Case Name: Alexander Milburn and his Securities, vs. The State of Maryland
Court: Court of Appeals of Maryland
Jurisdiction: Maryland
Decision Date: 1851-12
Citations: 1 Md. 1
Docket Number: 
Parties: Alexander Milburn and his Securities, vs. The State of Maryland.
Judges: 
Reporter: Maryland Reports
Volume: 1
Pages: 1–26

Head Matter:
Alexander Milburn and his Securities, vs. The State of Maryland.
The certificate of the treasurer', to an account against a collector of State taxes, authenticates itself.
The execution and delivery of a bond, in the absence of testimony on the part of the defendant, is evidence of the approval and acceptance of it hy the obligee; but signing, sealing and delivery, are only prima facie evidence of acceptance and approval. The defendant may admit the signing, sealing a.nd delivery, and yet prove the non-approval and non-acceptance of such obligation.
If the defendant’s plea admits the execution, delivery and approval of the' bond, it cannot deny the contents of the bond.
Testimony inadmissible in itself, becomes competent and proper, by the admission of other evidence, to which it may be a reply.
The act of Assembly of 1844, ch. 236, was not designed to take from the commissioners the power to appoint a collector after the first day of May, if the governor had not exercised the authority which that law conferred on him.
Upon appeal from St. Mary’s eounty court by tbe defendants therein.
This action was brought upon the bond of Alexander Mil-burn, who bad been appointed tbe collector of taxes in St. Mary’s county; tbe other appellees were his securities. The bond bears date 26th April 1845, and is conditioned for the faithful performance of bis duty as collector of tbe State taxes for the year 1845. Oyer being given, tbe defendants in the court below pleaded: — 1st. General performance.
2nd. That the said Alexander Milburn was appointed, by the commissioners of St. Mary’s county, collector, on the 6th May 1845, and not before, and on 6th May 1845, the said commissioners had no legal power or authority to appoint a collector of the State tax.
3rd. That the said commissioners failed and omitted to make any legal levy of the State tax for 1845.
4th. That the said commissioners did not at the time of meeting, for the purpose of levying the county taxes, in the year 1845, impose an assessment or tax for the use of the State.
Tb the first, third and fourth pleas, the State replied by way of a traverse, and to the second plea there was a general demurrer. The court sustained the demurrer.
Upon the issues joined on 1st, 3rd and 4th pleas, there was a trial and verdict for the defendant. The State took an appeal, and, at June term 1850, the Court of Appeals reversed the judgment and remanded the cause to St. Mary’s county court, in order to have further proceedings.
At March term 1851, in St. Mary’s county court, the State put in a general demurrer to the 4th plea. The court sustained the demurrer, and the defendants filed another plear (5th.) That neither after nor at the time of executing the bond on which the suit was brought, was the said bond approved of by the commissioners of St. Mary’s county, whereby the said bond was wholly void.
The State put in a general demurrer to the 3rd plea, and the demurrer was ruled good. Thereupon the defendants obtained leave to amend their pleadings by adding six others.
6th. A. Milburn, aforesaid, was not appointed collector as aforesaid for the year 1845, on or before the 1st May 1845.
7th. The defendants, on or about 26th April 1845, delivered said writing to William Biscoe, William H. Hebb, and Edward Plater, as an escrow, on the condition the said A. M. should be appointed the collector, and that he was not appointed collector of the State tax for St. Mary’s county for 1845.
The third, fourth, eighth and tenth were abandoned in the Court of Appeals.
9th. Bond was delivered as an escrow, on the condition that it was approved of by the commissioners, and the commissioners did not, in their corporate capacity, approve of it.
11th. is filed by Blackistone alone, and sets forth, that on the 26th April 1845, he delivered the bond to the commissioners, on the condition that John H. Milburn should sign and seal the 'bond, and that he should be received and approved of by the commissioners as one of the obligors, and said J. H. 1VL never was so received, and so not his, (Blackistone’s,) deed.
Demurrers by the State to the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th pleas; joinder in demurrer. The demurrers were sustained by the court. The defendants asked leave to plead three other pleas, which were tendered to the court. This motion was overrated by the court, and the defendants excepted. The exception, though in the record, is not signed by any judge.
