. 508. was a folemn war : And that no confe-
2 Hutch. 357. quence can be drawn from the injufticeb

1 h. p. c. 163 4. 0f tne quarrel on the part of Great-Bri-

2 Burl. P. 263. \ . . j r .

cunn. Policies 0f tain— that the opinion of the antient
infurance, 276. DocTors, that the rights of war are on-
ly appropriated to war of the folemn kind, is explod-
ed by fome of the moft refpeclable modern authors,
who attribute the fame efTecls to all public wars :
But that the war between us and Great-Britain was
the moft folemn that modern times have exhibited.

This

[ 3> ]

This they infer from the act of the Britifh Parlia-
ment putting us out of the protection of the law;
and the declaration of the independence of the Uni-
ted States, which goes on the idea of an open war:
and with refpect to the formalities in the annuncia-
Buri. 271. t[on 0f war {.^ey mow that they are arbi-
trary.

Without entering into a minute examination of
the reafons and authorities, by which the parties
have attempted to maintain opinions fo oppofite to
each other; we mall conflder the fubject in a more
enlarged view.

It is a maxim founded in reafon and humanity,
that the restoration of peace, whatever may be the
caufe of a war, ought always to be in contemplation.
Every impediment then, which might retard this
blelTing, ought to be difcountenanced— every faci-
lity which could promote it, encouraged ; in pro-
portion as the refinements of civilization enlighten-
ed mankind, it was to be expected that the law of
nations, foftered and cherifhed by philofophers,
mould become more benevolent, and more fuitable
to the dignity and happinefs of man. Hence the
doctrine, that the folemnity and juftice of a war
were effential in afcertaining the rights acquired as
the effects of war, came to be exploded ; becaufe
experience had fully proved, that it was productive
of mifchief. The fhedding of human blood, and
the ruin of families and countries could be but poor-
ly compenfated by the mod humiliatingconceffions;
while fuch is the influence of pride and ambition,
that two nations, equally convinced that it is their
duty and their intereft to embrace an accommodati-
on, often fufFer the calamities of war to rage only

from

[ 3* ]

from the fear of being degraded, by making the firft
advances towards peace. They wait for fome fplen-
did victory, which may never happen, to have an
opportunity of manifesting their fuperiority, and of
oppofingwhat is neceflary to their affairs, as an act
of generofity.

If then every treaty of peace was to be determin-
ed only by the precife rules of juftice: Ifitmuft ne-
ceffarily be acknowledged on one fide, that the caufe
of the war was, on their part, unjuft, or hoftilities
were commenced by them without thofe previ-
ous folemnities which have once been deemed efTen-
tial ; where is the nation which would confefs their
wantonnefs or injustice ? or where the tribunal to
whofe arbitration they would fubmit their honour ?
It is therefore for the happinefs of mankind; found-
ed, in a manner, in necerlity, that in a treaty of
peace neither party mould be condemned for, or be
bound to acknowledge, precipitancy, or the want of
folemnity, in certain formalities in the commence-
ment of the war; and much lefs the injuftice of their
caufe ; and that the odium of all the blood which
had been fhed, was imputable to them. This would
be to fubfcribe to an indelible difgrace, to which a
fovereign power very feldom would confent, and ne-
ver but in the laft extremity. If then it is plain,
that no acknowledgment of fuch a nature can be fti-
pulated in a treaty, and there is no tribunal to judge
between fovereign powers, all enquiry into the juf-
tice or folemnity of a war muft ceafe, and thofe fads
be incapa ble of ferving sthe bafls of a precept—,
in fhort, that they canbe no otherwife material, than
inforo conjcientia.— Thefeobfervationarejuftified by
theauthority of Mr. Vattel ; they are corroborated

by

[ 33 ]

by the ufage of nations ; and in the particular
queftion before us, govern our decifion. — We con-
clude therefore, that if there had been a want of
folemnity, or the ufual formalities in the commence-
ment of the war— which we do not think is the
cafe — and altho' as a matter of f aft this war, both in
its principle andprogrefs, hath been marked withun-
parralleled injuftice and violence; none of thefe cir-
3Vatt. no cumftances are of any avail in the prefent cafe.

