Court Opinion

ID: 9811855
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:30:50.154677+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:57.398410
License: Public Domain

Ronden, J.
Whether the paper upon which the endorsements in this case were made, is a bill of exchange it is unnecessary for the Court to decide, as the instrument shows a trading with the war department of. the so-called and now defunct Confederate Government. The" sole object and business of this department during its existence was to aid in carrying on the war against the rightful government of the United States, and consequently all trading directly with that department was illegal and void, and no sale growing out of such trading could be maintained in the Courts of the rightful government by the party thus trading, no matter what the form of the instrument evidencing such illegal- transaction. Martin v. McMillan, 67, N. C. R. 486. Clemmons v. Hampton, 64, N. C. R. 264. Critcher v. Halloway, same 526. Kingsbury v. Flemming, 66, N. C. R., and Baucum v. Smith, same 537.
In our case the illegality appears upon the face of the instrument, and thereby every subsequent holder, whether by endorsement or otherwise, is affected Avith notice of this illegality3', and can have no better or higher claim to maintain an action thereon in the Courts of the rightful government, than the original holder who made the illegal trade with the war department. Had the Confederate Government maintained its independence, no doubt, the Courts of that government Avould have held this contract legal; but even in that case, a question might arise Avhether the endorsement by an individual of this contract of the government Avould render the endorser liable to the endorsee, or be regarded as a mere mode of furnishing evidence of the person entitled to receive payment from the government, as in the case of the endorsement of one of our State bonds. Certainly those Avho have.endorsed such bonds in our State have done so under the idea that they did not thereby make themselves personállyliable, as endorsers, *12to pay the bonds in case the State failed to do so, but these endorsements have been made as preserving evidence, to the government, of the party who was entitled to receive payment.
There is no error. This will be certified.