UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

An indictment under the crimes act of 1790, ch. 35, s. 37, for infracting the law of nations by offering violence to the person of a foreign minister is not a case "affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls" within the second section of the Third Article of the Constitution of the United States.

The circuit courts have jurisdiction of such an offense under the eleventh section of the Judiciary Act of 1789, ch. 20.

Quaere whether the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is not only original, but exclusive of the circuit court, in "cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls" within the true construction of the second section of the third article of the Constitution