Knox v. Greenleaf: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|1802 United States court case}} |
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{{Infobox SCOTUS case |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} |
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|Litigants=Knox v. Greenleaf |
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| ⚫ | '''''Knox v. Greenleaf''''', 4 U.S. (4 Dall.) 360 (C.C.D. Pa. 1802), is a ruling by the [[United States Circuit Court]] for the District of Pennsylvania which held that, under the [[Pennsylvania Constitution|Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790]], citizenship of the state is conferred upon moving to the state and paying taxes. |
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|DecideYear=1802 |
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|FullName=Knox et al. v. Greenleaf |
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|USVol=4 |
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|USPage=360 |
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|Holding= |
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|SCOTUS=1801-1804 |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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[[James Greenleaf]] was an important speculator in land in many states in the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s.<ref>Abernethy, Thomas P. and Stephenson, Wendell Holmes. ''The South in the New Nation: 1789-1819.'' Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1976, p. 149.</ref> After having lived in [[Washington, D.C.]], on April 15, 1795, Greenleaf purchased General [[Philemon Dickinson]]'s house on Chestnut Street in [[Philadelphia]] for $28,000.<ref name="Clark7677">[ |
[[James Greenleaf]] was an important speculator in land in many states in the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s.<ref>Abernethy, Thomas P. and Stephenson, Wendell Holmes. ''The South in the New Nation: 1789-1819.'' Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1976, p. 149.</ref> After having lived in [[Washington, D.C.]], on April 15, 1795, Greenleaf purchased General [[Philemon Dickinson]]'s house on Chestnut Street in [[Philadelphia]] for $28,000.<ref name="Clark7677">[https://books.google.com/books?id=aMcBAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22James%20Greenleaf%22%20born%201765&pg=PA76 Clark, Allen. Greenleaf and Law in the Federal City. Washington, D.C.: Press of W.F. Roberts, 1901, p. 76-77.] Accessed 2012-12-09.</ref> Dickinson foreclosed on Greenleaf's home for nonpayment of the mortgage on November 29, 1797.<ref name="Clark7677" /> |
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There was no national bankruptcy law; Congress would not pass one until the [[Bankruptcy Act of 1800]].<ref>Landau, Robert I. and Krueger, John E. ''Corporate Trust Administration and Management.'' New York: Columbia University Press, 1998, p. 210.</ref> Greenleaf was therefore forced to apply for bankruptcy in each state where he had conducted business. He first applied for bankruptcy in Pennsylvania on March 10, 1798, although his debts were not settled and his case discharged until March 1804. He then applied for bankruptcy in Maryland on February 9, 1799, and his case was discharged on August 30.<ref>[ |
There was no national bankruptcy law; Congress would not pass one until the [[Bankruptcy Act of 1800]].<ref>Landau, Robert I. and Krueger, John E. ''Corporate Trust Administration and Management.'' New York: Columbia University Press, 1998, p. 210.</ref> Greenleaf was therefore forced to apply for bankruptcy in each state where he had conducted business. He first applied for bankruptcy in Pennsylvania on March 10, 1798, although his debts were not settled and his case discharged until March 1804. He then applied for bankruptcy in Maryland on February 9, 1799, and his case was discharged on August 30.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=aMcBAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22James%20Greenleaf%22%20born%201765&pg=PA172 Clark, ''Greenleaf and Law in the Federal City'', p. 172.] Accessed 2012-12-09.</ref> Competent testimony and the finding of the Maryland legislature both concluded that Greenleaf was, at the time he applied for Maryland bankruptcy, a citizen of [[Prince George's County, Maryland]].<ref name="Knox360361">''Knox v. Greenleaf'', 5 U.S. 360, 360-361.</ref> Greenleaf returned to Philadelphia in February 1800. He moved to [[Northampton County, Pennsylvania]], in June 1800. He paid taxes there, and never left the state. He was arrested under the federal bankruptcy law for insolvency and threatened with [[Debtors' prison#United States|debtors' prison]] on February 20, 1801.<ref name="Knox360361" /> |
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At trial, Greenleaf argued that federal bankruptcy law did not apply to him, since both he and his creditor were residents of the same state. Only Pennsylvania bankruptcy law applied, and that case had been discharged (freeing him from debt within the state). The jury held for Greenleaf. The creditor, Knox, appealed and won a reversal. Greenleaf appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. |
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==Decision== |
==Decision== |
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The |
The decision is unsigned. The court began by reciting the facts of the case briefly.<ref name="Knox360361" /> |
