Case Name: MELLON vs. CROGHAN
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1825-03
Citations: 3 Mart. (n.s.) 423
Docket Number: 
Parties: MELLON vs. CROGHAN.
Judges: 
Reporter: Martin (Louisiana Term Reports)
Volume: 3
Pages: 423–431

Head Matter:
MELLON vs. CROGHAN.
Where a note is made payable at a particular place, payment must he demanded there, before recovery can he had of the maker.
But a failure to demand, the day the note falls due, will not discharge him, though it may the endorser.
Appeal from the court of the first district.

Opinion:
Porter, J.
delivered the opinion of the court. The petition in this case sets out, that the defendant is justly indebted to the plaintiff in the sum of $686, 15, the amount of a promissory note drawn and subscribed by said defendant in favor of the petitioner, dated New-Orleans, January 1, 1823; payable twelve months after date, as will appear from a copy annexed, and made a part of the petition, the amount whereof the said Croghan neglected to pay when amicably demanded.
East'n. District.
March 1825.
The place of payment is accidental to the contract, not of the essence of it.
The note annexed, corresponds with that set out, except in being made payable in the Louisiana state bank.
The defendant admits the facts alledged in the petition, but denies they establish any liability on his part to pay the note sued on.
The judge below was of opinion,that a demand at the place specified in the note, was a condition precedent to the plaintiff's right to recover, and gave judgment for the defendant. The former appealed.
The case has been submitted without argument.
This is a most controverted question, and hardly any subject has been presented to us on which a greater weight of authority is found arrayed for, and against the principle, on which the judge a quo decided the cause.
The following are cases to shew, that if the place of payment be embodied in the note, a presentment at the place must be averred, and shewn, to charge the maker. 14 East, 500. Starkie's N. P. 468. 16 East, 110. 5 Taunton, 30 ibid, 344. 3 Maule & Selwyn, 150. 4 Maule & Selwyn 462.
It has, however, been decided in the cases hereafter quoted, that a demand at the place specified in the instrument, is not necessary to charge the maker. 2 Campbell, 498, 4 Maule & Selwyn, 150. 3 Johnson cases, 71. 6 Massachussetts 524. 8 ibid, 480. 13 ibid, 566. 17 Johnson, 248.
The difference in opinion to he discovered in these cases appears to he principally confined to the courts of England.In our sister states the preponderance of authority seems greatly in favor of the position that a demand at a particular place is not necessary.
There has been a case lately decided in the house of lords, in England, where the law on this subject received a very full examination. The very point now before the court was much discussed, though the question presented for decision was not the same. It arose there, between the indorsee, and acceptor of a bill of exchange. As all the judges delivered their opinions, the case would be one entitled to great respect as evidence of the commercial law, were it not for the extraordinary diversity of sentiment which it exhibits. Indeed there are scarcely two that agree on all the points submitted to their consideration.
It is stated by several of these learned persons, that if a promissory note be made payable at a particular place; a demand at that place is a condition precedent to recovery against the maker; but that it is not absolutely necessary it should be made on the very day on which it falls due, the time only being of importance when the indorser is to be charged. 2 Broderip and Bingham, 165.
The judges who contest the necessity of making a demand at the place specified, and who hold that the making of a note renders the maker universally liable; in answer to this argument, declare, that they are unable to distinguish between place and time. That if the former be required, so must the latter, and hence they conclude, the holder would lose his right forever, if he did not demand payment on the very day the note fell due. The supreme court of New-York, which establishes a different rule, seem also to think, that such would be the inevitable consequence of recognizing: the doctrine, that a demand at the place is a condition precedent to the right of recovery. 18 Johnson, 246.
If this consequence were to follow, the requiring a demand at the place specified, it would furnish a strong argument against adopting the rule; but we are unable to discover any ground for this apprehension, and we think the distinction on this head clear between the obligation of the indorser, and the maker, By the law merchant the contract of the former is not absolute, but conditional. He becomes responsible only on default of the maker to pay, and due notice being given of that default. His engagement is stricti juris, and so anomalous, that it will neither furnish analogy for ascertaining rights under other contracts, nor be elucidated by reference to legal obligations flowing from them. It is entirely the creature of commercial usage, and was introduced for the ease and convenience of trade; it being considered, or supposed, that it was of great importance to the facility of its operations, that the endorser should have immediate notice of his liability.
