BlundersoftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates Part8

2011DanGoodman Thisworkistheeighthinaseriesofarticlestheauthorhaswrittenonblunders madebytheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates.Originally,hedecidedtowriteon onlytwomistakesmadebytheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates.However,the authorreconsideredafterwritingaboutthethirdblunderoftheSupremeCourtof theUnitedStates,tonotplaceanylimitonthenumberofblundershefindswiththe SupremeCourtoftheUnitedStates. TheeighthblunderoftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedStatesisinthecaseofthe Cramerv.UnitedStates(325U.S.1,1945).Theblunderoccursatpage3,wherein,it iswritten: AnthonyCramer,thepetitioner,standsconvictedofviolatingSection1ofthe CriminalCodewhichprovides:Whoever,owingallegiancetotheUnitedStates, levieswaragainstthemoradherestotheirenemies,givingthemaidandcomfort withintheUnitedStatesorelsewhere,isguiltyoftreason.[fn1] CramerowedallegiancetotheUnitedStates.AGermanbybirth,hehadbeena residentoftheUnitedStatessince1925andwasnaturalizedin1936. ____________ fn1:18U.S.C.1,derivedfromActofApril30,1790,c.9.1,1Stat.112.[AnAct forthePunishmentofcertainCrimesagainsttheUnitedStates,1Stat.112(1790).]
http://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=2809896451252158562

TheblundermadeisthattheUnitedStatesSupremeCourtappliedthissectionto acitizenoftheUnitedStates,undertheFourteenthAmendment,whenthissection relatestoacitizenofaStatewhoisacitizenoftheseveralStates(united),under ArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica. AccordingtheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt,Section1oftheCriminalCodeis derivedfromtheActofApril30,1790,1Stat.112.TheactisentitledAnActforthe PunishmentofcertainCrimesagainsttheUnitedStates.AtSection1itstates: Section1.BeitenactedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnited 1

StatesofAmericainCongressassembled,Thatifanypersonorpersons,owing allegiancetotheUnitedStatesofAmerica,shalllevywaragainstthem,orshall adheretotheirenemies,givingthemaidandcomfortwithintheUnitedStatesor elsewhere,andshallbethereofconvicted,onconfessioninopencourt,oronthe testimonyoftwowitnessestothesameovertactofthetreasonwhereofheorthey shallstandindicted,suchpersonorpersonsshallbeadjudgedguiltyoftreason againsttheUnitedStates,andshallsufferdeath.[Footnote1]

http://presspubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/a3_3_12s18.html

Uponreadingeitherversionofthissectiononewillnoticethefollowing: Whoever,owingallegiancetotheUnitedStates,levieswaragainstTHEMor adherestoTHEIRenemies. Thatifanypersonorpersons,owingallegiancetotheUnitedStatesof America,shalllevywaragainstTHEM,orshalladheretoTHEIRenemies. Itistobenotedthattheterm,theUnitedStates,isexpressedinapluralsense, ratherthaninasingularsense.[Footnote2] Anexamplewheretheterm,theUnitedStates,isusedinasingularsenseanda pluralsensecanbeseeninthefollowingprovisionstotheConstitutionoftheUnited StatesofAmerica: Section1,Clause1oftheFourteenthAmendmentprovides: AllpersonsbornornaturalizedintheUnitedStates,andsubjecttoTHE jurisdictionthereof,arecitizensoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatewhereinthey reside. Section1oftheThirteenthAmendmentreads: Neitherslaverynorinvoluntaryservitude,exceptasapunishmentforcrime whereofthepartyshallhavebeendulyconvicted,shallexistwithintheUnited States,oranyplacesubjecttoTHEIRjurisdiction.
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_amendments_1127.html

NotethatSection1,Clause1oftheFourteenthAmendmentdoesnotstate: AllpersonsbornornaturalizedintheUnitedStates,andsubjecttoTHEIR jurisdictionthereof,arecitizensoftheUnitedStatesandoftheStatewhereinthey reside. 2

