Knox v. Lee

1871 United States Supreme Court case
Knox v. Lee
Argued February 23 – April 18, 1871
Decided May 1, 1871
Full case nameKnox v. Lee
Citations79 U.S. 457 (more)
12 Wall. 457; 20 L. Ed. 287
Case history
PriorHepburn v. Griswold
Holding
Paper money as issued by the Legal Tender Act did not conflict with Article I of the United States Constitution.
Court membership
Chief Justice
Salmon P. Chase
Associate Justices
Samuel Nelson · Nathan Clifford
Noah H. Swayne · Samuel F. Miller
David Davis · Stephen J. Field
William Strong · Joseph P. Bradley
Case opinions
MajorityStrong, joined by Swayne, Miller, Davis, Bradley
ConcurrenceBradley
DissentChase, joined by Nelson
DissentClifford
DissentField
This case overturned a previous ruling or rulings
Hepburn v. Griswold (1870)

Knox v. Lee, 79 U.S. (12 Wall.) 457 (1871), was an important case for its time in which the Supreme Court of the United States overruled Hepburn v. Griswold.[1] In Knox v. Lee, the Court held that making paper money legal tender through the Legal Tender Act did not conflict with Article I of the United States Constitution.

Mrs. Lee was a loyal citizen of the United States whose flock of sheep was sold by the Confederate Army, as the Confederates considered Mrs. Lee an "alien enemy". Mr. Knox purchased the sheep from the Confederate army, and Mrs. Lee brought suit for trespass and conversion. The Court instructed the jury that whatever amount they awarded could be paid with legal tender notes of the United States. Mr. Knox appealed, as he contended that this instruction was equivalent to telling the jury to add a premium for the discount of paper currency relative to specie.

Parker v. Davis was resolved in the same decision, in which Davis wished to compel specific performance requiring Parker to convey a lot to Davis in return for payment of money. The Court decreed that Davis should pay money into the Court, and Parker was to execute a deed to Davis. Davis paid United States notes, but Parker refused to execute a deed and claimed that he was entitled to receive coin.

See also

  • iconMoney portal

References

  1. ^ Hepburn v. Griswold, 75 U.S. (8 Wall.) 603 (1870).

External links

  • Text of Knox v. Lee, 79 U.S. (12 Wall.) 457 (1871) is available from: Findlaw  Justia  Library of Congress  OpenJurist 
  • v
  • t
  • e
U.S. Supreme Court Article I case law
Enumeration Clause of Section II
Qualifications Clauses of Sections II and III
Elections Clause of Section IV
Origination Clause of Section VII
Presentment Clause of Section VII
Commerce Clause of Section VIII
Dormant Commerce Clause
Others
Coinage Clause of Section VIII
Legal Tender Cases
Copyright Act of 1790
Patent Act of 1793
Patent infringement case law
Patentability case law
Copyright Act of 1831
Copyright Act of 1870
Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890
International Copyright Act of 1891
Copyright Act of 1909
Patent misuse case law
Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914
Lanham Act
Copyright Act of 1976
Other copyright cases
Other patent cases
Other trademark cases
Habeas corpus Suspension Clause of Section IX
No Bills of Attainder or Ex post facto Laws Clause of Section IX
Contract Clause of Section X
Legal Tender Cases
Others
Compact Clause of Section X
  • v
  • t
  • e
Commercial Revolution
(1607–1760)
1st Industrial Revolution
(1760–1840)
Civil War Era
(1840–1870)
2nd Industrial Revolution
(1870–1914)


Stub icon

This article related to the Supreme Court of the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

  • v
  • t
  • e