Hannibal journal and western union. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1851-1852, 1851-09-25

elbow could there be a commitment on a con-
tingsnt issuc?" Cannot man commit himself
upon "consngeDcy" Just as strongly as with
out ono IL he makes the contingency known p
Is contract less a contract because il has a con-
hngent provisions
II would be more fortunate for the Courier,
after the position it takes, could it as easily per-
suade its readers as ITSELF The question How
could there be a commitment on,a contingent is
sue ?" involves too much Of Importance, 10 be
met, as il was, by ridicule instead of argument.
II the former gain anything in exchange with the
latter, y can only be as the last resort of a weak
cause; as there nay be pc. 'od in ever mans
life when ne is willing TO "catch at a straw
Our positions are ridiculed--''sheer nonsense"
indeed but we care very. little for naked as
scrtions. They have about the same show Of
Importance, as doubtful note, without felia-
BILE endorser. Proof is the only thing, in our
eyes, that gives dignitpto assertion, and il Ian
guage express any thing, we see nothing to
induce us TO abandon the position assumed
That there can never be commitment on
contingent ISSUE" !, Commitment bears on its
that some preliminary step has been taken,
which cannot be recalled. This involves pos
tire act, and to speak Of positive act, being af-
fected by a fortltitous event, a ''contingent is
sue, is nothing more or less thar perverson
of terms. That the contingency is known and
expressed with regard to the issue, so far from
weakening adds much strength to our position,
since il shows conclusively that in the mind of
the individual shere. existed at the time, con-
ciousness of utter impossbity to make positive
promiR COMMITMENT whose fulflment depen-
ded on something thatmiglit never take place.
Just so in thc1case of Scott. As he is, we will
not support him; if he become the advocate of
the Compromise, and then the nominee of the
convention, we will support him. BY way Of
further illustration, we throw two pairof Dice,
which would our Deighbor stake the larger sum,
on-0the one when the tissue" depends entirely
upon the contingent chances, or the other, skill
fully loaded, where the tissue" is certain p
The former is a contingent ISSUE the latter
positive issue. Yet we are induced to suppose,
from his remarks, that he would make no differ
ence between the two. But what is still more
preposterous, SIS contract less contract be-
cause II has contingent iSSuel''o Now the very
idea of ''a contingent provision" precludes the
possibility of its being contract, and clearly
implies an action IN the future. The indvidu-
ais, attempting to negotiate the Contract, can ne
yer accomplish it, and the contract is no con-
tract ''de facto" until the contingency is re-
moved As far as our knowledge goes, all con-
tracts can be reduced to, two classes-E Executed,
where the ''rigM and possession pass" at the
some time, and Erecu,ory, where the right passes
Immediately and the possession is in the flu
tufe. If A, in consideration of one hundred
dollars, consent TO dispose Of his horse to B.,
and delivers him at the time, the contractois ex-
ecuted, and both right of property and possession
vest Immediately in B., but if, on the other
hand, A. promise BIT deliver the horse so long
after date, A. al The moment, vests the right in
b., but continues in possession, until the time
agreed upon. All contracts must be certain, per-
feet and complete. 81
Will our neghbor deus the favor just to peep
at the argument without the use of smoked
glass eo co