The next point which has been raifed, is, Whe-
ther the capture and occupancy of the city of New-
York, is fuch a conqueft as verted the Britifh Com-
mander with the difpofal of the rents and profits of
real property ?

To maintain the negative of this queftion, the
Plaintiff's counfel have recou.rfe to the doctrine of
Poftliminium— - which is that right, by virtue where-
of, perfons and things are reftored to their former
ftate ; when coming again under the power of the
nation to which they belong.

Van. 85. 112. They cite opinions, that the acquifiti-
87. 197. CJ r . \ *

-9. 214. ons or a town taken in war is not corn-
pleat till confirmed by a treaty of peace, or fubmif-
fion, till then there are hopes of recovery.
Gro. 616. That acquifitions of war are only of force
n. 22. againft neutral perfons; to give the conque-
ror aright, it muft be by peace, otherwife the right
is fuppofed to continue in the old proprietor.

What I have obferved, fays Grotius, of lands,
takes place alfo in my opinion in regard to all rights
annexed to thofe lands. Upon this principle it muft be
Jaid,that the profits of the landrecoveredare to be reftored;
and he refers to a formal decifion of the civilian Pau-
lus, in the point.

E They

Gro. 6. 3. C. 9
P. 612. 8 1. 2

[ 34 ]

They add, that no ufurpation putteth the party-
out of polTeflion.

On the other hand theDefendant's counfel argue:

That the Romans and other nations of antiquity,

ufed upon any conqueft to make an immediate

diftribution even of the lands among them-

felves : But that the refinements of more civi-

Vatt. b 369. ijzeci aSres have foftened the rigour of this
p. 62. \ 165. . , & r , . .. q . . .

right, io far as to leave individuals who

remain with their property, unmolefted,

further than in making contribution.

id. p. 622. §1 3. But that the perfonal property of thofe
who fly becomes a booty.

Gro. 2. 3 c 20. Xo thefe general authorities which

P. 721. 6 22. , O .

they quote are added two in point, viz.
2 Hutch. 36|. << Xo whom any thing is granted by

Vatt. b.4. c. 3. . . . r J & . & , . /

Gro. b. 3. c. 20. the articles or peace, to him alio are al-
p. 701. g 22. allowed all the profits from the time of

the grant : but not before"
when lands are Again, " The produces reftored on a

encloled by for- & j r ) • n r i

tifications the peace are due rrom the initant fixed
effeds of cap- for the execution. If there is no fixed time,

ture take place. , 3 r 1 r n •

they are due from the moment of reititu-
3gGr°-c^6o Pq tion of the things granted, but thofe
p.3699- a-™'* wmch were collected before the conclufi-
I ia. n. 2. on of the peace are not to be delivered up:

Vatt. b. 4 c. 3. p 1 r • 1 1 1 • r r

I 30. p. 123. r or the fruits belong to the proprietor of
the flock; and here pofTefTion is accounted for law-
ful title."

The two authorities quoted from Grotius, and on
each fide of the queftion, feem at the firft view, to be
repugnant ; but on an attentive examination it will
appear otherwife : In the firft cafe he is fpeaking of
profits of lands to be reftored. He conceives, that

the

[ 35 ]

the profits of fuch lands ought to be recovered on ac-
count of the antecedent right of foil to which they
were annexed.

But in the laft cafe, he fpeaks of a new right, grant-
ed by the articles of peace, which had no prior ex-
iftence, there he fays the profits fhall be allowed from
the time of the grant, and not before. That this dif-
tinction is juft will appear from a view of the whole
of the laft authority :

To whom any thing is granted by articles of peace,
to him are alfo all the profits allowed from the time
of the grant but not before ; then follows this paflage
which explains the fenfe of the author — " As Au-
guftus Caefar well argued againft Sextus Pompeius,
who having Peleponnefus granted to him, would
have alfo had all the tributes which were in arrear
for fome years paft before the time of that grant."