At the trial of the issues in fact, the State to maintain the issue joined on its part to the first plea, offered in evidence to the jury a statement, purporting to be made and certified by D. Claude, treasurer, and showing a balance of $2655.23 from Alexander Milburn as collector aforesaid. The defendants objected to this paper being read in evidence, and the objection being overruled by the court, the defendants took their first exception.
The second exception was taken, because of the rejection by the court of the testimony offered by Blackistone, in support of the 11th plea, which is the plea of himself alone. This testimony was, that a.t the time the bond was signed and sealed by him, (Blackistone,) John H. Milburn was not present, and had not signed it; that it was understood by the said commissioners and the said Blackistone, that the said bond was not to he obligatory upon him, unless it was signed and sealed by the said J. H. Milburn, and afterwards duly approved by the commissioners. To this testimony no ob jection was made on the part of plaintiff. The plaintiff thereupon offered to prove hy Spalding, the clerk of the commissioners, that on 6th May 1845, he was the .clerk of the commissioners, and had been since 15th May 1844, that the endorsement on the bond of the approval of the commissioners was in his handwriting, and in conformity with the usage of the court; and next offered in evidence the minutes of the proceedings of the court on that day.
This testimony, offered by the State, was objected to by the defendants, but the objection was overruled, and the defendants excepted.
Upon this testimony being admitted, the defendants offered to prove, by one of the commissioners of the county at that time, that the said bond never was approved by him or the court, and never was seen by him after 26th April. The plaintiff objected to the competency of the witness to disprove the minutes of the court, as recorded by the clerk, or the indorsement of approval on said bond, and the court sustained the objection, and refused to permit the testimony to be given to the jury. Because of this refusal, the defendants excepted.
Verdict being for the plaintiff, the defendants appealed, and the appeal was argued this term before Le Grand, C. J., and Eccleston and Mason, J.
By Thomas and Causin for the appellants, and Brent for the appellees.
Thomas for appellants:
We object to the decision of the court upon 5th, 6th and 7th pleas.
The collector is a creature of the law, and if he be not legally appointed, he is not legally in office.
3 H. & McH., 223, 235, Johnson and others, vs. The State. This case shows, that the collector cannot be charged with the performance of any duty, which the law does not expressly impose upon him.
See the act of 1841, ch. 323, extra session, for the manner in which a collector is to be appointed. He must give bond, and it must be approved before be acts as collector. Section 45.
A special authority must be strictly pursued. 1 H. & J., 41. See also 1 H. & J., 360. 7 H. & J., 91.
The levy court has only a special jurisdiction, and it must be strictly pursued. Its powers are prescribed by the act of 1794, ch. 53, sec. 1.
The act of 1841 gives, or intends to give, power to the levy court to appoint a collector. This is a bare power, to be strictly pursued.
11 G. & J., 386. This case shows, that a sheriff’s bond has no effect until it is approved.
The 5th plea alleges, that this bond was never approved.
Union Bank vs. Ridgely, 1 H. & G., 418, shows, that such bond must be approved, and it was left to the jury to decide, whether the bond was properly approved.
The act of 1842, ch. 269, secs. 1 and 5, says, that the levy court must meet on the first Tuesday of April, or as soon thereafter as may be, and proceed forthwith to appoint a collector.
11 G. & J., 306, Bruce vs. State, shows, that a sheriff’s bond has no effect until it is approved, and the fifth plea alleges, that this bond never was approved.
Act of 1844, ch. 236, see. 1. Power to appoint collector of the tax is given to governor, if none made before first of May, and after that day, levy court or commissioners cannot appoint.
See 3 H. & J., 560. Acts of supervisors void, if made after the day mentioned in the law.
2 Gill, 28.
Strict construction is always insisted upon with suits against sureties. 9 Wheat., 680.
7th plea states, that the bond was delivered as an escrow. See on this point 2nd BPIe Com., 307, as to an escrow.
6 H. & J., 234, Crawford vs. State.
The act of 1841, ch. 23, sec. 48, says, that judgment may be entered the first term, upon the certificate of the treasurer as to the amount due, and renders unnecessary the assignment of breaches. The State must observe the act of Assembly strictly.
