Distribution

By this term is
understood the division of an intestate’s
estate according to law.

2. — The English statute of 22 and
23 Car. 2, c. 10, which was itself pro-
bably borrowed from the 118th Novel
of Justinian, is the foundation of, per-
haps, most acts of distribution in tho
several states. Vide 2 Kent, Com.
342, note; 8 Com. Dig. 522; 11 Vin.
Ab. 189, 202 ; Com. Dig. Adminis-
tion, II.

DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE, is that
virtue whose object is to distribute re-
wards and punishments to every one
according to his merits or demerits.
Tr. of Eq. 3. Lepage, El. du. Dr. ch.
1, art. 3, § 2. See Justice.

DISTRICT, is a certain portion of
the country, separated from the rest
for some special purposes.

2. — The United States are divided
into judicial districts, in each of which
is established a district court ; they are
also divided into election districts ; col-
lection districts, &c.

District attorneys of tiie Uni-
ted States. There shall be ap-
pointed, in each judicial district, a
meet person, learned in the law, to act
as attorney of the United States in
such district, who shall be sworn or
affirmed to the faithful execution of his
office. Act of 24th September, 1789,
s. 35, 1 Story’s Laws, 67.

2. — His duty is to prosecute, in such
district, all delinquents, for crimes and
offences cognizable under the authority
of the United States, and all civil ac-
tions in which the United States shall
be concerned, except in the supreme
court, in the district in which that
court shall be holdcn. Ib.

478

DIS

DIS

3. Their salaries vary in different 1
districts; vide Gordon’s Dig. art. 403.
By the act of March 3, 1815, 2 Story’s
L. U. S. 1530, district attorneys are !
authorised to appoint deputies, in cer-
tain cases, to sue in the state courts.
See Deputy District Attorney .

District court. The name of one I
of the courts of the United States. It
is held by a judge, called the district
judge. V ido Courts of live United Slates.

District of Columhia. The name
of a district of country, ten miles
square, situate between the states of j
Maryland and Virginia, over which the
national government has exclusive ju-
risdiction. By the constitution, Con- ,
gross may 44 exercise exclusive juris- I
diction in all cases whatsoever, over
such district, not exceeding ten miles
square, as may, by cession of particu-
lar states, and the acceptance of Con-
gress, l>ecome the scat of government
of the United States.” In pursuance
of this authority, the states of Mary-
land ami Virginia ceded to the United
States, a small territory on the banks
of the Potomac, and Congress, by the
act of July 16, 1790, accepted the
same for the permanent seat of the go-
vernment of the United State's. The
act provides for the removal of the
seat of government from the city of
Philadelphia to the District of Colum-
bia, on the first Monday of December, *
1800. It is also provided, that the
laws of the state, within such district, j
shnll not be affected by the acceptance,
until the time fixed for the removal of
the government thereto, nnd until Con-
gress shall otherwise by law provide.

2. — It seems that the District of Co-
lumbia, and the territorial districts of
the United States, am not states within
the meaning of the constitution, and of
the judiciary act, so as to enable a citi-
zen thereof to sue a citizen of one of
the states in the fcdcrul courts. 2
Cranch, 445; 1 Wheat, 91.

3. — By the act of July 11, 1846,
Congress retroceded the county of
Alexandria, part of the District of Co-
lumbia, to the state of Virginia.

DISTRINGAS, remedies, is a writ

directed to the sheriff, commanding
him to distrain one of his goods and
chattels, to enforce bis compliance of
what is required of him, ns for his ap-
pearance in a court on such a day, and
the like. Com. Dig. Process, D 7 ;
Chit. Pr. Index, h. t. ; Sel Ion’s Pr. In-
dex, h. t. ; Tidd's Pr. Index, h. t. ; 11
East, 353.

DISTURBANCE, tortsy is a wrong
done to an incor|»oreal hereditament,
by hindering or disquieting the owner
in the enjoyment of it. Finch, L. 187;
3 Bl. Com. 235 ; 1 Swill’s Dig. 522 ;
Com. Dig. Action upon the case for a
disturbance. Pleader, 3 I 6 ; 1 Serg.
& Rawle, 298.

DIVIDEND, is a portion of the
principal, or profits, divided umong
several owners of a thing.

2. — The term is usually applied to
the division of the profits arising out of
bank or other stocks ; or to the divi-
sion, among the creditors, of the effects
of an insolvent, estate.

3. — In another sense, according to
some old authorities, it signifies one
part of an indenture. T. L.