Commonwealth v. Matlack

4 U.S. 303 (____) 4 Dall. 303 Commonwealth versus Matlack. Supreme Court of United States. M`Kean, attorney-general, for the commonwealth. Dallas, for the defendant. But, after argument, the COURT declared, that the defendant could not indirectly recover from the state, a substantive, independent, claim by way of set-off, any more than he could directly recover a debt due from the state, by bringing a suit against her. That the present action was brought to compel an account for money received for the use of the Senate; in which the defendant, if he proved, that the money received was so applied, would be entitled to a verdict; but that even then, he could not be entitled to a verdict for the amount of his advances; which the Senate alone was competent to allow. Verdict, generally, for the defendant.