As to the refusal of leave to amend, act of 1809, ch. 153, empowers the court, in its discretion, to withdraw a juror and amend the pleadings. This power was exercised in G. & J., 407, in opposition to a rule of court, and it was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. 5 G. & J., 467. The refusal of these pleas was not a proper exercise of discretion.
The first bill of exceptions is to the admission of tire certificate of the treasurer, as evidence per se:
The second is taken, because of the refusal by the court to admit the parol testimony offered by defendant, Blackistone, to go to the jury.
1845, ch. 5, and 1794, ch. 54, show how the bonds should have been executed.
Mr. Thomas also referred to 6 H. & J., 234, and 7 Gill, 1.
Causin on the same side.
As to the power of the levy court after 1st May: See 1843, ch. 259.
As to the admissibility, as evidence, of treasurer’s certificate: 1 Greenleaf, sec. 498; also 91st.
As to 2nd bill of exceptions: See 1st Green, sec. 531. Coke, 112, Foster's Case. Wallis, 9, and 1st Peters, 64.
Brent for the State.
With regard to the judgment on demurrer to 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th pleas, the defendants craved oyer, which was granted. In the bond it is stated, Alexander Milburn was appointed collector of the State tax in St. Mary’s county. This estops the parties from denying his appointment. See 4th Gill, 191, Lloyd vs. Burgess.
The fifth plea says, the bond was not approved. This is a plea after oyer, which admits the identity of the instrument. If the defendant intends to deny it, he must plead non est factum.
The plea of delivery of an escrow', is to the original bond, and not to a copy.
If the law requires a bond or deed to be executed, the recording of it is evidence, prima facie, that all the prerequisites have been complied with. In a suit upon a copy, it must be pleaded that the original bond was delivered as an escrow, if the defendant designs to make such a defence. The plea here is, that the copy was delivered as an escrow. The defendants ought to have set out the original bond, and to have said that that was delivered as an escrown
The act of 1841, ch. 23, requires the collector’s bond to be executed, as the act of 1794, ch. 54, required such bonds to be. The last act says, that an official copy shall be as available, as if the original bond was proved. The act of 1845, ch. 5, authorises these bonds to be recorded in the county court. This last act seems to dispense with the necessity of recording the probat by the witnesses to the bond. Can the court say, that the probat was not made in this case by the witnesses ?
In 7 H. & J., 343, court said, it will be presumed that the collector took the oath of office.
The 5th plea says, the bond was not approved. He had given bond after his appointment. It was his duty to get the bond approved, and if he failed to do it, his sureties cannot take advantage of that.
See Young vs. State, 7 G. & J., 261. See also 1st H. & G., 430. If the bond be retained by the corporation, this is evidence before the jury of the acceptance and approval of the bond.
This 5th plea denies only one of the averments in the nar. The others are admitted, and those admitted imply an approval by the commissioners.
6th plea sets forth, that A. Milburn was not appointed the collector on or before 1st May 1845. The bond estops the defendants from denying the appointment, and where is the law which restricts the commissioners in making the appointment to the 1st May?
The act of 1838, ch. 67, allows the commissioners to make levy at any time, and changes the law of 1794, ch. 53. The act of 1842, ch. 269, sec. 1, allows the commissioners to meet in April, or as soon after as may be convenient.
Act of 1844, ch. 236, sec. 1, gives the governor power to appoint. This does not take from the commissioners the power to appoint at any time before the governor exercises that power.
Until the notice required by the act of 1843, ch. 208, sec. 20, is given to the governor, he has no power to appoint.
7th plea. The defendants cannot say, that the bond was delivered as an escrow, because that would contradict the admission and estoppel in the bond,
8th plea is, that the bond was not approved on or after the 1st May, This is bad, because if it had been approved before that day, it would haye been a good bond.
The 10th plea alleges, the non-qualification of the collector on or before the first day of May. But he was not bound to qualify before that day. ■
As to the refusal to withdraw a juror, in order to allow the defendants in the court below to file additional pleas, from this no appeal can be taken. 5 H. & J., 174. 6 H. & J., 151. Those three pleas contain matter which might have been used under a plea of non est factum. Moreover, there is no exception signed and sealed to this refusal. See 2 H. & J., 345. 7 G. & J., 494.
