Court Opinion

ID: 6635394
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 20:39:43.115667+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:59:03.489870
License: Public Domain

Graves, J.
This is an appeal from, a decree allowing a demurrer and dismissing the bill.
The complainant claims that in 1862, he became a settler on a parcel of swamp land under the acts of 1859, and 1861, (Sess. L. 1859, p. 862 ; Sess. L. 1861, p. 145,) and that subsequently the land was sold by the state, in contravention of his rights as settler, to Smith, who shortly after conveyed to Mills, both having notice of his claim; and that Mills has brought ejectment against him which he asks to have restrained.
He also represents that after his license was obtained, and before the sale to Smith, he was informed that he had been drafted to serve in the army, and supposing, notwithstanding he was an alien and had never voted, that he was subject to the draft, he fled to Canada to avoid the service, leaving his family and brother-in-law to look after and pro*17tect his rights. He further represents, that after the commencement of the ejectment suit he obtained a deed of the land from the governor, who was “ duly axithorized” to give it.
The objections to the bill are numerous. It is not only defective for want of material matter, but is likewise defective for - want of fullness, clearness, and directness of statement in respect to the matter it ■ shadows forth. The law requires the settler, as a condition, upon which his right depends, to perform certain acts and refrain from others; and, in case of disobedience avoids-his claim, and authorizes the commissioner of the land office to sell the land as other swamp lands are sold."
It was necessary, in any admissible -view of the case, for the complainant to show in his bill, by statements of what he had done and abstained from doing, that he had substantially complied with the requirements, of the statutes under which he claims. The state having the right to prescribe the terms upon which it would allow settlement, and having prescribed the terms, it is incumbent upon one who bases his claim upon the law of settlement to show that in all substantial particulars he has complied with 'these terms. This bill, however, contains no statement of such facts. Nor does it show, even in a general way, that the provisions of the law have been observed. No details are given, or conclusions even, having a legal tendency to show that complainant kept his claim good or saved it from becoming void. On the contrary, he avows that' he fled from the country, and by so much, furnishes evidence of failure to abide by the conditions of his license, and also of an actual abandonment of his claim. Nothing is stated to indicate the nature of the deed from the governor to complainant. Unless it was given pursuant to .some law it .is valueless; and the bill gives no information on the sub*18jecfc. Ia the absence of something to explaia the ground and nature of this deed, the circumstance that it was made and delivered can have no force to prop up this bill.
The faults in this pleading are so obvious and serious that we suspect the bill must have been resorted to as a “ forlorn hope.” We do not think it needful to examine it more in detail, or to point out its objectionable features with greater particularity. The decree below was correct, and should be affirmed with costs.
The other Justices concurred.