Thus Grotius is at unity with himfelf : But it is
not in our power to reconcile him to Vattel. Thefe
authors differ in their opinions with refpect to the
reftitution after peace, of the fruits collected by a
captor during the war. Befides this, which is un-
der confideration, there are feveral ftrong paffages
in Vattel, which corroborate the fame doctrine; and
it receives additional force from the authority of
Burlamaqui and of Barbeyrac in his notes upon
Grotius.

We are therefore of opinion, that reftitution of
the fruit, or in other words, the rents and iflues of
houfes and lands, which have been bona fide, collect-
ed by or under the authority of the Britifh Com-
mander, while he held poffemon of the city, can-
not, according to the law of nations, be required.

The ufufruct feems to be placed on the ofoting

of

[ 36 ]

of any other contribution exacted by a conqueror
in the courfe of a war ; and the right of demanding
contributions in fuch cafe, hath, we believe, never
been queftioned.— With refpect to the products,
which might be due on the conclufion of a peace,
they muft ceafe to be recoverable by the captor af-
ter the restoration of the town, unlefs the treaty
mould provide for it by an exprefs Stipulation.

But this doctrine in its fulleft extent will prove
no effectual relief to the Defendant. As we have
before obferved the rights of the Britifh General as
the effect of a temporary conqueSt, could only be
communicated by his immediate authority ; the agen-
cy of the CommirTary General in difpofing of thofe
rights, was an act of ufurpation ; and it is not pre-
tended that meerly as Britifh merchants and Britifh
Subjects, either the Defendant or his employers had
any claim or intereSt in the ufufruct.

The Defendant therefore, upon the moft liberal
construction of the law of nations, remains charge-
able to the Plaintiff in this action.

We proceed therefore to the third general head,
to enquire —

?ai2oBi» 2C,"gto2i H Idly, Whether tnere is fuch an am-
Grot. b. 3. c. 20. nefty included or implied in the de-

Lteyrac-s Note. ^}t[vQ *****?. °f P.^' 3S virtually Or

Buria. p. 253, effectually relinquishes or releafes the
2 7-i-3- Plaintiff's demand ?

And here the Defendant's counfel infift, that every
treaty of peace implies an amneSty and oblivion of
damages and injuries in the war; and rely on the
authority of Grotius, Barbeyrac, Barlemaqui and
Vattel in fupport of the proportion.

A treaty of peace can be no more than an agree-
ment

[ 37 ]

ment. The effect of it is to put an end to the
war, and to abolifh the fubject of it : as it forbids the
revival of the fame war, by taking up arms tor the
caufe which nrft enkindled it, it is in reality perpetual.

An amnefty is a perfect oblivion of what is pad,
and the end of peace being to extinguifh all fubjects
of difcord, this mould be the leading article of the
treaty. This accordingly, fays Vattel, at prefent is
the conftant rule.

But tho' the treaty, he adds, mould be wholly Cl-
ient on this head, the amnefty, by the very nature of
the peace, is neceffarily implied in it.

In another paflage, he obferves, that the effect of
the amnefty, cannot be extended to things of no relati-
on to the war concluded by the treaty.

Thefe principles are well eftablifhed by the law
of nations; and they are even admitted by the coun-
fel for the Plaintiff.

But it is objected, on their part, that the occu-
pation of the tenements in queftion by the Defend-
ant, had no relation to the war ; and that therefore the
amnefty cannot acquit him.

This objection has been fully conftdered; and we
have given an opinion that the term for which the
tenements were held by the permilTion of the Com-
miffary General can, on no conftruction, have a re-
lation to the war :

The amnefty implied in the treaty cannot there-
fore juftify the Defendant; for all the authorities
prove, that it can be only extended to things done inre-
lation to the war.