In regard to the next bill of exceptions, Mr, Brent referred to the act of 1841, ch. 23, sec. 45, and said, that under this law, the defendants must specify and give notice of any grounds on which they intend to rely for defence. They cannot therefore insist, that the treasurer’s certificate should be proved, before it went in evidence to the jury.
Last exception. This is taken by Blakistone, one of the defendants below, to his plea, (the 11th.) Can he sever in pleading? The plea admits virtually, that J. H. Milburn did sign the bond, but that it never was accepted and approved.
Is there any exception here to any thing, except to the testimony of Mr. Bisco e?
Causin for appellants.
In 3 G., 335, Miller vs. Fiery, there is no question as to the admissibility of the minutes of the orphans court. They were offered and not objected to.
As to the refusal to allow the withdrawal of a juror, he insisted, that whenever a discretion is to be exercised, an appeal will lie, if the discretion be improperly exercised.-
1 G. & J. 53. 2 H. & G., 82.
This is not a proper case for an exception by a bill of exceptions.
6 H. & J., 232, show's, that the plea of escrow may be used with the plea of non est factum.
Special plea of non est factum, need not be under oath. See 6 H. & J., 231, Muir vs. Crawford. State vs. Young, 7 G. & J., 253. By demurring, the plaintiff has lost his right to object to a want of the oath.
The oyer craved, w-as of the writing obligatory and the' condition.
5th plea. The approval of the bond is necessary. There is nothing in the record which estops us from taking advantage of the want of approval. The act of 1845, ch. 5, does not do away with the formalities required by the act of 1794.
The plea does not deny the execution, but the approval,- and therefore there can be no estoppel.
A demurrer carries us back to the first defect which is in the bond.
6th plea does not contradict the bond. Dates are no estoppels. See Fiery vs. Miller, 3rd Gill. 3 Wend., 484, 485.
A party may, when sued upon a contract made with a corporation, deny the power of the corporation,
7th plea. See 1st H. & G., 418.
All the testimony in the second exception admitted wdthout objection.
The levy court transcended their powers in the appointment after 1st May 1845. See 1841, ch. 23, sec. 45. 1842, ch. 269, sec. 1. 1843, ch. 259. See 3 H. & J., 560. 1 East’s Reports, 70.
As to shall, 1843, ch. 208. 1 Peters’ Rep., 64, may is imperative. Wallis on St at., 9th Law Lib., 639, may be repealed by implication.
1844, ch. 236, is the act under which this bond was given, and requires the governor to appoint, on 1st May next, in counties wherein no collectors were duly appointed. 6 Coke, 112, 119. Where one is named in a statute, all others are excluded, although the language be affirmative.

Opinion:
Le Grand, C. J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
"This is an action instituted in St. Mary's county court, upon the bond of Alexander Milburn, given by him and his sureties for the faithful performance of his duty, as collector of the State tax, for the year 1845. In bar of the right of the plaintiff to recover, the defendant interposed eleven pleas. The case having been before the late Court of Appeals, it is conceded the opinion then pronounced, settled adversely to the defendants, the third and fourth pleas. There is no appeal from the ruling of the court on the demurrer to the second plea, and the eighth and tenth, as is the case with the third and fourth, have been abandoned by the counsel.
The questions we are now called upon to decide, arise out of the demurrers to the fifth, sixth and seventh pleas, and the bills of exception.
The substance of these pleas is as follows:
Of the 5th. That the bond was never approved by the commissioners of the county.
Of the 6th. That Alexander Milburn was not appointed collector on or before the 1st day of May 1845.
Of the 7th. That on or about the 26th day of April 1845, the bond was delivered as an escrow," on the condition that Alexander Milburn should be appointed the collector, and that he was not appointed collector of the State tax for St. Mary's county for the year 1845.
On the 1st, 9th and 11th pleas, issue has been joined.
