Haney v. Sharp

Sharp proceeded against Haney, by warrant, for the penalty denounced by an act of Congress (Session Jlcts of 1830, page 34,) for a refusal to give to the marshal a list of his family, when required to do so, for completing the fifth census. Having failed in the country, he appealed to the circuit court, where he obtained a judgment against Haney for twenty dollars and costs.

Haney insists that the circuit court had no jurisdiction of the case ; — and that is the opinion of this court.

Every government has an exclusive right to enforce its own penal laws; and had Congress possessed the power of…