Case Name: Richard Slade v. Daniel Minor
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1817-04
Citations: 2 Cranch 139
Docket Number: 
Parties: Richard Slade v. Daniel Minor.
Judges: (Thruston, J., absent,)
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 2
Pages: 139–139

Head Matter:
Richard Slade v. Daniel Minor.
In an action of trespass against the marshal of the District of Columbia for levying a distress for a militia fine, it is only necessary for him, in his justification, to prove those facts -which give jurisdiction to the military court; and that it was regularly constituted, and imposed the fine.
The acts of such a court are presumed to be correct; and it is not competent for the plaintiff to show their irregularity.
An alien is not liable to militia duty.
Naturalization cannot be proved by parol.
This was an action against the deputy-marshal of the District of Columbia, for levying a distress for a militia fine, imposed by a battalion court of inquiry, under the Acts of Congress of the 3d of March, 1803, and 1st of July, 1812, [2 Stat. at Large, 215, 769,] “more effectually to provide for the organization of the militia of the District of Columbia.”
Mr. jE. J. Lee, for the plaintiff.
Mr. Taylor, for the defendant.

Opinion:
The Court
(Thruston, J., absent,)
was of opinion, that it was only necessary for the defendant in his justification, to prove those facts which gave the battalion court of inquiry jurisdiction, and w'hieh showed that the tribunal was regularly constituted; and that having shown this, the acts of that court were to be presumed to be correct, and that it was not competent for the plaintiff to show their irregularity.
The Court also decided that an alien was not liable to militia duty, and that the naturalization of Charles Slade, the plaintiff's father, could not be proved by parol.
Verdict for plaintiff, $56.