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At issue was whether Greenleaf was a citizen of Pennsylvania. Knox's attorney argued that Greenleaf was an "inhabitant", but not a citizen, of Pennsylvania as he had already sought and received the protection of the state of Maryland. His 12 |
At issue was whether Greenleaf was a citizen of Pennsylvania. Knox's attorney argued that Greenleaf was an "inhabitant", but not a citizen, of Pennsylvania as he had already sought and received the protection of the state of Maryland. His 12-month inhabitation of the state of Pennsylvania did not qualify him for citizenship under Article 3, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania state constitution.<ref name="Knox361">''Knox v. Greenleaf'', 5 U.S. 360, 361.</ref><ref>Article 1, Section 3, of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790 required that a person be 21 years of age and a resident of the state for at least three years in order to run for office in state elections. An individual had to be a resident of a city or county for at least one year in order to run for office representing that city or county.</ref> |
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[[Alexander J. Dallas (statesman)|Alexander J. Dallas]] and [[Jared Ingersoll]], attorneys for Greenleaf, argued that the [[United States Constitution]] made the citizen of one state a citizen of all states, but that each state was permitted under the Constitution to determine when a citizen could receive the benefits of citizenship. Pennsylvania's constitution, they said, left the issue of citizenship up to the United States. The only right of citizenship mentioned in the state constitution was the right to vote,<ref>Article 3, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790 required that a person be a resident of the state for two years and have paid taxes in the previous six months in order to vote.</ref> and the residency requirements of Article 1, Section 3, only applied to standing for election. Furthermore, the bankruptcy laws of Maryland did not require a plaintiff to give up their citizenship in their home state.<ref name="Knox361362">''Knox v. Greenleaf'', 5 U.S. 360, 361-362.</ref> |
[[Alexander J. Dallas (statesman)|Alexander J. Dallas]] and [[Jared Ingersoll]], attorneys for Greenleaf, argued that the [[United States Constitution]] made the citizen of one state a citizen of all states, but that each state was permitted under the Constitution to determine when a citizen could receive the benefits of citizenship. Pennsylvania's constitution, they said, left the issue of citizenship up to the United States. The only right of citizenship mentioned in the state constitution was the right to vote,<ref>Article 3, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790 required that a person be a resident of the state for two years and have paid taxes in the previous six months in order to vote.</ref> and the residency requirements of Article 1, Section 3, only applied to standing for election. Furthermore, the bankruptcy laws of Maryland did not require a plaintiff to give up their citizenship in their home state.<ref name="Knox361362">''Knox v. Greenleaf'', 5 U.S. 360, 361-362.</ref> |
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In a single sentence lacking discussion, the |
In a single sentence lacking discussion, the Circuit Court and the jury declared Greenleaf a citizen of Pennsylvania.<ref>''Knox v. Greenleaf'', 5 U.S. 360, 362.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* {{caselaw source |
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*[http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/4/360/case.html Full text of the decision courtesy of Justia.com] |
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| case = ''Knox v. Greenleaf'', {{ussc|4|360|C.C.D. Pa. 1802|Dall.|4|el=no}} |
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| courtlistener =https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/2620823/knox-v-greenleaf/ |
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| findlaw = https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/4/360.html |
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| justia =https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/4/360/ |
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| loc =http://cdn.loc.gov/service/ll/usrep/usrep004/usrep004360/usrep004360.pdf}} |
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* These sources, however, do not make it entirely clear that this was decision of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania, rather than of the Supreme Court of the United States |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Knox v. Greenleaf}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knox v. Greenleaf}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Pennsylvania state case law]] |
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[[Category:Pennsylvania law]] |
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[[Category:1802 in United States case law]] |
[[Category:1802 in United States case law]] |
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[[Category:1802 in Pennsylvania]] |
[[Category:1802 in Pennsylvania]] |
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[[Category:United States |
[[Category:United States bankruptcy case law]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:19, 4 December 2024
Knox v. Greenleaf, 4 U.S. (4 Dall.) 360 (C.C.D. Pa. 1802), is a ruling by the United States Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania which held that, under the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790, citizenship of the state is conferred upon moving to the state and paying taxes.
