In re Cook

49 F. 833, 1892 U.S. App. LEXIS 1228
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Wisconsin
DecidedApril 4, 1892
StatusPublished
Cited by25 cases

This text of 49 F. 833 (In re Cook) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Eastern Wisconsin primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Cook, 49 F. 833, 1892 U.S. App. LEXIS 1228 (circtedwi 1892).

Opinion

Jenkins, District Judge,

(after stating the facts as above.') The record presents for consideration several grave and important questions: First. Whether it be competent for the judicial tribunals to review the action of the executive of Illinois in issuing his warrant. Second. If his action be subject to review, whether that action can be inquired into after the surrender of the alleged fugitive from justice, and when he is held under state process. Third. Whether the petitioner was a fugitive from justice. Fourth. Whether, assuming the legality of the proceeding for his rendition, he can be held or tried upon any other charge than that for which he was surrendered.

Undoubtedly, as between independent sovereignties, the surrender of fugitives rested merely in comity, and was confined to those whose crimes “touched the state,” or were so enormous as to make them hostes humani generis. Vattel, book 1, c. 19; Vattel, book 2, c. 6. If there existed any moral obligation, it was quite imperfect, and was not recognized by the law of nations. The surrender could not be demanded as of right; but as Mr. Marcy observes in his Hulsemann letter, “comity may sometimes yield what right withholds.” So, also, before the Revolution, a criminal fleeing from one colony found no protection in another. He was arrested wherever found, and sent for trial to the place of his offending; and this without formal compact, treaty, or agreement between the colonics. Com. v. Deacon, 10 Serg. & R. 129. In all such cases the manner in which he was brought within the jurisdiction could not be pleaded by the prisoner as a defense to the crime with which he was charged, or as ground for his discharge without trial. Each sovereignty had the right to determine for itself whether a fugitive from the justice of another sovereignty should find refuge within its jurisdiction; and, if it so pleased, to deliver the fugitive to the sovereignty whose justice he had offended. Every independent nation possesses, in absence of positive law, or of treaty obligation, the inherent right of expulsion of undesirable inhabitants. So, also, the prisoner could not rightly urge, by way of defense or in abatement, that he was forcibly and by abduction brought within the jurisdiction- from a foreign country. The violation of the sovereignty of an independent nation is matter which touches the political relations of the two countries, and is of no concern to him. He may have, it is true, recourse in the law for the forcible abduction, but the manner of his subjection to the jurisdiction does not impair that jurisdiction, nor avail the prisoner against responding for his offense. Ex parte Scott, 9 Barn. & C. 446; State v. Brewster, [837]*8377 Vt. 118; Dows' Case, 18 Pa. St. 37; Ker v. Illinois, 119 U. S. 406, 7 Sup. Ct. Rep. 225. It is, however, moro than doubtful whether in those countries where the common law prevails, and where personal liberty is the chief concern of the state, and is protected by constitutional safeguards, there exists any power, in the absence of treaty, — which is a law of the land, (U. S. v. Rauscher, 119 U. S. 407, 7 Sup. Ct. Rep. 234,) —to make surrender, of a fugitive. It is true that such surrender was made by this government in 1864, in the case of Arguelles. In that case no opportunity was permitted by writ of habeas corpus to test the legality of the seizure. Tho action of the executive was severely criticised, and was sought to he justified upon the ground that “a nation is never bound to furnish asylum to dangerous criminals who are offenders against tho human race.” Possibly the nature of the offense- — selling human beings into slavery — may have induced the action of the executive, and may extenuate an act which is opposed to the holding of tho state department from an early date to the present time, and to the declared opinions of such eminent statesmen as Albert Gallatin, John Quincy Adams, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Forsyth, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Cass, Mr. ivlarcy, Mr. Hamilton Fish, Mr. Evarts, Mr. Freliughuysen, and, Mr. Bayard, and would seem a violation of the fundamental law that no man “shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without duo process of law.” In roost civilized countries the imperfect moral obligation to surrender fugitives from justice has, by force of treaties, ripened into absolute duly. It cannot now ho doubted that in those countries dominated by the common law extradition can only be had as provided by treaty,' and for those offenses only denominated in tho treaty.

The question of interstate rendition rests, however, upon different ground. The slates are not, in respect to the surrender of fugitives, in-' dependent sovereignties. They cannot contract with each other for such surrender. By the compact of union they have yielded their sov-1 ereignty in that regard to the federal government. Such rendition-of, fugitives can only be rightfully effected under the provisions of tho federal constitution, and the laws passed in pursuance thereof. That constitution provides (subsection 2, § 2, art. 4) that “a person charged in any slate with'treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and he found in another state, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, he delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime.” Whether, since the constitution, a fugitive forcibly abducted from one state and delivered into the jurisdiction of another can be held for trial in tho latter, may perhaps he an open question. In Mahon v. Justice, 127 U. S. 700, 8 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1204, such a case was presented to the supremo court. It was held by the court, Justice Bradley and Justice Harlan dissenting, that no right secured under the constitution of the United States had been violated by such abduction, and tho federal court could not interfere, “whatever effect may he given by the state court to the illegal mode in which the defendant was brought from another slate.” Notwithstanding some expressions in the opinion of the court which would [838]*838seem to assert the lawful jurisdiction of the state courts under such circumstances, the point ruled is that no federal question was involved. Upon the main question the authorities are not in accord. It is happily not necessary for us to consider that question here. This constitutional provision was adopted, as one author has expressed the thought, that “the law might everywhere and in all cases be vindicated.” The duty imposed is imperative, taking away all discretion, in case of an executive demand, “and makes that a matter of duty which else had been a matter of grace.” Chief Justice-Gibson, Dows’ Case, 18 Pa. St. 37. See, also, In re Voorhees, 32 N. J. Law, 145. The constitutional provision not being self-executing, congress provided for its enforcement by act of 12th February, 1793, preserved as section 5278 of the present Revision. It was thereby enacted that—

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Bluebook (online)
49 F. 833, 1892 U.S. App. LEXIS 1228, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-cook-circtedwi-1892.