Court Opinion

ID: 6575203
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:33:37.153783+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:57:03.945096
License: Public Domain

Huntington, J.
The plaintiffs insist, that the act of 1816 is a contract within the meaning of that clause of the constitution of the United States, which declares, that no state shall pass a law impairing the obligation of contracts : that it is a contract executed — a grant, perfect and complete in itself, and which has been accepted by the plaintiffs ; or that it is a valid executory contract, supported by a sufficient consideration ; or, from the character of the contracting parties and the form and object of the contract, is obligatory without any consideration in fact. From these premises the inference is drawn, that the acts of 1833, one repealing that of 1816, and the other appropriating the whole sum to be received from the United States, to the several towns in the stale, and the act of 1838, directing 35,000 dollars of this sum to be retained and used to meet the debts and current expenses of the state, are within the prohibitory clause of the constitution, and therefore *93void. In support of these views, several cases have been cited, . decided by the supreme court of the United ¡states, by ' . . , . , . . court, and the courts of other states in the union, which, it supposed, sustain the plaintiffs’ claim.
This court have adopted and uniformly upheld the sound doctrine, that the decisions of the supreme court of the United States, upon all questions arising upon the construction and powers of the constitution, must controul the state courts, and be absolutely binding on all the tribunals of the Union. Hemstead, v. Reed, 6 Conn. Rep. 480. Norton v. Cook, 9 Conn. Rep. 314. A departure from this rule would produce great confusion, mischief and injustice. We shall adhere to it, in the present case.
This court have also never failed, on all proper occasions, to assert and maintain the equally sound doctrine, that it is within their well established powers, and a part of their duties, to disregard a legislative act, which is clearly repugnant to the constitution of the United States, or of this state. Atwater v. Woodbridge, 6 Conn. Rep. 223. Osborne v. Humphrey, 7 Conn. Rep. 336. Landon v. Litchfield, 11 Conn. Rep. 251. Derby Turnpike Co. v. Parks, 11 Conn. Rep. 522. To refuse the exercise of this high prerogative, in such cases, would be a gross dereliction of duty, and put the supreme law of the state or nation, under the controul of the legislature.
In the result to which we have come, in the case before us, we have not intended to impair the authority of the decisions which sustain these views of our rights and duties.
The clause in the constitution now under consideration, contains an express prohibition of the exercise of legislative power to effect certain specified objects. It operates directly upon the states, in reference to their legislative functions, and inhibits them from passing any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts. It is the mandate of the supreme power, addressed to the states, commanding them to abstain from the performance of certain acts, and thus far expressly limiting the general power of legislation. One of the acts prohibited, is the enactment of a law impairing the obligation of a contract. The language is general, and applies to all contracts, which respect property or some object of value, and confer rights which may be assertéd in a court of justice. When the constitution was formed, the term *94contract bad a known legal meaning, as definite and as well ⅛ 6 understood as a bill of attainder or an ex post facto law. I his meaning was adopted, and became a part of the instrument, as fully as if it had been expressed in words. The common law had defined the term. It had declared a contract to be a compact between two or more parties ; and whether it related to real or personal estate, or was executed or executory, or rested in parol or was under seal, the constitution preserved it inviolate from the action of a state legislature, so far as it created rights or contained obligations binding on the parties in law or equity. The'character of the parties to the compact, was not intended to prevent the general application of the prohibition. Whether a state, a minor municipal corporation, a private coi-poration, or an individual is a party, is not material. All are embraced in the same provision. The rights and duties of the contracting parties, whoever they may be, are determined by the contract, and are protected from legislative interference and controul.
The constitution does not, however, give validity to contracts, which confer no rights ; nor does it add to those which they do confer. It prohibits a state from impairing the obligation of the contract — that is, the rights and duties which arise from it. It does not declare, that every contract contains an obligation, or that it shall always be enforced ; but it does declare, that whatever obligations are created or rights secured, shall not be impaired, by the act of the legislature : thus leaving the questions, as to the nature, form, extent, construction and validity of the contract and the manner of enforcing it, to be determined by the judicial department of the government, and only prohibiting the legislature from passing a law which shall impair the obligations or rights created by it.
