Joseph Story

“ Now the Constitution of the United States has not confided any original jurisdiction to this court, except 'in all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party.' The present case falls not within either predicament. It is the case of a private individual, who is an alien, seeking redress for a supposed wrong done him by another private individual, who is a citizen of New York. It is plain, therefore, that this court has no original jurisdiction to entertain the present petition ”

“ This is a petition filed in this court for a writ of habeas corpus to be awarded to bring up the body of the infant daughter of the petitioner, alleged to be now unlawfully debarred from him, and in the custody of Mrs. ”