Franciscus v. Surget

| La. | Oct 15, 1843

Bullard, J.

This is an appeal from an order of the District Court, removing the cause to the Circuit Court of the United States, in pursuance of the provisions of the act of Congress. The defendant presented his petition to that effect, together with his affidavit that the plaintiff is a citizen of Louisiana, and the defendant a citizen of the State of Mississippi, and that the matter in dispute exceeded five hundred dollars. This showing appeared satisfactory to the court.

The plaintiff, it appears from a bill of exceptions, offered to file an opposition, together with his affidavit, which was refused. In the case of Stoker v. Leavenworth et al., 7 La. 390" court="La." date_filed="1834-10-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/stoker-v-leavenworth-7158785?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7158785">7 La. 390, we held, that counter affidavits were inadmissible. But in this case, admitting the affidavit, it is clear that the citizenship of the plaintiff is made out. He makes himself out a native citizen of Maryland, and his own petition shows his residence in Louisiana. Now a citizen of Maryland residing in Louisiana, is essentially a citizen of Louisiana.

The various decisions to which our attention has been called, showing that in the Courts of the United States, the uniform rule is, that the jurisdiction of the court, jure personarum, should appear clearly from the record, and especially, that the citizenship of the parties shall be distinctly alleged, are fully recognized. But these principles cannot apply to cases like the present, before they are removed from the State Court; otherwise, it would be in the power of the plaintiff, by keeping out of view the citizenship of the parties, to defeat the right of removal. It appears to us, that the citizenship of the parties, is one of the facts which is to be shown to the satisfaction of the court; and that the showing is necessarily ex parte. But the order of removal is not final. It is for the Federal Court to decide ultimately upon its jurisdiction ; and if it should appear to that court, that it is without jurisdiction, the case will be remanded to the State Court.

Upon the whole, we have attentively considered the arguments addressed to us on this question, but they have failed to satisfy us, that the court proceeded upon a mistaken idea of the law in the cases reported in 4 Mart. N. S. 344, and in 7 La. 390; and we adhere to the principles therein settled.

Judgment affirmed.