Opinion
FEBRUARY TERM, 1798.
At the opening of the Term, Dallas and Du Ponceau had obtained a rule, that the Plaintiff shew his cause of action, and why the Defendant should not be discharged on filing a common appearance; and now Ingerfoll and E. Tilghman shewed cause, produced the bills of exchange, and the Plaintiff's positive affidavit of a subsisting debt, including a declaration, "that he was, induced, principally, to purchase the bills, in consideration of the character and private fortune of the Defendant, and that without the fullest confidence in the personal credit and responsibility of the Defendant, he verily believed he would not have purchased them." They then contended, that the positive affidavit was sufficient, in this court, for holding the Defendant to bail; that it was not incumbent on them to shew to whose use the money was applied, since it was paid to the Defendant; that when a Consul acts as a merchant, and draws bills for cash advanced, he is not entitled to any priviledge; that the Defendant must prove that he had a right to draw the bills as Consul; that even if he had the right to draw, he might pledge his private credit, in aid of his official function; and that the critical situation of the French Republic raises a presumption, that the reliance was placed on the private credit of the Defendant. The cases heretofore decided in the English courts, are perfectly distinguishable from the present case. 1 T. Rep. 174. They occurred between parties belonging to the same government; and there was no proof of credit being given to the individual. In support of these positions were cited, 2 H. Bl. 554. Vatt. b. 4. c. 6. s. 74, p. 139. s. 114. 2 Dall. Rep. 247. 2 Stra. 955.
CAPIAS in Case. This was an action brought, originally, in the Supreme Court, by John Coffin Jones, a citizen of Massachusetts, as Indorsee of James Swan, against the Defendant, the Consul General of the French Republic, as Drawer of a number of protested bills of exchange (for the aggregate amount of 385,964 livres turnois, 3 sols 8 den. equal to 70,052 dollars and 46 cents) corresponding with the following form:
Presles TROISIEME Le Conful General Au Citoyen Payeur Général des dépenses du Département de A la Treforerie Nationale Le Conful Le Ministre Plénipotentiare de la République Française près les Etats Unis d' Amérique
================== Philadelphie, le an | dela Republique Françaife, 179 (v.s.) CONSULAT une indivisible. | GENERAL ARGENT TOURNOIS ______________ saisant, à 18 cents 15/100mes de cent ETATS de Dollar par livres tournois UNIS. CITOYEN, =========== A trente jours de vue, je vous prie de payer par ================== cette troisiéme de change (la première, la feconde AN ou la quatrième ne l'étant) à l'ordre de ================== la fomme tournois, en écus de fix livres ou autres espèces d'or ou argent, No. à la valeur réduite de dix-huit cens quinze centièmes de cent de Dollar, par livres tournois, ou en ------------------ Lettres-de-changé fur Hambourg, à l' acceptation . au change convenus avec le Porteur, valeur recue de dit, conformément au compte rendu au Ministre ================== de par dépêché du an No. timbrée à ma lettre d' avis en date de ce jour No. Enregistrée fousle No. (Signè) LE TOMBE, . au Consulat particulier de la République Francaise. A Philadelphie, le an , (Signè) , LIVT. A PARIS. Je prie le Citoyen Ministre de de faire acquitter la préfente de laquelle j'ai garantile payment fur l' honneur dela Nation Française. Signè ADET .The Counsel for the Defendant were stopped when they rose to reply; and THE COURT were unanimously and clearly of opinion, that the contract was made on account of the government; that the credit was given to it as an official engagement; and that, therefore, there was no cause of action against the present Defendant.
The rule was, accordingly, made absolute; and the Plaintiff soon afterwards discontinued the action.