Case Name: Graham vs. Swearingin et al.
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1836-04
Citations: 9 Yer. 276
Docket Number: 
Parties: Graham vs. Swearingin et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 17
Pages: 276–278

Head Matter:
Graham vs. Swearingin et al.
Ilired a siave for lie covenanted to pay for his hire ^110, and also covenant ted in athe same instrument, “to deliver to said administrator at Baylcss and Davis’ store’ in Memphis, said slave at the end of tlic term.” Before the expiration of the term A attempted to moderately correct the slave for misbehaviour, upon which he ran away, and notwithstanding A used proper and necessary diligence to recover him, he ¡finally escaped, and consequently was not delivered at Bayless and Davis* store. Held that A was not liable on his covenant for the vaiue of the slave.
Courts construe covenants with reference to the subject and nature of the contract.
This is an action of covenant founded upon an instrument under seal, in the following words, “$110, On the 17th day of December next, we or either of us promise to pay J. Graham, administrator of Geo. F. Graham deceased, one hundred and ten dollars and-cents, it being for the hire of a negro man named Jeff, for twelvemonths from this dale, and to deliver to s.-:d administrator at Bayless and Davis’ store in Memphis, said negro at the end of the term, as witness our hands and seals, November 17th, 1831.” The breaches assigned in the declaration were, first, the non-payment of the money, and secondly, the non-delivery of the negro. And for plea to the second breach, the defendants below in substance pleaded, that they hired for the sum in the covenant mentioned, a negro boy Jeff, tobe employed in the work, labor and occupation of a servant and common laborer, that he was so employed, that his necessary and comfortable clothing, medical attendance and provisions were furnished by defendants, that said negro was of unruly disposition, and that said defendants attempting moderately to chastise, as they lawfully might said negro, he forcibly broke from them and absconded before the term of his hiring expired, of which the plaintiff had immediate notice, and that the defendants used all possible means in their power by instant pursuit and by advertisements of reward to regain possession of said negro, and were unable by all possible diligence and exertions to apprehend said negro, and that by means of such forcible absconding, the said negro was out of the possession of defendants. This plea was demurred to, and the demurrer overruled in the circuit court.
<d. L. Martin andJDavis, for plaintiff.*
Thos. Turley, for defendant in error.

Opinion:
Reese J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
The question before us is, whether the circuit court erred in overruling the demurrer to defendants plea. The whole 'tion of course, turns upon the construction of the above covenant, and is whether the promise to return pr redeliver the negro, because expressed in writing and under seal, shall be construed as a special contract and undertaking, constituting in its legal effect the defendants insurers, and binding them at all events to return and redeliver the negro? We answer this question in the negative, upon the authority of the cases to which we shall refer, and if we could look in this case to the sense and understanding of society, and the course of contracting and dealing in such cases, for the purpose of putting a construction upon the instrument, as we can look upon the nature and character of the property which constitutes the subject of this contract of bailment, the question upon principle also, would be clear of all difficulty. In the case of Harris vs. Nicholas, 5 Munford's Rep. 483, the covenant was "for the hire of four negro fellows the present year, who are to be returned well clothed, on or before the 25th of December, I promise to pay," &c. Breach assigned "that one of the negroes was not returned," &c., plea that the negro in question departed this life before the 25th December. Judge Roane pronouncing the opinion of the court says, "that if the covenant stated in the declaration can be considered as a covenant to return the negro in question, as well as to coerce the payment of the money due for his hire, it ought not to be considered as a covenant to insure such return in the event which has happened, especially under the usage and understanding of this country in relation to the subject." The principle of that case is identical with the one before the court. That courts construe covenants with reference to the subject and natuiWof the contract, is shown in the case of Lockridge vs. Carlisle, 6 Randolph's Rep. 20. The covenant was in these words, "received of. John Carlisle notes on men in Virginia for collection to the amount of nine hundred and ninety-six' pounds, which I will be bound to him for the amount: given under my hand and seal," &c. The court says the covenant was not to pay at all events, but that her would use reasonable diligence in collecting the debts and would pay the amount collected, upon request.
Yielding to the authority of these cases, we are of opinion that the judgment be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.-