United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Sheldon, 15 U.S. 2 Wheat. 119 119 (1817)

United States v. Sheldon

15 U.S. (2 Wheat.) 119

Syllabus

Under the Act of 6 July, 1812, "to prohibit American vessels from proceeding to or trading with the enemies of the United States, and for other purposes," held that living fat oxen, &c., are articles of provision and munitions of war within the true intent and meaning of the act.

Also held that driving living fat oxen, &c., on foot is not a transportation thereof within the true intent and meaning of the same act.

It maybe admitted that the mischief is the same whether the enemy be supplied with provisions in the one way or the other, but this affords no good reason for construing a penal law by equity so as to extend it to cases not within the correct and ordinary meaning of the expressions of the law, particularly, when it is confirmed by the same interpretation which the legislature has given to the expressions in the same law.