It is obvious, therefore, that in every case where the prohibition is attempted to be applied, the first inquiry is, whether the case be one in which the subject matter is a contract relating to property or some object of value, and which imposes an obligation, capable, in legal contemplation, of being impaired ? If it be such a contract, the remaining inquiry is, whether the act of the legislature impairs that obligation ? Hence, it is a proper subject of examination, whether the contract be executed, or executory ? And if the latter, whether it be upon sufficient consideration, proved or presumed ? If it be an act *95of the legislature which constitutes the contract, is it executed 1 tj , . . Has the object of the contract been performed í Or, is it , , • r i meie executory contract, requiring the further action of legislature or its agents, to complete its execution ? And if the r . tatter, is it voluntary, or upon sufficient consideration ? If the contract be one which the legislature has the constitutional power to make, and it be executed, and no further act remains to be done, by the state or its agents — as if a grant of money be made and the money be delivered, or of land, and the legislative act is itself the conveyance, not requiring the execution and delivery of a deed or other instrument, nor any other act to be done to complete it — the contract has passed into the form of a grant, it has become a contract executed, and the law in which it originates, cannot be repealed. But if the contract be executory, as if it be a gift of money or land unexecuted, requiring some further act to its completion, as the delivery of the money, or the execution of an instrument of conveyance, and is without consideration in fact or presumed, then before its completion and the existence of any consideration, it may be repudiated, the gift may be withheld, and the party who made the promise may revoke it. In this respect, the state and an individual are subject to the same rule. It is essential to the validity of a gift, that there be a delivery of the thing given, or that which is equivalent to it. Donatio perficitur, possessions accipientis. A mere promise to give, is no gift; and such a promise is equally nugatory, whether made by a state or an individual.
Our views of the true meaning of this clause of the constitution, may, therefore, be stated summarily as follows. The body upon which the prohibition rests, is the legislative department of the state. The subject of the prohibition is every contract relating to property or some object of value, and which confers rights which may be asserted in a court of justice. It is immaterial whether the contract be one between a state and an individual, or between individuals only; the contracting parties, whoever they may be, stand, in this respect, upon the same ground. The obligations imposed and the rights acquired, by virtue of the contract, cannot be impaired, by a legislative act. A law which discharges these obligations or abrogates these rights, impairs them. A constitutional act of legislation, which is equivalent to a contract, and is perfected, *96requiring- nothing further to be done in order to its entire com- , , ° . , , , and execution, is a contract executed ; and whatever rights are thereby created, a subsequent legislature cannot impair. The obligation created by a constitutional law, which is in the nature of an executory contract, and is supported by a sufficient consideration, cannot be annulled, at the pleasure of the legislature. A statute enacted by a legislative body, having authority, under the constitution, to enact it, which implies a contract executory, depending upon the further action of the legislature or its agents, for its execution, and which is without any consideration in fact or law, may, before its execution and the existence of any consideration, be repealed ; such a contract not creating any rights or duties, which, in legal contemplation, can be impaired.
Such we believe to be the true meaningof this clause of the constitution ; and such, we think, is the interpretation which has been given to it, in the cases where it has been under the consideration of courts of justice. Fletcher v. Peck, 6 Cranch, 87. New-Jersey v. Wilson, 7 Cranch, 164. Terrett & al. v. Taylor, 9 Cranch, 43. Sturges v. Crowninshield, 4 Wheat. 122. Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 4 Wheat. 518. Green v. Biddle, 8 Wheat. 1. Atwater v. Woodbridge, 6 Conn. Rep. 223. Osborne v. Humphrey, 7 Conn. Rep. 336. The Derby Turnpike Co. v. Parks, 10 Conn. Rep. 522. Landon v. Litchfield, 11 Conn. Rep. 251. The People v. Platt, 17 Johns. Rep. 195.
These principles are now to be applied to the case before us.
The first section of the act of 1816, authorizes the then agent of the state, or such as might thereafter be appointed, to settle and obtain the balance due the state from the United States, for advancements made by the state, for general defence, during the late war, and to receive the same in cash, stock of the United States, or other public securities.
The second section declares, that such “ balance, when received, shall be, and the same is hereby appropriated for the support of religion and literature in the state,” in the manner prescribed in the act.
The third section appropriates one third of what shall be received, for the use and benefit of the Congregational denomination of Christians; and authorizes the treasurer of the state to receive and transfer the same to the congregational societies.
*97The fourth section appropriates one seventh of what shall be received, for the use and benefit of the Episcopal tion of Christians; and authorizes the trustees for receiving donations for the support of a bishop, to receive and hold the same for the benefit of said fund.
The fifth section appropriates one eighth of what shall be received, for the use and benefit of the Baptist denomination of Christians; and constitutes certain persons trustees, and makes them a body politic and corporate, and authorizes them to receive and apply the same for the use and benefit of the Baptist societies.
The sixth section makes a similar appropriation and provision for the benefit of the Methodist denomination of Christians, as to one twelfth part of such balance.