The question presented by the demurrer to the 5th plea, is simply this, shall a defendant be permitted to deny the ap proval, while lie admits the execution and delivery of the bond?
It is contended on behalf of the appellees, that the confession of the signing, sealing and delivery of the bond, necessarily, as a presumption of law, establishes also its acceptance and approval. To support this view, the case of the Union Bank of Md. vs. Ridgely, 1 Harr. and Gill, and the case of Young vs. The State of Md., 7 Gill and John., are relied on. We do not understand these cases to go the extent insisted upon. It is true, that the execution and delivery of a bond is evidence, when not rebutted, of its acceptance and approval by the obligee; but these circumstances do not create what is known as a presumption of law, so as to prevent the obligors from denying, by competent testimony, the fact of acceptance and approval. We understand the cases referred to as establishing merely, that signing, scaling and delivery, are prima facie evidence of acceptance. In neither case is it held, that it would be incompetent for the signers to show, by testimony, that the bond had not been accepted and approved; they merely speak of the enumerated facts, "in the absence of evidence on the part of the defendantsand, from the language of the court in 1 Harr. and Gill, it is clearly implied, that it was competent for the defendants to offer testimony touching the point, and in opposition to the presumption of fad arising from the execution and delivery of the instrument. Now the 5th plea denies the approval. This court cannot see what evidence it was in the power of the defendants to offer, to sustain the averment of the plea. For aught this court can know, they may have been able to shew', that the commissioners of St. Mary's county positively refused to approve the bond, and that the clerk, in violation of his instructions, made an incorrect entry upon the minutes of proceedings, and had they produced such evidence, the plea would have been sustained. We are of opinion the demurrer should have been overruled.
The sixth plea sets up the defence, that Alexander Milburn was not appointed collector on or before the 1st day of May 1845. This plea is bad. It admits the execution, deliveiy and approval of the bond; and this being so, it is not competent for the defendant to deny the contents of the bond, among which is to be found the fact, that he had been "appointed collector for the State tax in St. Mary's county for the year 1845." See upon this point, the case of Lloyd, adm'r, &c., vs. Burgess, 4 Gill, 187, and also the case of Fridge vs. The State, 3 Gill and John., 103. The demurrer was properly sustained.
The seventh plea avers, that the bond was delivered as an escrow, on the condition that Alexander Milburn should be appointed collector of the State tax in St.. Mary's county for the year 1845, and that he was not appointed. This plea is defective for the same reason assigned in regard to the 6th. It admits the execution and the delivery of the bond, and the defendants are estopped from a denial of its recitals, one of whiph, as before observed, is the appointment of Milburn.
The ninth plea, on which issue has been joined, is in substance, that the bond was delivered as an escrow, on the condition that it should be approved by the commissioners, and that the commissioners of St. Mary's county did not, in their corporate capacity, approve it. The eleventh plea is on the part of only one of the defendants, James T. Blackistone, and avers, that he, on the 26th day of April 1845, delivered the bond to the commissioners, on the condition that J. H. Mil-burn should sign and seal, &c., the bond, and that he should be received and approved by the commissioners as one of the obligors, &c., and that J. H. Milburn never was so received.
The difference between the 9th and 7th pleas consists in this: in the latter, the delivery is averred to have been made on or about the 26th April 1845, whilst in the former, no time is fixed for the delivery. Both of them are special non est factum pleas. We do not deem it necessary to consider, whether the ninth plea should have been verified by affidavit, as is required by the act of 1785, in the case of a general non est factum plea; issue having been joined on it, and the sixth and seventh pleas having been generally demurred to, the question does not arise in this case. For the same reason we are not called upon to enquire, whether Blackistone had a right to put in the 11th plea.
Before proceeding to consider the questions presented by the exceptions in this case, we will dispose of the motion of the defendants, that a juror should be withdrawn and leave granted to file the 12th, 13th and 14th pleas, displayed in the record. We do not feel ourselves called upon to determine the precise character of the discretion vested in the county court by the act of 1809, ch. 153, allowing amendments to be made, because the question is not before us on this record. An examination of it will show, that although the defendants excepted to the refusal of the court to allow the withdrawal of a juror, and of an amendment to the pleadings, the exception was neither signed nor sealed by the court. It is in law no exception, and therefore no question can arise from it. Davis vs. Wilson, 2 Harr. and John., 345, establishes, the exception must be sealed by the court.