BeforetheFourteenthAmendment,thetermtheUnitedStates,referredtothe severalStatesunited: Atthetimeoftheformationoftheconstitution,theStatesweremembersofthe confederacyunitedunderthestyleoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,anduponthe expressconditionthateachStateretainsitssovereignty,freedom,and independence.Andtheconsiderationthat,undertheconfederation,We,the peopleoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica,indubitablysignifiedthepeopleofthe severalStatesoftheUnion,asfree,independentandsovereignStates,coupledwith thefactthattheconstitutionwasacontinuationofthesameUnion(amoreperfect Union),andamererevisionorremodelingoftheconfederation,isabsolutely conclusivethat,bytheterm,theUnitedStatesismeanttheseveralStatesunited asindependentandsovereigncommunities;andbythewords,We,thepeopleof theUnitedStates,ismeantthepeopleoftheseveralStatesasdistinctandsovereign communities,andnotthepeopleofthewholeUnitedStatescollectivelyasanation. Stuntv.SteamboatOhio:4Am.Law.Reg.49,at95(1855),Dis.Ct.,HamiltonCounty, Ohio;and(samewording)PiquaBankv.Knoup,Treasurer:6Ohio261,at303thru 304(1856).[Footnote3]
http://books.google.com/books?id=pWhKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false http://books.google.com/books?id=UfADAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA303#v=onepage&q&f=false

So,Section1oftheCriminalCode,referstotheseUnitedStates;thatis,theseveral Statesunited.AndnottotheUnitedStates. AsjustshowntheFourteenthAmendmentusestheterm,theUnitedStates,ina singularsense.Whereas,Section1oftheCriminalCodeusestheterm,theUnited States,inapluralsense.Therefore,Section1oftheCriminalCodedoesnotapplyto acitizenoftheUnitedStates,undertheFourteenthAmendment,sincethe FourteenthAmendment,expressestheterm,theUnitedStates,inasingularsense. BeforetheadoptionoftheFourteenthAmendmenttotheConstitutionofthe UnitedStates,onewasconsideredacitizenofaStateaswellasacitizenofthe UnitedStates.[Footnote4]Assuch,oneowedallegiancetoboththeindividual StategovernmentaswellastotheUnitedStatesgovernment: ...EverycitizenofaStateowesadoubleallegiance;heenjoystheprotection andparticipatesinthegovernmentofboththeStateandtheUnitedStates. Houstonv.Moore:18U.S.(5Wheat.)1,at33;concurringopinionofJusticeJohnson (1820).
http://books.google.com/books?id=1FUGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA33#v=onepage&q=&f=false

AssuchSection1ofAnActforthePunishmentofcertainCrimesagainstthe UnitedStatesappliedtoacitizenofaState,underArticleIV,Section2,Clause1of theConstitution,sincesuchcitizenowedallegiancetotheUnitedStates;thatis,to theseveralStatesunited. BeforetheFourteenthAmendment,acitizenoftheUnitedStateswasthesameas acitizenoftheseveralStatesunited[Footnote5].Therefore,acitizenofaState, beforetheFourteenthAmendment,wasalsoacitizenoftheseveralStatesunited [Footnote6]. However,theFourteenthAmendmentchangedthat.IntheSlaughterhouseCases, theSupremeCourtsplitthetwoequivalentterms.Thereafter,therewasacitizenof theUnitedStatesandacitizenoftheseveralStates(united): Itisquiteclear,then,thatthereisacitizenshipoftheUnitedStates,anda citizenshipofastate,whicharedistinctfromeachother,andwhichdependupon differentcharacteristicsorcircumstancesintheindividual. WethinkthisdistinctionanditsexplicitrecognitioninthisAmendmentofgreat weightinthisargument,becausethenextparagraphofthissamesection(first section,secondclause),whichistheonemainlyreliedonbytheplaintiffsinerror, speaksonlyofprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensoftheUnitedStates,and doesnotspeakofthoseofcitizensoftheseveralstates.Theargument,however,in favoroftheplaintiffs,restswhollyontheassumptionthatthecitizenshipisthesame andtheprivilegesandimmunitiesguaranteedbytheclausearethesame. SlaughterhouseCases:83U.S.36,74(1873).
http://books.google.com/books?id=DkgFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false

SincetheFourteenthAmendmentandtheSlaughterhouseCases,thereisacitizen oftheUnitedStates,whoisnotacitizenoftheseveralStates(united)andacitizen oftheseveralStates(united)whoisnotacitizenoftheUnitedStates.[Footnote7] AcitizenofaState,underArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitution,isa citizenoftheseveralStates;thatis,acitizenoftheseveralStatesunited.Assuch,a citizenofaState,underArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitution,owes allegiancetotheseveralStatesunited;thatis,theseUnitedStates. Therefore,Section1oftheCriminalCodeappliestoacitizenofaStatewhoisa citizenoftheseveralStates(united),underArticleIV,Section2,Clause1ofthe Constitution,sincetheterm,theUnitedStates,isusedinapluralsense;thatis,the term,theUnitedStates,istheseveralStates(united).[Footnote8] 4