The parties have indeed joined their iftues upon
other points, upon which, if the caufe had entirely
refted, judgment ought to have been given.

"But

[ 38 ]

" But it is a known rule, that if upon the whole
" record, matter in law appear why judgment mould
" be given againft one party, the court muft judge
" fo, for it is the office of the court to judge the law
" upon the whole record, and the confent of parties
" cannot prejudice their opinions, nor acquit them
Hob. 56. « 0f their office in that point."

It has been further objected, that Congrefs could
form no treaty of peace to reach our internal police.

There is a great diftinction between the authority
of the treaty ; and its operation and effects.

The firft we hold to be facred and mall never, as
far as we have power, fuffer it to be violated or quef-
tioned.

It is the great charter of America— it has formal-
ly and forever releafed us from foreign domination —
It has confirmed our fovereignty and independence;
and afcertained our extenfive limits.

Our union, as has been properly obferved, is
known and legalized in ourconftitution; and adopt-
ed as a fundamental law in the nrft act of our legif-
lature. The fcederal compact hath veiled Congrefs
with full and exclufive powers to make peace and
war. This treaty they have made and ratified, and
rendered its obligation perpetual.

And we are clearly of opinion, that no ftate in
this union can alter or abridge, in a fingle point, the
fcederal articles or the treaty :

But the operation and effects of the treaty, within
our own ftate, are fit fubjects of enquiry and deci-
fion : According to its fpirit and true meaning we
muft determine our judgment : Nor ftiall any man,
by any act of ours, be deprived of the benefits which,
on a fair and reafonable conftruction, he ought to
derive from it. On

[ 39 ]

On this occafion,we fay with the fage— -fiat juftitia
ruat ccelum.

We cannot, it is urged by the Defendant's coun-
fel, impofe a fenfe upon the treaty different from
that which it intrinfically bears. " The rules re-
ceived among nations muft interpret treaties."

This is an unneceffary obfervation : No difpute
hath arifen refpefting the intrinfic fenfe of the treaty :
The Plaintiff's counfel repeatedly infifted that the
article of the treaty which refpe&ed an indemnity
related to public offences — the Defendant's counfel in
anfwer frankly confeffed, that though that article
was mentioned by one of them, it was not relied on.
That they refted on two things ; one, the right which
the law of nations gives the captors ; the other the
amnefty included effentially in every treaty, whether
expreffed or not, agreeably to the current of autho-
rities, and the reafon of the thing.

It is then an implied and not an exprefs amnefty,
on which the Defendant relies ; an amnefty which
neceffarily refults from every treaty of peace — And
thus, the intrinfic fenfe of the treaty and the rules for
its interpretation are out of the queftion.

We have in fome meafure anticipated another
queftion, which was much debated at the hearing —

Whether the courts of juftice ought to be govern-
ed by the ftatute^ where it clearly militated againft
the law of nations.

Here it is material to obferve that the dejcription
ofperfons, who are fubject to be fued by this ftatute
is general; extending to all who had occupied or in-
jured the real or perfonal eftate of the exiles, with-
in the power of the enemy.

The counfel for the Defendant, by ftating a num-
ber

[ 4° ]

ber of pointed cafes, fhewed clearly, from the nature
of things, that the ftatute muft admit of exceptions.
Mr. Attorney-General, one of the counfel for the
Plaintiff, who argued the caufe very ably, admitted
that many cafes may be out of the ftatute, tho' the
Plaintiff's is not of the number.

