Description:

T. Jefferson Certifies 1793 Act Regarding Admiralty Proceedings in Federal Courts Per Hamilton’s Insistence of Same

As part of his duties as Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson signed this act of the Second Congress, passed on March 1, 1793. The act regulated the fees that could be collected by clerks, marshals, and attorneys in admiralty cases in the federal district courts. It also allowed prevailing parties in other federal cases to obtain compensation for travel and attorney's fees according to the schedules of fees set in the various state courts.

THOMAS JEFFERSON, Printed Document Signed, "An Act to ascertain the fees in Admiralty proceedings in the District Courts of the United States, and for other purposes," March 1, 1793, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Signed in print by Jonathan Trumbull, Speaker of the House of Representatives; John Adams, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate; and George Washington, President of the United States. 2 pp., 9.5" x 15". Lightly toned with more toning on folds; irregular edge with some staining, not affecting text.

Excerpts
"That from, and after the first day of May next; there shall not be taxed or adjudged to any officer or other person, any greater or other fee or reward, for, or in respect to any service to be done or performed, in any of the district courts of the United States, in cases of admiralty or maritime jurisdiction, than such as is herein after specified; that is to say:
"Fees of the Counsellor or Attorney in the district court, in admiralty and maritime proceedings.
"The stated fee for drawing and exhibiting libel, claim or answer in each cause, three dollars;
"Drawing interrogatories, three dollars;
"And all other services in any one cause, three dollars."

"Fees of the clerk of the district court, in admiralty and maritime causes...."

"Fees of the Marshal in the district court, in admiralty and maritime causes...."

"That there be allowed and taxed in the supreme, circuit and district courts of the United States, in favor of the parties obtaining judgments therein, such compensation for their travel and attendance, and for attornies and counsellors fees, except in the district courts in cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, as are allowed in the supreme or superior courts of the respective states."

"Deposited among the Rolls in the office of the Secretary of State.
"Th: Jefferson Secretary of State."

Historical Background
In 1792, more than sixty "respectable merchants" of Charleston, South Carolina, petitioned Congress about the "enormous fees to which they are subjected." On November 27, 1792, Congressman William Loughton Smith (1758-1812) of South Carolina introduced a bill to limit the fees in admiralty proceedings in the federal district courts, and the House of Representatives passed the bill on December 31, 1792. On that same day, Richard Peters, the federal district judge in Pennsylvania and a specialist in maritime law, wrote to Congressman James Madison of Virginia, "As to the fees as they first stood, they are in many Instances 50 ⅌Cent lower than those customary here; and I am convinced, from more than 20 Years Experience on this Subject, that they are at least 25 ⅌ Cent too low... I wish not that any exorbitant Fees may be taken, but I do not see why Congress should depretiate their Offices so that none but the meanest Talents & the most incapable Citizens will appear in them. The Proceedings in the Admiralty are necessarily higher in Expence than those in the common Law Courts." Alexander Hamilton maintained that even the most adamant opponents of a strong central government had acknowledged that the federal judiciary should take cognizance of admiralty cases

The Senate passed the bill with amendments on February 27, 1793, and the House agreed to the amendments the following day. President George Washington signed the bill into law on March 1, 1793.

Before the Revolutionary War, virtually all of the colonies attempted to regulate attorney fees by statute, and the prevailing party in most cases could recover fees from the losing party. However, attorneys often obtained additional fees from their clients. This practice led to what became known as the "American rule," that prevailing parties paid more in attorney's fees than they recovered in costs from the defeated party.

According to the provisions of the 1789 "Act to provide for the safe keeping of the Acts, Records, and Seal of the United States, and for other purposes," the Secretary of State was responsible for receiving signed bills, orders, and resolutions from the President and "carefully preserve the originals." This act also directed the Secretary of State to ensure that all such acts were published in at least three public newspapers and to deliver two printed copies "duly authenticated" to the governors of each state. This copy is one of those authenticated by Secretary of State Jefferson and sent to a governor. Kentucky was admitted as the 15th state on June 1, 1792, so Jefferson likely signed only thirty copies of this Act. The Secretary of State also distributed one unsigned, printed copy on smaller paper to each senator and representative in Congress.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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