The seventh section appropriates one seventh part of the balance, to the use and benefit of Yale-College.
The eighth section enacts, “ that the unappropriated balance, when received, shall be and remain in the treasury of the state.”
It is quite obvious, that this statute is not a contract in form, even if it be such in substance : and we are satisfied, that the act itself confers no right on the donors named in it, which a subsequent legislature cannot modify or controul.
The appropriation, when made, was not of moneys then in the treasury, or under the controul of the state The account for disbursement was unliquidated. It was to be adjusted and settled ; and whether any balance would be found due to the state, necessarily depended upon that adjustment. The settlement was to be made, on the part of the state, by its own agents. The corporations who might have an interest in the balance, by virtue of the act, were not authorized to interfere in the adjustment. They would not have been recognized, by the accounting officers of the general government, as possessing any power to act in the matter; nor would the state have been bound, by any act of theirs relating to it. The whole subject of closing the account was under the controul of the state, who might appoint such agents as they pleased, and give such directions as to the time, manner and terms of settlement, as to them should seem proper. The balance, when ascertained, was to be received, by the agents of the state, who alone had the power to receive it. And it is not an unreasonable construction of the act, to declare, that the balance, when re*98ceived by the agents, was to be paid into the treasury of the mi • • , ., JLhis is, necessarily, implied, as to that part of it appro-Pr>ated to the Congregational societies ; for the treasurer is expressly authorized to receive and transfer it to them. It would be difficult to find a reason to support a construction of the statute, which would make it the duty of the agents to pay a portion of the balance into the treasury, and the remainder, to the corporations for whose benefit it was appropriated. The last section of the act contains a strong implication that the treasurer was to receive the whole amount which might be paid by the United States. It directs, that “ the unappropriated balance shall be and remain in the treasury not that this unappropriated balance shall be deposited in the treasury, but that it shall remain there. That which is to remain, is the residue of a larger sum previously deposited. It is that which is left in the treasury, after the treasurer has made the payments directed by the act. Such has been the practical construction of the act. The record shows, that the whole was paid, by the agents, to the treasurer; and that in the years 1817 and 1818, while the law of 1816 was in force, the plaintiffs received from him, the proportion of the sums to which they were entitled.
It is not material, however, to determine, whether the agents of the state could lawfully pay any part of the sums received by them, t@ any other person than the treasurer ; for it must be admitted, that they acted in behalf and by authority of the state, in the settlement of the account, and in receiving the balance due. The act of 1816 is, therefore, substantially a legislative declaration, that a part of the balance, which should thereafter be received by the state, on an adjustment to be made under its authority, and by its agents, of an unliquidated account against the United Stales, the state would pay, in certain specified proportions, to the corporations named in the act, accompanied with a direction to its treasurer or agents, who might receive or hold it, to make payment accordingly. The most liberal construction of the act, can make its provisions equivalent only to a promise to pay to those corporations, in certain proportions, a part of a debt supposed to be due to the state, after the same should have been adjusted, and the amount been received by its agents. It is apparent, therefore, that to carry into effect the views of the legislature, some further act was *99to be done, by the state or its officers, to perfect and complete the object contemplated by thelawof 1816. Thatlawdid r J - r , constitute a grant, or contract executed. Much remained to be done to consummate it. The account was tobe settled, the balance ascertained and received, and a part, when received, was to be paid over to the several corporations specified. And all this was to be done by the state. The operation of the act was to be future. Every thing essential was to be done after the law was enacted, and to be done by the state ; and unless done, the law would be ineffectual. It bears no resemblance to a grant of money accompanied with delivery, or a grant of real estate, or of a franchise, which is made to take effect, by force of the grant itself. These would be contracts executed; and such rights as they conferred, could not be annulled at the pleasure of the grantor. But it is analogous to a promise to pay, or make a grant, which remains unexecuted until the money is paid, or the grant perfected.
If, then, the act of 1816 is to be viewed as essentially a contract on the part of the state, we think it is obviously a contract wholly executory, to be performed in f uturo, requiring many acts to be done by the state, to complete it, and to accomplish the object contemplated by it. If the test established, by repeated adjudications, to distinguish between contracts executory and executed, be applied to this law, it will readily be perceived to fall within the former class. “An executory contract is one in which a party binds himself to do, or not to do, a particular thing. A contract executed is one in which the contract is performed, and differs in nothing from a grant.”
