Case Name: John L. Wilson vs. E. S. Thomas; E. S. Thomas vs. John L. Wilson
Court: Constitutional Court of South Carolina
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1818-01
Citations: 1 Nott & McC. 120
Docket Number: 
Parties: John L. Wilson vs. E. S. Thomas. E. S. Thomas vs. John L. Wilson.
Judges: Coloook, Cheves and Johnson, JJ., concurred.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 10
Pages: 72–74

Head Matter:
John L. Wilson vs. E. S. Thomas. E. S. Thomas vs. John L. Wilson.
In a covenant to give good and sufficient security to a bond, which plaintiff was to approve of, his objection to the security will not be a breach of the covenant, unless there be evidence of a fixed and arbitrary determination to put an end to the contract; and the burden of proof lies on the defendant, to show that the security was adequate.
These were cross actions of covenant, brought on the same deed.
Thomas has agreed to sell his printing establishment to Wilson for the sum of $20,000, and entered into a covenant to transfer the same to him, on a given day> nPon condition that Wilson would execute to him *a bond for the payment of the money in four periodical instalments, with good and sufficient security to be approved of by him. Wilson had undertaken, on his part, to give such security. It was admitted that Wilson had tendered a bond or bonds, pursuant to his agreement, with General Joseph Alston, and Robert II oward securities, which Thomas had refused to accept. It was not pretended that Howard added any thing to the security, and the only question was, whether General Joseph Alston was such security as Thomas was bound to accept.
Two respectable gentlemen were called, who swore that Thomas had called on them, and consulted them respecting General Alston’s situation ; they gave it as their opinions, that he would be very unsafe to rely on such security. That General Alston was very much involved, and his situation very doubtful. And this they thought was the general opinion respecting him.
A witness called, on the other side, swore that General Alston was reputed to have large possessions, but that he was also largely in debt. Another witness swore that he was not very intimately acquainted with General Alston’s circumstances. He derived the most of his.information from Alston’s particular friends. By them it was supposed, that although he was much involved, he was still able to pay his debts, and have a considerable estate left. He would not be afraid to trust him for $20,000.
Other evidence was adduced, to show that Thomas offered to take any good security, and mentioned certain gentlemen, relations and connections of General Alston, and Mr. Wilson, whom he would accept. Evidence was also offered to prove the inconvenience and damage that Thomas had sustained by the disappointment. This was the substance of the evidence on both sides.
The causes were tried together at Charleston, Spring Term, 1815, before Mr. Justice Nott, when the jury found a verdict for the defendant in the first case, and *a verdict for the plaintiff, with $500 damages in the last.
A motion was made for a new trial, on the ground that the security offered was good, and that the verdict was contrary to evidence.

Opinion:
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
Nott, J.
The clause ia the covenant which requires the security to be such as the plaintiff shall approve, was not intended to put it in his power capriciously to reject any security that might be offered, and thereby put an end to the contract, when the defendant, had done every thing on his part to carry it into execution. But it certainly gave him as great a latitude of discretion, in that respect, as was consistent with the nature of the transaction. He was not bound to suspend his whole fortune on a rope of sand. He was not bound to accept any person, whose present circumstances or future prospects rendered his situation, at least, doubtful. He had given a credit of four years. He was authorized, therefore, not only to inquire into the present state of his property, but also into his habits of economy and industry, and to ascertain what it would probably be at the end of that period. It then became a question for the consideration of the jury, not whether General Alston was insolvent, but whether the plaintiff, by rejecting him, had evidenced a fixed and arbitrary determination to put an end to the contract, whether the defendant performed his part or not. It was not incumbent on the part of the plaintiff to show that the security was inadequate. The burden of proof lay on the defendant. But the testimony is before us, and it is now to be decided, whether the jury have so far mistaken it, as to authorize this Court to interfere and set aside the verdict ?
Two witnesses were of opinion the security was insufficient. One witness said General Alston was a man of large property, but was much involved. Another said he knew but little of his affairs. His particular friends were of opinion he was able to pay his debts, and have something handsome left. This was the whole of the evidenee given on the trial. Can it be said that the jury ought on such evidence to have given a verdict for the defendant? The argument has gone on the mistaken ground, that the plaintiff was bound to accept the security, unless it had been shown that he was actually insolvent.
The verdict was perfectly consistent with the evidence, and the motion must be refused.
The case of John L. Wilson v. E. S. Thomas, depending on the same evidence, the motion in that case must also be refused.
Coloook, Cheves and Johnson, JJ., concurred.