The question presented by the 2nd exception, (the first signed and sealed,) is, did the court err in allowing to be given in evidence the statement, purporting to be made and certified by D. Claude, treasurer? Were it not for the strength and positiveness of the language held by the court, in Prather vs. Johnson, 3 Harr. and John., 487, a majority of the court -would be disposed to hold, that error had been committed by the court below in its ruling on this point; but they consider themselves concluded by the opinion in that case. Apart from its authority, it appears to the majority of the judges who sat in this case, that the principles of evidence would have required the rejection of the paper, until it had been first shown to be the certificate of the treasurer: in other words, that it did not authenticate itself. The general principle is very clearly expressed in 3 Greenleaf Ev., secs. 493 and 498. The authority, however, of 3 Harr. and John., concludes the question.
It appears, from what was designed to be the 3rd exception, that the defendant, Blackistone, to support the issue on his part joined in the eleventh plea, proved, without objection, by James C. Milburn, that at the time the bond in this case was signed and sealed by Blackistone, John H. Milburn was not present, and had not signed it; and that it was understood, by and between himself and the commissioners, that the bond was not to be obligatory on him unless it was signed and sealed by John H. Milburn, and afterwards duly approved by the commissioners; they further proved by William Biscoe, one of the commissioners, that at the time of the signature of Blackistone, John H. Milburn was not present. In this state of the evidence, the plaintiff offered to prove by George Spalding, that on the 6th May 1845, he was the clerk of the commissioners, and had been since the 10th May 1844; that the endorsement on the bond, of the approval of the commissioners, was in his handwriting, and in conformity with the general usage of the court, to his knowledge; and further offered the minutes of the proceedings of the court of that day in evidence. This evidence on the part of the plaintiff was objected to, but the court overruled the objection, and the defendants excepted. The testimony having been given to the jury, we are of opinion, that the court erred in withholding from the same tribunal the testimony proposed to be given by William Biscoe, on behalf of the defendants, to the effect that he was one of the commissioners mentioned in the minutes, and the bond was not approved by him or by the court. Were the testimony offered by the plaintiff and allowed by the court, inadmissible, yet, being admitted, the defendants had the right to rebut it. There is no principle better established, or more familiar to the profession, than that testimony, inadmissible in itself, becomes competent and proper, by the admission of other evidence to which it may be a reply. The case of Garner vs. Smith, 7 Gill, 1, is a sufficient recognition of it. But we are of opinion, that independently of this principle, the testimony was proper and should have been admitted. Certainly, so far as the testimony of Spalding was concerned, it was competent for the defendant to rebut it by the testimony of another witness; and holding, as we do, that the minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners were but prima facie evidence of what they purported, it was competent for the defendants to contradict them, by showing they were erroneous.
From these views, it is apparent, the court are of opinion, first, that the execution, delivery and recording of the bond, are circumstances from which the law, in the absence of competent testimony to the contrary, deduces the conclusion, that the bond was accepted and approved by the proper authority; and second, that on the issue joined in the ninth plea, it would have availed as a sufficient bar to the plaintiff's right of recovery, had the defendants been able to have shown, that the bond in question had been delivered to the commissioners as an escrow, on the condition that it should be approved by them in their corporate capacity, and that such approbation had been refused. The execution and delivery are strong circumstances ; so strong, that the law, in the absence of opposing evidence, deduces the additional fact of the approval. The evidence to rebut this presumption ought to be clear and explicit, and above all doubt.
The great and controlling question which arises out of the state of the proof, is the right of the plaintiff to recover. That question we propose now to consider.
The plaintiff proved by Spalding, and by the extracts from the minutes of the proceedings of the commissioners, that the bond was approved and ordered to be recorded on the 6th day of May 1845. The testimony proposed to have been given by the defendant, (and which we have said ought, in the then condition of the evidence, to have been admitted,) went to show, that there had not been an approval of the bond at any time. That approval is essential, is fully established by the case in 11 Gill and John., 387. We, of course, speak of the fact of approval, and not of the evidence of it.