________________________ Footnotes: 1.InUnitedStatesv.Wiltberger(18U.S.(Wheat.5)76,1820)itisstatedas: Sec.I.Thatifanypersonorpersons,owingallegiancetotheUnitedStatesof America,shalllevywaragainstthem,orshalladheretotheirenemies,givingthem aidandcomfortwithintheUnitedStatesorelsewhere,andshallbethereof convicted,onconfessioninopencourt,oronthetestimonyoftwowitnessestothe sameovertactofthetreasonwhereofheortheyshallstandindicted,suchpersonor personsshallbeadjudgedguiltyoftreasonagainsttheUnitedStates,andshallsuffer death.UnitedStatesv.Wiltberger:18U.S.(Wheat.5)76,at77thru78(1820).
http://books.google.com/books?id=1FUGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA77#v=onepage&q&f=false

2.ThiscanbeseenalsointhefollowingprovisionsfromtheOrganicConstitution: TreasonagainsttheUnitedStates,shallconsistonlyinlevyingWaragainst THEM.ArticleIII,Section3,Clause1oftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesof America. ThePresidentshall,atstatedTimes,receiveforhisServices,aCompensation, whichshallneitherbeincreasednordiminishedduringthePeriodforwhichhe shallhavebeenelected,andheshallnotreceivewithinthatPeriodanyother EmolumentfromtheUnitedStates,oranyofTHEM.ArticleII,Section1,Clause7 oftheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html

3.ThepeopleoftheUnitedStatesconstituteonenation,underonegovernment, andthisgovernment,withinthescopeofthepowerswithwhichitisinvested,is supreme.Ontheotherhand,thepeopleofeachStatecomposeaState,havingits owngovernment,andendowedwithallthefunctionsessentialtoseparateand independentexistence.TheStatesdisunitedmightcontinuetoexist.Withoutthe StatesinuniontherecouldbenosuchpoliticalbodyastheUnitedStates.Lane Countyv.theStateofOregon:74U.S.(Wall.7)71,at76(1868).

http://books.google.com/books?id=MfY7AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA76#v=onepage&q&f=false

4.AcitizenofaStatewasrecognizedasacitizenoftheUnitedStates,under internationallaw.AcitizenoftheUnitedStatesdidnotexistundertheConstitution, butratherwasanationalityrecognizedunderinternationallawforonewhowasa citizenofaState: Theintercourseofthiscountrywithforeignnationsanditspolicyinregardto them,areplacedbytheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesinthehandsofthe government,anditsdecisionsuponthesesubjectsareobligatoryuponeverycitizen oftheUnion.Heisboundtobeatwarwiththenationagainstwhichthewar makingpowerhasdeclaredwar,andequallyboundtocommitnoactofhostility againstanationwithwhichthegovernmentisinamityandfriendship.This principleisuniversallyacknowledgedbythelawsofnations.Itliesatthe foundationofallgovernment,astherecouldbenosocialorderorpeacefulrelations betweenthecitizensofdifferentcountrieswithoutit.Itis,however,more emphaticallytrueinrelationtocitizensoftheUnitedStates.Forasthesovereignty residesinthepeople,everycitizenisaportionofit,andishimselfpersonallybound bythelawswhichtherepresentativesofthesovereigntymaypass,orthetreaties intowhichtheymayenter,withinthescopeoftheirdelegatedauthority.Andwhen thatauthorityhasplighteditsfaithtoanothernationthatthereshallbepeaceand friendshipbetweenthecitizensofthetwocountries,everycitizenoftheUnited Statesisequallyandpersonallypledged.Thecompactismadebythedepartmentof thegovernmentuponwhichhehimselfhasagreedtoconferthepower.Itishisown personalcompactasaportionofthesovereigntyinwhosebehalfitismade.Andhe candonoact,norenterintoanyagreementtopromoteorencouragerevoltor hostilitiesagainsttheterritoriesofacountrywithwhichourgovernmentispledged bytreatytobeatpeace,withoutabreachofhisdutyasacitizenandthebreachof thefaithpledgedtotheforeignnation.Kennettv.Chambers:55U.S.(Howard14) 38,49thru50(1852).
http://books.google.com/books?id=LgAGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA49#v=onepage&q&f=false

