The Troy

24 F. Cas. 220 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York | 1859

NELSON, Circuit Justice.

The question involved in this case is, whether the court below had jurisdiction of the libel. In the case of Allen v. Newberry, 21 How. [62 U. S.] 244, the supreme court held, that the district court for Wisconsin had no jurisdiction over a contract of affreightment of goods between the port of Two Rivers and the port of Milwaukee, both being within the same state, because the contract related to the purely internal commerce of the state, which was not within the cognizance of .the admiralty. And, again, at the same term, in the case of Maguire v. Card, Id. 248, it was held, that the district court for California had no jurisdiction over a contract for supplies furnished to the Goliah. a steamboat engaged in the business of navigation and trade on the Sacramento river, between ports exclusively witb-¡in the state of California. The court regarded that case as governed by the principle decided in Allen v. Newberry. The case of Maguire v. Card comes fully up to the one in hand. The principle is, that a contract arising out of the trade and navigation of a vessel engaged in the purely internal commerce of a state, is governed by state laws, and belongs exclusively to state cognizance. In the ¡case of The Goliah, the supplies furnished •were coal. In the present case, they are materials and labor for the repair of the vessel.

I make no question under the local law giv.ing a lien in the case, for the suit was commenced before .the rule was made refusing any longer to recognize and enforce such a lien in the admiralty. That rule did not take effect till May 1, 1859. All suits commenced .previous to that time were saved.

I must, therefore, for the reason given, reverse the decree of the court below, for want of jurisdiction in that court, and dismiss the libeL