William Johnson

“ In the simplicity of the remote ages of the civil law, the plaintiff himself arrested the defendant, and brought him before the Pretor. But as the sanctuary of his own habitation was not to be violated, if he came not abroad, a summons was attached to his door-posts citing him to appear and answer. ”

“ It is required that the goods and effects to be attached should be within the jurisdiction of the admiralty. To this the libel conforms also, for the prayer is for process against 'the said goods, and chattels, and credits, of the said J. A. which may be found within the jurisdiction of the Court, and the process thereof, according to the just course of the admiralty.'
3. It is required, that the attachment issue against any goods, merchandise, ship, or vessel, on the sea, &c. ”

“ The Charming Betsey, (2 Cranch, 483.) where the Court decrees damages against the libellant. Such, also, was the principle in the case of the Apollon, (9 Wheat. Rep. 362.) in which the libel was directly in personam, and damages decreed. We consider that question, therefore, as not to be stirred.
The remedy by attachment, also, to compel appearance, has very respectable support in precedent. In the District Court of South Carolina, during the administration of a very able admiralty Judge, it was resorted to habitually, both in cases of tort and contract. ”