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.
MR. JUSTICE STORY delivered the opinion of the Court.
The Court is not satisfied that this case is within its
appellate jurisdiction. To support that jurisdiction, it is
necessary that it should appear upon the face of the record or upon
affidavits to be filed by the parties that the sum or value in
controversy exceeds $2,000, exclusive of costs. The onus
probandi is upon the party seeking to obtain a revision of the
case to establish the jurisdiction. Here the whole matter in
controversy is the ownership of one negro woman and two children,
who are slaves, and it is not supposed that their value can be
equal to $2,000. The bond in the case, in the nature of a
forthcoming bond in a larger penalty, does not vary the result. But
the plaintiff in error is at liberty to establish, if necessary,
that the value exceeds that sum. But there are other cases on the
docket between the plaintiff in error and other persons which
involved the same points which have been argued in this case. If
any of these cases involved a sum or value which entitles the Court
to take jurisdiction, we will hereafter give an opinion upon those
points.