If the act of 1816, be considered as an executory contract, and we think, for the reasons which have been suggested, it cannot be extended beyond this, the remaining inquiry is, whether it be such an executory contract as cannot be rescinded, by the legislature, — creating obligations which cannot be impaired by the state ?• If the views which have been expressed as to the meaning of the constitution, be correct, an answer to this inquiry may easily be given. If the constitution has adopted the distinction between contracts executory and executed ; if it applies the same rules to them, when made by states as when made by individuals ; and if it does not mean to give any efficacy to nude pacts, nor create any new obligations, but only to preserve all the obligatory force of contracts, *100which they have by the general principles of law, it follows as necessary inference, that the executory contract we are now examining, like all other executory contracts, must be supported by a sufficient consideration ; else it confers no rights, and creates no corresponding obligations, which, in legal contemplation, can be impaired. If the act of 1816 be merely a promise, that when a debt supposed to be due to the state, shall have been collected, by its agents, and paid over to the state, the state will deliver to the plaintiffs, as a gratuity, a portion of the amount received, and there is no consideration, actual or presumed, at any time subsisting, to sustain this promise, it cannot be denied, that it is a nudum pactum. The authority to collect, and the promise to deliver, may be retracted, without contravening any legal obligation ; and a law which revokes the authority, or annuls the promise, is not a law impairing the obligation of a contract. We are of opinion, that the act does not itself import to have been made upon any sufficient legal consideration. None appears on its face ; nor does the record show that any consideration was proved to have existed at any time, nor any facts from which it can be presumed. The act purports to be a mere gift or gratuity. The state neither received any thing, nor the promise of any thing, to be given or done in futuro, when the law was enacted, nor at any subsequent period. Nor does it appear, that the plaintiffs have sustained any loss or damage, which would not have accrued, had the act not been passed. They have not foreborne or suspended any right or remedy at law or equity ; nor assumed any obligations ; nor incurred any expense ; nor suffered any loss or inconvenience, at the instance of the state, who made the promise, or in consequence of that promise. They have paid nothing; have done nothing ; have promised nothing; have foreborne nothing. They have only received, in former years, the proportion of the moneys to which they were entitled under the then existing laws ; and this is all which we know evin-cive even of their acceptance of the gratuity. Had itbeen proved, that on the faith of the act, they had incurred obligations, which, without it, would not have been assumed, it would have presented a Case materially variant from the one before us, and regarding which, it is both unnecessary and improper for us to express an opinion.
It is said, however, that a sufficient consideration to sustain *101the contract implied in the act, is to be presumed from the - .. . , , , . . r , ■ I ,1 form of the contract, it being a legislative act oí as nigh and emu a nature as a contract undet seal; indeed, that it is much more so, being a record of the highest class, and unimpeachable. And it is insisted, that a law appropriating money implies a con* sideration, because it is matter of record of equal solemnity with a sealed instrument, and therefore, like the latter, imports a consideration, which, as between the parties, cannot be denied. We think that no such analogy between records and deeds, as has been suggested, exists. The doctrine of estoppel, which follows from the execution of specialties, has never, we believe, been applied to the entries which are made of legislative proceedings, or the formal record of them in books provided for that purpose. It has never been supposed, that the law which authorizes millers to take increased toll, or that which grants licenses to lawyers, physicians and tavern-keepers, or that which bestows pensions, imports a consideration, because it is recorded. And yet, all these laws are records of the highest class, and unimpeachable.
It has also been contended, that a sufficient consideration to support the contract, arises from the object to which the moneys were to be applied, when they should have been received by the plaintiffs. The great interests of literature and religion were to be promoted by them. In these objects the state have a deep interest; and therefore, it is said, promises to make appropriations to secure and extend them, are founded on an adequate consideration. If this position be tenable, it may be applied, with the same propriety, to a promise by an individual, as to one by the state, when it is made to promote the same object. It certainly, however, cannot be seriously claimed, that a promise by an individual to pay money to a religious or charitable institution, imports a consideration, merely because it is to be applied, when paid, to the purposes for which the institution was formed. Limerick Academy v. Davis, 11 Mass. Rep. 113. Nor would a provision to pay money to relieve the necessities of the poor, or provide for the sick, import a consideration solety on account of the nature of the object to be attained by the performance of the promise. We have not been referred to any precedent, nor have we found one, which would justify us in holding, that a consideration is to be inferred merely from the object to be effected by the contracting parties.