Thus then, it feems to be agreed, on both fides,
that the provifion in the ftatute, being general,can-
not extend to all cafes : and muft therefore receive a
reajonable interpretation accordi ng to the intention ; and
not according to the lattitude of ' exprejjion of the le-
gislature : It follows as a neceffary confequence,
that the interpretation is the province of the court,
and, however difficult the tafk, that we are bound to
perform it.
H°*?- 3t6 B. The authorities which have been

a. Plowd.109.Show.455. .

vin. Tit. ftatute, cited on the part or the Defend-

p 514. n. 27, 30, 31, ant not only eftabliih this gene-

Ibid 524. n. 119 128. > -ii 1 ■ r 5 ,

ibid 528. n. 154. n. 156 ral principle; but bring forward
1 Stat. 506. a number of judicial decifions,

4 Bur. 250, I. 1 • 1 r • n •

Biac. Rep. 602. wherein the courts of juftice have

10 Mod. 245. exercifed that power.a

b. 1 inft. 36 6. On the other fide, the uncon-

Co. Lit. 24, 6, 290. » .

Vin. Vei. 19. p. 514. troulable power or the legifla-
n- 2V4»*S-M , ,98 ture, and the fanctity of its laws,

4Bac.639. i2Mod.688. ,1 n.1 rr j 1 1

4 Bac. 651, 3 Rep. 7. nave been earneltly preiied by the
4 Bac 647, piowd. 205. counfel for the Plaintiff; and a great

Plowd.205. 11 Rep. 73. ..'.', O

19 vin. 519. n. 91 464 number or authorities have been
iiMod.161. iBiack.91. quoted to eftablifh an opinion, that

4Bac. 652. 10 Mod. 344. y r . n . r. »

19 vin 520. Hob. 298. the courts or jultice, in no cafe
cart. 36. Vaugh. 179. ought to exercife a di fcretion in the
conftruclion of a ftatute.b
However contradictory thefe authorities may ap-
pear to fuperficial obfervers ; they are not only ca-
pable

[ 41 ]

pable of being reconciled ; but the refult of the
whole will appear to be wife, fuited to human im-
perfection and eafily explained.

The fupremacy of the Legiflature need not be
called intoqueftion; if they think ktpofitively to enact
a law, there is no power which can controul them.
When the main object of fuch a law is clearly ex-
prefTed, and the intention manifeft, the Judges are
not at liberty, altho' it appears to them to be unrea-
sonable, to reject it : for this were to fet the judicial
above the legislative, which would be fubverfive of
all government.

But when a law is exprefled in general words, and
fome collateral matter, which happens to arife from
thofe general words is unreasonable, there the Judges
are in decency to conclude, that the confequences
were not forefeen by the Legiflature ; and therefore
they are at liberty to expound the ftatute by equity,
and only quoad hoc to difregard it.

When the judicial make thefe diftinctions, they
do not controul the Legiflature; they endeavour to
give their intention it's proper effect.

This is the fubftance of the authorities, on a
comprehenfive view of the fubject; this is the lan-
guage of Blackftone in his celebrated commentaries,
and this is the practice of the courts of juftice, from
which we have copied our jurifprudence, as well as
the models of our own internal judicatories. To
apply thefe general remarks to the particular cafe
under ourconfideration — TheAmericanprifonersof
war, in the power of the enemy, were quartered in
the houfes of the exiles : they in fact occupied thofe
houfes by a military order or command, and are inclu-
ded within the general defcription of the ftatute,
F which

[ 4* ]

which according to the letter, extends to all perfons
without any exception, who have fo occupied or in-
jured fuch houfes. But can we force ourfelves to
believe, that the Legiflature could have been fo un-
juft and oppreflive, as to add to the fufferings of the
patriot foldier, configned after fighting the battles
of his country, to a long captivity by making him
pay for the fetters, which he had worn in the fervice
of his country, or for want of means, to undergo a
fecond lofs of liberty?

That the legiflative, judicial and executive pow-
ers of government mould be independent of each
other, is effential to liberty.

