This section contains the nature of the case and procedural background.

Hudson and Goodwin apparently wrote an article in the Connecticut Currant, of the 7th of May, 1806, charging the President and Congress with having in secret voted two millions of dollars as a present to Bonaparte for leave to make a treaty with Spain. The judges of that Court were divided in opinion upon the question, whether the Circuit Court of the United States had a common law jurisdiction in cases of libel.

The legal issues presented in this case will be displayed here.

The court's holding and decision will be displayed here.

Legal analysis from Dean's Law Dictionary will be displayed here.