By a parity of reasoning it has been held by some, he is discharged, if demand of the maker be made at any other place than that specified to the instrument. That question is not presented for decision here, therefore it is improper it should be now settled, but admitting he is, what analogy does his case present, by which the obligations of the maker can be ascertained ?
He, instead of coming under a conditional obligation, makes by the very terms of the instrument, an unqualified promise to pay the payee, or whomsoever he may direct. His obligations, arc entirely distinct from those created by the law merchant. They would be the same if that law were stricken from our code of jurisprudence, and in testing the extent of his liability, under the promise contained in the note signed by him, we do not see how it can be distinguished from an obligation, which did not contain words that made it negotiable. Indeed those who maintain this doctrine, do not place it on the ground, that it flows from any of the rules peculiar to negotiable paper.
But it appears to us that those who contend for such a rule, overlook or confound two things, entirely distinct; the substance of the contract, and the mode by which it is to be discharged. To those acquainted with the doctrines of our jurisprudence,nothing can be more familiar, than the distinction between those things which are of the essence of the contract, and those which are accidental to it. Among the latter, says Pothier, are the liberty of paying by instalments, the allowing a certain time for the payment of money, and the like. On this principle, the Roman jurists considered, that the specification of a particular place for payment, was supposed to be made for the advantage of the creditor, as well as the debtor, and therefore the latter could not compel the former to receive it elsewhere. But the creditor might demand payment at any other place, making compensation to the debtor for any damage he might sustain by the change; and could enforce the contract elsewhere by a suit under this condition. Dig. liv. 13, tit, 4. l. 1 & 9. Pothier on Obligations, no. 8.
The principal reasons on which the law has been lately settled in England, that a demand is necessary at the place appointed for payment, are: first, that according to their jurisprudence, it is a condition precedent; and second, the serious inconvenience that would result from a different rule. The latter consideration appears to us entitled to great weight. It consists principally in this: that merchants who are travelling from place to place, cannot conveniently carry funds with them; that for ease and convenience they deposit their money at a bankers, or merchants, where they make all their acceptances or notes payable; and that it might expose them to loss, inconvenience, and, in some instances, the ruin of their credit, if demand of payment could be made of them elsewhere. As in the case of a merchant of New-Orleans going on business to London, Paris, or New-York, who makes a note here before he sets out, payable at his domicil or his bankers. If demand be not necessary at the place designated, the bill might be sent after him, and he arrested in another country, the moment it fell due. This reason loses somewhat of its weight, when the domicil of the obligor is in the same place, where the bank is fixed at which the note is made payable, and the personal demand is made at the residence of the maker. But some general rule must be followed, for the facility of commerce, and we think, after mature reflection, that it is safer to adopt that we have just stated.It imposes no hardship on the payee; for if he choose, he may refuse an obligation in this way, and thus retain his right to demand payment wherever his debtor be found. It must be supposed such a clause is introduced for some purpose, and no other can be imagined, than that it is at the place designated the obligor will finds to meet his obligation, and there the obligee will seek them. A contrary rule would require the obligor to have funds at two places to meet his engagement.
Lockett for the plaintiff, Pierce for the defendant.
Deciding in this way, is in conformity with the rules of our own law, which do not consider the debtor in fault (en mora,) until demand is made at the place fixed for payment. Curia Phil. lib. 2, cap. 7, paga. no. 20.
The judge below gave final judgment against the plaintiff, we think there should have been one of nonsuit. He ought to be permitted to yet make a demand at the bank, and if not paid to sue the defendant, and recover the amount due.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be annulled avoided and reversed, and it is further ordered, adjudged and decreed, that there be judgment against the plaintiff as in case of nonsuit the appellee paying costs in this court, and the appellant those of the court below.