This principle entered deeply into our excellent
conftitution, and was one of the inducements to the
eftablifhment of the Council of Revifion, that the
judicial and executive of whom it is compofed, might
have the means of guarding their refpeftive rights,
againft the encroachments of the Legiflature, whe-
ther by defign, "or byhafteor unadvifednefs." For
this and other purpofes, all bills, which have pafTed
the Senate and AfTembly, before they become laws,
are to be prefented to the Council for their revifal
and confideration; that if it fhould appear impro-
per to them, that any bill fhould become a law, it
may be returned with their objections for further
confideration, and become fubject to the approbati-
on of two-thirds of the members of each houfe, be-
fore it can be a law.

From this paflage of our conftitution, Mr. Attor-
ney feems to regard this determination of the Coun-
cil of Revifion on the law in queflion, in the light
of ajudicial decifion ; by which this court ought to
be guided, for the fake of uniformity in the difpenfa-

tion

•[ 43 ]

tion of juftice. But furely the refpect, which we
owe to this honorable Council, ought not to carry
us fuch lengths; it is not to be fuppofed, that their
affentor objeftion to a bill, can have the force of an
adjudication: for what in fuch a cafe, would be the
fate of a law, which prevailed againft their fenti-
ments ? Befides in the hurry of a feflion, and efpe-
cially flagrante bello, they have neither leifure nor
means, to weigh the extent and confequences of a
law, whofe provifions are general, at leaft not with
that accuracy and folemnity, which muft be necefla-
ry to render their reafons incontrovertible, and their
opinions abfolute. The inftitution of this Council
is fufficiently ufeful and falutary, without afcribing
to their proceedings, effeds fo extraordinary ; nor
is it probable, that the high judicial powers them-
felves, would in the feat of judgment always be pre-
cluded, even by their own opinion given in the
Council of Revifion;— for inftance, if they had con-
fented to a.b\\\, general in its provifion, and in the ad-
miniftration of juftice they difcovered, that accor-
ding to the letter, it comprehended cafes, which
renderedhsoipersitionunfeafonableymifcbievous&ndcon-
trary to the intention of the Legiflature, would they
not give relief? furely it cannot be queftioned.

Upon the whole, this being a ftatute is obligato-
ry, and being general in its provifions, collateral
matter arifes out of the general words, which hap-
pens to be unfeafonable. The Court is therefore
bound to conclude, that fuch a confequence was
not forefeen by the Legiflature, to explain it by e-
quity, and to difregard it in that point only, where
it would operate thus unfeafonably.

The queftions then, whether this ftatute hath in

any

[ 44 ]

any refpecft revoked the law of nations, or is repeal-
ed by the definitive treaty of peace, or foreign to
the circumftances of the cafe : neither will happen,
nor ought to be apprehended.

There is not a tittle in the treaty, to which the
ftatute is repugnant. The amnefiy is conftrudive,
and made out by reafoning from the law of nations
to the treaty.

The repeal of the law of nations, or any inter-
ference with it, could not have been in contempla-
tion, in our opinion, when the Legiflature paffed
this ftatute ; and we think ourfelves bound to ex-
empt that law from its operation : Firft, becaufe
there is no mention of the law of nations, nor the
moft remote allufion to it, throughout the whole
ftatute : Secondly, becaufe it is a fubjecT: of the high-
eft national concern and of too much moment to
have been intended to be (truck at in filence; and to be
controuled implicatively under the generality of the
terms of the provifion : Thirdly, becaufe theprovifi-
on itfelf is fo indefinite, that without any controul,
it would operate in other cafes unreajonably, to the
opprejfion of the innocent, and contrary to humanity ;
when it is a known maxim "that a ftatute ought to
i inft. 360. « be fo conftrued, that no man who is
" innocent be punifhed or endamaged:" Fourthly, be-
caufe the ftatute under our confideration, doth not
contain even the common non obfiante claufe, tho' it is
fo frequent in our ftatute book — "And it is an efta-
blifhed maxim, where two laws are feemingly repug-
nant, and there be no claufe of non obftante in the
latter, they fliall, if poftible, have fuch conftrudion,
that the latter may not repeal the former by implica-
tion :" Fifthly, becaufe altho' it is a true rule, that

