Case Name: United States v. Negro Alexander Vinsent
Court: United States Circuit Court of the District of Columbia
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1836-11
Citations: 5 Cranch 38
Docket Number: 
Parties: United States v. Negro Alexander Vinsent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia - reported by Mackey)
Volume: 5
Pages: 38–38

Head Matter:
United States v. Negro Alexander Vinsent.
A certificate of freedom is not such a “ pass” as is contemplated by the 19th section of the Maryland Act of 1796, c. 67.

Opinion:
•• Indictment for giving a pass to one of Mr. Custiss's slaves, " being a paper writing, purporting to be a certificate from the President of the Board of Aldermen, and acting Mayor of the city of New York, under seal of the Mayoralty of said city of New York, that the bearer thereof, Alexander Vinsent, was a free person."
The Court, (nem. con.) was of opinion that the paper was not such a " pass " as is contemplated by the 19th section of the Maryland statute, upon which the indictment was founded.