Court Opinion

ID: 7157309
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:12:59.182847+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:16.478840
License: Public Domain

Porter, J.
delivered the opinion of the court. This case differs from that just decided between Fernandez and the same defendants, in the important fact, that the goods of the plaintiff were those which, according to the laws of the United States, could not be landed within their limits without exposing them, and the vessel which brought them, to seizure and condemnation.
The petition contains an express averment, that on arriving off Tampico, the petitioner and the defendants agreed to come to the port of New-Ovleans, agreeably to a written eontract passed between the parties. That contract has been produced in evidence, and it appears, that on the captain calling the freighters together, to know from them whether they would return to Havana or proceed to New-Orleans, they, and the plaintiff among the rest, answered, that it was indifferent to them whether the vessel went to the one port or the other. It is questionable, whether this proof would be sufficient in itself to shew a consent to a change of voyage; but taken with the averment of the party himself, that it was so intended, there can be no doubt that we are *277compelled to consider the voyage as changed by mutual consent. And this conclusion renders it unnecessary to examine, whether any evidence could destroy the effect of the judicial confession, which the petition contains.
A shipper cannot demand the delivery of his goods, if the landing of them would expose the vesselt0 seizure,
The parties then'' stand before us in the same situation they would do, if they had ** contemplated originally a voyage from Havana to New-Orleans. In such case, there can be no doubt the goods could not be demanded here. For if the voyage is unlawful before it is commenced, the contract of affreightment is dissolved. So it is, if it becomes unlawful after. And there is no difference in principle, between a complete interdiction of commerce which prevents the vessel to enter, and a partial one in relation to the merchandize on board, which prevents it being landed. Besides, this is an action in damages for the non-deiivery of the goods in New-Orleans. Now, what damages could the plaintiff have sustained, since the moment they were put on shore, they would have been seized for a violation of our revenue laws.
*278It will be seen, from these observations, that in our judgment the whole case turns 0n the authority of the captain from the plaintiff to come to this port. We have already stated the reasons, which have brought us to the conclusion that he was; and in this view of the case, the judgment of the parish court must be reversed.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the parish court be reversed, that there be judgment for defendants, and that the plaintiff pay costs in both courts.