Had the jury believed 1he testimony offered on the part of the plaintiff, the approval would have been shown to have been given on the 6th May 1845; and had they disbelieved it and given credence to that of the defendants, then it might have appeared to them that the approval of the bond had been refused.
The 1st section of the act of 1844, ch. 236, is as follows: "That if in the several counties of this State, Howard district and the city of Baltimore, collectors of the taxes now imposed, or to be imposed, for the use- of this State, shall not have been duly appointed and qualified> as by the present laws are directed, it shall and may be lawful for the governor, and he is hereby authorised and required, on the first day of May next ensuing the passage of this act, or as soon- thereafter as conveniently may be, to appoint a collector or collectors for such county or city as the case may be," &e.
This act was passed on the- 5th March 1845, and the first day of May alluded to in its first section, is the first day of that month in the same year.. It has been contended, that so far as the taxes are concerned, this section refers to those which had been or were to be thereafter imposed by law; the words being "now imposed, or to be imposed by law for the use of the State-;" but so far as the appointment and qualification of the collector is concerned, it is required they should be done before the first day of May 1845, and in failure of which, the power of the commissioners ceases, and the whole matter is transferred to, and placed under the control of the governor of the State. This view has been urged with ability, and is entitled to great respect, but looking to the policy of the State in the passage of her revenue laws, and to well known principles of construction, this court cannot concur in it.
When this case' was before the late Court of Appeals, it was held, that the object of the legislature was the execution of its revenue laws, "upon the successful operation of which depended the ability of the State to pay her debts, to comply with her engagements, and to preserve unimpaired and unsullied the public faith and credit;" and in furtherance of this purpose, it was decided, that although the 52nd section of the act of 1841, ch. 23, provided in words, the county and State taxes should be levied "at the same time and in the same manner," yet it was competent to make the State levy before that of the county. This decision avowedly rested on the ground, that the policy and intention of the legislature should be kept constantly in view, and control, in a considerable degree, the interpretation of the language to be found in the revenue acts.- If the same principle be now observed, there is no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion, that the act of 184.4, ch. 236, did not design to divest the commissioners of the power to appoint and qualify the collector after the first day of May, unless the' governor exercised the authority conferred on him by that act.- This indeed has been the universal understanding of the act, and the local authorities have conformed to it in most of the counties in the State, so that if the views urged in regard to this point on behalf of the appellants should prevail, there are but few, if any, of the collectors' bonds, which furnish the slightest protection to the State.
In the case of the Canal Co. vs. R. R. Co., in 4 Gill and John., 152, the court lay down this broad and equitable rule:"Statutes should be construed with a view to the original intent and meaning of the makers, and such construction should be put upon them, as best to answer that intention, which may be collected from the cause or necessity of making the act,- or from foreign circumstance¡3; and when discovered, ought to be followed, although such construction may seem to be contrary to the letter of the statute." For this doctrine they refer to Plowd., 205, 232. 11 Co. Rep., 73. 19 Vin. Abr., 519. 6 Bacon's Abr., 384. And again, in the same case it is said: "That which is written in the letter of a statute, is sometimes not within the statute, not being within the intention of the makers;" and it is declared: "These principles have been recognized and adopted by courts, from the time of Rolle, Plow den and Coke, to the present day, and many cases given in proof of the declaration."
Adopting, then, these canons of construction, we can have no difficulty in determining, that until the governor exercises the authority conferred on him by the act of 1844, ch. 236, the commissioners possessed a concurrent power to appoint and qualify the collector; the meaning and purpose of its provisions, in this particular, being to ensure the collection and safety of the public revenue. It is manifest from what we have said, that we are of opinion, that were it established that Milburn had been duly appointed and qualified prior to, or on the 6th of May 1845, his appointment and qualification would be legal; provided the governor had failed to make an appointment after' the 1st day of May 1845.
The court discover several imperfections in the record, but it is not important to' notice but one, which is, that no verdict was' recorded on the first plea, viz: that of general performance.
Judgment reversed and procedendo awarded.''7
Eccleston, J,, concurred.