Background
[edit]James Greenleaf was an important speculator in land in many states in the United States in the late 1700s and early 1800s.[1] After having lived in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 1795, Greenleaf purchased General Philemon Dickinson's house on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for $28,000.[2] Dickinson foreclosed on Greenleaf's home for nonpayment of the mortgage on November 29, 1797.[2]
There was no national bankruptcy law; Congress would not pass one until the Bankruptcy Act of 1800.[3] Greenleaf was therefore forced to apply for bankruptcy in each state where he had conducted business. He first applied for bankruptcy in Pennsylvania on March 10, 1798, although his debts were not settled and his case discharged until March 1804. He then applied for bankruptcy in Maryland on February 9, 1799, and his case was discharged on August 30.[4] Competent testimony and the finding of the Maryland legislature both concluded that Greenleaf was, at the time he applied for Maryland bankruptcy, a citizen of Prince George's County, Maryland.[5] Greenleaf returned to Philadelphia in February 1800. He moved to Northampton County, Pennsylvania, in June 1800. He paid taxes there, and never left the state. He was arrested under the federal bankruptcy law for insolvency and threatened with debtors' prison on February 20, 1801.[5]
Decision
[edit]The decision is unsigned. The court began by reciting the facts of the case briefly.[5]
At issue was whether Greenleaf was a citizen of Pennsylvania. Knox's attorney argued that Greenleaf was an "inhabitant", but not a citizen, of Pennsylvania as he had already sought and received the protection of the state of Maryland. His 12-month inhabitation of the state of Pennsylvania did not qualify him for citizenship under Article 3, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania state constitution.[6][7]
Alexander J. Dallas and Jared Ingersoll, attorneys for Greenleaf, argued that the United States Constitution made the citizen of one state a citizen of all states, but that each state was permitted under the Constitution to determine when a citizen could receive the benefits of citizenship. Pennsylvania's constitution, they said, left the issue of citizenship up to the United States. The only right of citizenship mentioned in the state constitution was the right to vote,[8] and the residency requirements of Article 1, Section 3, only applied to standing for election. Furthermore, the bankruptcy laws of Maryland did not require a plaintiff to give up their citizenship in their home state.[9]
In a single sentence lacking discussion, the Circuit Court and the jury declared Greenleaf a citizen of Pennsylvania.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ Abernethy, Thomas P. and Stephenson, Wendell Holmes. The South in the New Nation: 1789-1819. Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State University Press, 1976, p. 149.
- ^ a b Clark, Allen. Greenleaf and Law in the Federal City. Washington, D.C.: Press of W.F. Roberts, 1901, p. 76-77. Accessed 2012-12-09.
- ^ Landau, Robert I. and Krueger, John E. Corporate Trust Administration and Management. New York: Columbia University Press, 1998, p. 210.
- ^ Clark, Greenleaf and Law in the Federal City, p. 172. Accessed 2012-12-09.
- ^ a b c Knox v. Greenleaf, 5 U.S. 360, 360-361.
- ^ Knox v. Greenleaf, 5 U.S. 360, 361.
- ^ Article 1, Section 3, of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790 required that a person be 21 years of age and a resident of the state for at least three years in order to run for office in state elections. An individual had to be a resident of a city or county for at least one year in order to run for office representing that city or county.
- ^ Article 3, Section 1 of the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790 required that a person be a resident of the state for two years and have paid taxes in the previous six months in order to vote.
- ^ Knox v. Greenleaf, 5 U.S. 360, 361-362.
- ^ Knox v. Greenleaf, 5 U.S. 360, 362.
External links
[edit]- Text of Knox v. Greenleaf, 4 U.S. (4 Dall.) 360 (C.C.D. Pa. 1802) is available from: CourtListener Findlaw Justia Library of Congress
- These sources, however, do not make it entirely clear that this was decision of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania, rather than of the Supreme Court of the United States