United States v. Eckford

Mr. E. P. Norton, for the United States, appellant, relied, as concluding all argument, on De Groot v. United States,2 where this court says: 'When the United States is plaintiff in one of the Federal courts, and the defendant has pleaded a set-off, which the acts of Congress have authorized him to rely on, no judgment can be rendered against the government, although it may be judicially ascertained tha on striking a balance of just demands the government is indebted to the defendant in an ascertained amount.' Reeside v. Walker,3 was cited to a similar effect.