UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

The onus probandi of the amount in controversy, to establish the jurisdiction in a case brought before the Court by writ of error is upon the party seeking to obtain a revision of the case. He may prove that the value exceeds two thousand dollars, exclusive of costs. In this case, the matter in question is the ownership of one negro woman and two children, who are slaves, and it is not supposed their value can be equal to that sum. The writ of error was dismissed.

After the argument, the Court, on inspecting the record, became satisfied that the amount in controversy between the parties, was not sufficient to give the plaintiff a right to bring the case up by writ of error.