Case No. 3,773.

DELILAH et al. v. JACOBS et al.

[4 Cranch, C. C. 238.]¹

Circuit Court, District of Columbia.

Oct Term, 1832.

SLAVERY—RIGHTS ACQUIRED UNDER FOREIGN LAW—IMPORTATION OF SLAVES.

1. Where civil rights are acquired under a foreign law, this court will enforce them.

2. The compact between Virginia and Maryland, does not prevent Maryland from prohibiting the importation of Virginia slaves from Virginia.

This was a suit for freedom. The plaintiffs [negro Delilah and others] claimed their freedom under the law of Maryland of 1796 (chapter 67), or the act of 1783, by being imported from Virginia into Maryland by a Mr. Childs, a citizen and resident of Maryland, who gave no list of them to be recorded, &c.

Mr. Neale, for defendants [George Jacobs and others], contended that this was a penal law of Maryland, which this court, sitting in this county, could not enforce.

But THE COURT (nem. con.) said, that where civil rights are acquired under a foreign law, this court will enforce them; and that this point in regard to the right of freedom, had been frequently decided by this court.

Mr. Neale also cited the 12th section of the compact between Virginia and Maryland, which authorizes the citizens of each state to bring their effects into the other state free of duty; and contended that Maryland could not prohibit her own citizens from bringing their slaves from Virginia into Maryland.

But THE COURT (nem. con.) said that the compact only prohibited the imposition of duties by Maryland, on the goods of citizens of Virginia, brought from Virginia, and vice versa, but did not prohibit Maryland from prohibiting her own citizens from importing slaves, or any other property, belonging to them.

¹ [Reported by Hon. William Cranch, Chief Judge.]

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