pojieriores

[ 45 ]

pofteriores leges prioribus derogant, to ufe the language
of Sir Thomas Powis, in the Dutchefs of Hamil-
ton's cafe, — at the fame time it muftbe remembered,
that repeals by implication are disfavoured by law,
and never allowed of but where the inconfifiency and
repugnancy d.vtplain, glaring andunavoidable : for thefe
repeals carry along with them a tacit reflection up-
on the Legiflature, that they mould ignorantly, and
without knowing it, make one act repugnant to and
inconfiftent with another : and fuch repeals have
ever been interpreted fo as to repeal as little of the
ioMod. n8. precedent law as poffible.
Dt^b3ocl:C The Plaintiff's counfel, who them-
Hard. 344. felves argued in favour of this laft propo-
fition, adduced feveral authorities to fupport it.

Whoever then is clearly exempted from the opera-
tion of this ftatute by the law of nations, this Court
muft take it for granted, could never have been in-
tended to be comprehended within it by the Legifla-
ture.

It is afked by the Defendant's counfel, whether
if a perfon within the power of the enemy, had been
ordered by them on pain of death, to injure or deftroy
the property of an exile, he could have been fued
under this ftatute, for obeying fuch order ? The an-
fwer is obvious— if he did the injury under coertion
and for the prefervation of his life, the durefs on eve-
ry principle of law and reafon, ought to work out
his juftirlcation ; — for no one can conceive that the
ftatute, comprehensive as it is in the provifion,
could have been intended to be applied to fuch a
cafe of extreme and fatal neceflity.

Again it is afl<:ed, whether veffels condemned here in
the Courts of Admiralty, can be recovered under this

ftatute.

[ 46 ]

ftatute. Whether the Britifh Generals, Howe and
Clinton can beprofecuted underitfor damageswhich
they have committed on the property of the exiles, in
relation to the war ? The principles, which we have
lain down, clearly fhew that fuch veffels cannot be
recovered : That thofe Generals cannot be fued ;
becaufe thefe are all acts done in relation to the war,
which according to the law of nations, are virtually
and effectual buried in oblivion by the definitive
treaty : every fuch treaty in its very nature imply-
ing a general amnefty.

We have gone further perhaps into many impor-
tant fubjects, which have been brought into view by
this controverfy, than was ftrictly neceffary ; but
it is time that the law of nations and the nature and
effects of treaties mould be understood: And in the
infancy of our republic, every proper opportunity
mould be embraced to inculcate a fenfe of national
obligation, and a reverence for inftitutions, on which
the tranquility of mankind, confidered as members
of different ftates and communities fo effentially de-
pends.

Befides the maxim inter eft reipublica ut fit finis litium^
never applied more forcibly, than it now doth to us
in our prefent circumftances ; and it is hoped by be-
ing thus explicit, we may eafe the minds of a mul-
titude of fuitors, whofe caufes are depending here
under this ftatute — at all events we fhall relieve
this Court from an unufual weight of judicial ex-
amination, which a want of time renders incompa-
tible with our other public and indifpenfable duties.

Upon the whole, it is the opinion of this Court,
that the plea of the Defendant as to the occupancy
of the Plaintiff's brew-houfe and malt-houfe, be-
tween

[ 47 ]

tween the 28th day of September, 1778, and the
laft day of April, 1780; and the laft plea of the
Defendant as to the whole of the trefpafs, charged
in the Plaintiff's declaration are infufficient in the
law ; and that only the plea of the Defendant in
juftification of the occupancy between the laft day
of April 1780, and the 17th day of March 1783,
is good and fufficient in the law. —

Let Judgment be entered accordingly.

PAGE 4, 23</ line, for profperity read pofterity.

9, \%th line, for Convention read conftitution.
32, nd line, for observation read obfervations.

V

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