5.TheactofCongressreferredtointhefirstsectionoftheactof11thApril,1799 isrepealedandsuppliedbyanactpassed14thApril,1802,whichisincorporatedin thisnoteforthepurposeofconnectingthewholelawonthesubject. Anacttoestablishanuniformruleofnaturalization,andtorepealtheacts heretoforepassedonthatsubject. Beinenacted,&c.Thatanyalienbeingafreewhiteperson,maybeadmittedto becomeacitizenoftheUnitedStates,oranyofTHEMonthefollowingconditions, andnototherwise: 6

First,Thatheshallhavedeclared,onoathoraffirmation,beforetheSupreme, Superior,DistrictorCircuitCourtofsomeoneofthestatesoroftheterritorial districtsoftheUnitedStates,oraCircuitorDistrictCourtoftheUnitedStates,three yearsatleastbeforehisadmission,thatitwas,bonafide,hisintentiontobecomea citizenoftheUnitedStates,andtorenounceforeverallallegianceandfidelitytoany foreignprince,potentate,stateorsovereigntywhereofsuchalienmay,atthetime, beacitizenorsubject. Secondly,Thatheshall,atthetimeofhisapplicationtobeadmitted,declareon oathoraffirmation,beforesomeoneofthecourtsaforesaid,thathewillsupportthe constitutionoftheUnitedStates,andthathedothabsolutelyandentirelyrenounce andabjureallallegianceandfidelitytoeveryforeignprince,potentate,state,or sovereigntywhatever,andparticularly,byname,theprince,potentate,state,or sovereigntywhereofhewasbeforeacitizenorsubject,whichproceedingsshallbe recordedbytheclerkofthecourt.LawsoftheCommonwealthofPennsylvania, FromtheFourteenthDayofOctober,OneThousandSevenHundred.Republished, UndertheAuthorityoftheLegislaturewithNotesandReferences,Volume4, (1810);Philadelphia:JohnBioren,page364.
http://books.google.com/books?id=HO1BAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA364#v=onepage&q=&f=false

6....Forallnationalpurposesembracedbythefederalconstitution,thestates andthecitizensthereofareone,unitedunderthesamesovereignauthority,and governedbythesamelaws.Inallotherrespects,thestatesarenecessarilyforeign to,andindependentofeachother.Bucknerv.Finley:27U.S.(Peters2)586,at590 (1829).

http://books.google.com/books?id=lm8DAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA590#v=onepage&q&f=false

...[T]heStatesofthisUnion,althoughunitedasonenationforcertainspecified purposes,areyet,sofarasconcernstheirinternalgovernment,separate sovereignties,independentofeachother.CommonwealthofKentuckyv. Dennision:65U.S.(Howard24)66,at100(1860).

http://books.google.com/books?id=FpkGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA100#v=onepage&q&f=false

7.IntheSlaughterHouseCases,16Wall.36,76,indefiningtheprivilegesand immunitiesofcitizensoftheseveralStates,thisisquotedfromtheopinionofMr. JusticeWashingtoninCorfieldv.Coryell,4Wash.Cir.Ct.371,380.Hodgesv.United States:203U.S.1,at15(1906).

http://books.google.com/books?id=HuEGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA15#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Inspeakingofthemeaningofthephraseprivilegesandimmunitiesof citizensoftheseveralStates,undersectionsecond,articlefourth,ofthe Constitution,itwassaidbythepresentChiefJustice,inColev.Cunningham,133U.S. 107,thattheintentionwastoconferonthecitizensoftheseveralStatesageneral citizenship,andtocommunicatealltheprivilegesandimmunitieswhichthe citizensofthesameStatewouldbeentitledtounderthelikecircumstances,andthis includestherighttoinstituteactions.Maxwellv.Dow:176U.S.581,at592 (1900).

http://books.google.com/books?id=8toGAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA592#v=onepage&q&f=false

Theobjectionthattheactsabridgetheprivilegesandimmunitiesofcitizensof theUnitedStates,withinthemeaningofthe[Fourteenth]amendment,isnot pressed,andplainlyisuntenable.Ashasbeenpointedoutrepeatedly,theprivileges andimmunitiesreferredtointheamendmentareonlysuchasowetheirexistence tothefederalgovernment,itsnationalcharacter,itsConstitution,oritslaws. Maxwellv.Bugbee,250U.S.525,537538,andcasescited.Owneyv.Morgan:256 U.S.94,at112113(1921).

http://books.google.com/books?id=1v0xAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA112#v=onepage&q&f=false

8.AcitizenofaState,underArticleIV,Section2,Clause1oftheConstitutionofthe UnitedStatesofAmerica,isalsoacitizenofaparticularStateaswellasacitizenof alltheseveralStates;thatis,acitizenoftheseveralStates,generally. 8