*102These remarks are applicable to another claim of the plain* . 11 that the promise may be supported, having for its consider- . ’ . , ,1 . f , , , , ation the obligation of the donees to apply the sums, when received by them, to the purposes for which they were appropriated. An implied engagement to accept a gift, is clearly not a sufficient consideration to sustain a promise to make it. If it were, it would support every parol gift without delivery. Nor does the additional engagement, implied by law, to appropriate the gift according to the directions of the donor, create any adequate consideration. In neither case, is the mere engagement productive of any benefit to one party, or the occasion of loss to the other ; nor does it raise any obligation on the part of either, which can be enforced in law or equity. The implied promise to apply the fund in the manner directed by the donor, before the gift is made, is equally without consideration and legal efficacy as the promise (o make the gift. Both are inchoate, imperfect, creating neither rights nor duties until the gift is perfected, either by delivery, or what is equivalent to it; and then, and not before, the contract becomes executed by one party, and cannot be annulled at his pleasure, and obligatory on the other, as to all the conditions upon which he receives it.
In October, 1793, aft act was passed, entitled “ An Act for the establishing of a fund for the support of the gospel ministry and schools of education,” declaring “that the moneys arising from the sale of the territory belonging to this state, lying West of the state of Pennsylvania, be, and the same is hereby established, a perpetual fund, the interest whereof is granted, and shall be appropriated, to the use and benefit of the several ecclesiastical societies, churches or congregations of all denominations in this state, to be by them applied to the support of their respective ministers or preachers of the gospel, and schools of education, under such rules and regulations as shall be adopted, by this or some future assembly.” This act makes the fund perpetual, and appropriates the whole income of it to the objects specified, in language explicit and unequivocal. The power reserved to the legislature, is, to prescribe “rules and regulations” to govern the several societies, churches or congregations, in applying the income to the support of the ministry and schools. The appropriation is made for the benefit of both; and the societies, churches or congregations, are constituted *103the agents or trustees to make the distribution. The interest is “to be by them” applied. Was this act a grant, a contract executed; or ail executory contract, made upon adequate consideration ; either because it was a record ; or was designed to promote literature or religion ; or because the trustees would be compelled, upon the receipt of the moneys, to apply them to the purposes designated ? If so, was it not acontract, whose obligations could not be impaired, by a subsequent law ? And yet in May, 1795, a statute was enacted, expressly repealing the act of 1793, and appropriating the interest of the fund to the support of schools only, except in the cases and under the circumstances mentioned in the act, and containing other provisions essentially modifying and altering those in the act of 1793. In May, 1798, another law was passed, appropriating absolutely, the whole interest of the fund to the support of common schools. At a subsequent period, the management of the fund was entrusted to a commissioner appointed for that purpose; and in the constitution of this state, made in 1818, which contains a provision that “ the validity of all contracts of the slate shall continue as if no change had taken place,” it is declared, that this fund shall remain a perpetual fund, the interest of which shall be inviolably appropriated to the support and encouragement of the public or common schools throughout the state, and that no law shall ever be made authorizing it to be diverted to any other use. Has it ever been supposed, that the act of 1793 conferred vested rights on the religious societies and churches, in this fund, and the management of it, which subsequent legislation could not vary or abrogate ? Is the income of the school fund of this state now to be applied, in part, to the support of the ministry ? And is the whole of it to be paid to the ecclesiastical societies, church* es or congregations, to be distributed by them, among themselves and the several schools, as the legislature may prescribe? We should be somewhat surprised, if such a claim should be made by the religious societies. But has the claim of the plaintiffs, as presented by the record before us, any better foundation on which to rest, than that of these societies under the act of 1793 ? Is there any principle which would uphold the act of 1816, as a contract creating vested rights, which would not apply to that of 17931
An allusion has been made to the supposed impolicy and *104miustice of the acts of 1833 and 1833. With these topics, this J T . , , court has no concern. It is not our province to make law. Wfiether these statutes be wise or unwise, just or inequitable, are questions which we have neither the power nor the inclination to settle. The considerations connected with them should be addressed to that department of the government, which may, with propriety, be influenced by them.
In the case before us, we are satisfied, that the act of 1816, and the proceedings under it, so far as they appear from this record, vested no such right in the plaintiffs, to the sums of money which they now demand, as render the acts of 1833, and the act of 1838, invalid, as impairing the obligation of a contract. It was within the constitutional power of the legislature to pass those acts ; and when they became law’s, it was the duty of the defendant to obey them. He has done so ; and consequently, the superior court correctly decided, that the return made by him to the alternative mandamus, was sufficient ; and that upon the facts stated in the action, and found by the court, the plaintiffs were not entitled to a peremptory mandamus ; and that their application be dismissed. The judgment of the superior court, is, therefore, affirmed.
In this opinion the other Judges concurred.
Judgment affirmed.