The United States v. Potts and Others

• Decision Date: 01 February 1809
• Parties: THE UNITED STATES v. POTTS AND OTHERS
• Court: U.S. Supreme Court

9 U.S. 284

5 Cranch 284

3 L.Ed. 102

THE UNITED STATES v. POTTS AND OTHERS.

February Term, 1809

THIS was a case certified from the circuit court for the district of Maryland. The question upon which the judges of that court differed in opinion was,

Whether round copper bottoms turned up at the edge are liable to the payment of duty within the meaning of the several acts of congress.

The following facts were admitted, viz. that the defendants imported a certain quantity of round copper plates, under the denomination 'flat bottoms;' round copper plates turned up at the edges, under the denomination of 'raised bottoms;' and square and oblong copper plates, under the denomination of 'sheets.' That the round copper plates, and the round copper plates turned up at the edge, are never used, nor imported for use in the form in which they are imported, although they are capable of being used, but not with convenience or advantage, in that form; but are worked up by the manufacturers in this country into vessels of use after importation. That the round copper plates, as well as the square copper plates, are cut from large sheets which are made by pressure under a roller, but are ever imported in the size or shape in which they come from the roller. That it is a great convenience and saving to the manufacturer here that the sheets of copper should come in a round rather than in a square shape, avoiding great waste by clipping and repeated heats. That all the said articles are sold and bought by weight, and the same price paid for the round plates, and the round plates turned up at the edges, as for the square or oblong plates. That the round copper plates turned up at the edge are raised at the edge from four to five inches. That copper plates of this description are sold for eighteenpence sterling per pound, and that copper wrought up into vessels or implements of any kind, are sold at two shillings and fourpence to two shillings and sixpence per pound. That there is no copper imported into this country, under the denomination of plates; but that the square and oblong plates, which are commonly called copper plates, and are admitted to be free of duty, are imported under the denomination of sheets.

Harper, for the defendants.

This case differs from that of the United States v. Kid & Watson, 4 Cranch, 1. in one circumstance only. In that case it does not appear but that the

copper plates turned up at the edge were imported under the denomination of...