Case: Carey Bagnell and the Executors of Morgan Byrne, Plaintiffs in error, vs. George W. Broderick, Defendant in error
Abbreviation: Bagnell v. Broderick
Decision Date: 1839-01
Docket Number: 
Citation: 13 Pet. 436
Volume: 38
Reporter: United States Reports
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: Carey Bagnell and the Executors of Morgan Byrne, Plaintiffs in error, vs. George W. Broderick, Defendant in error.
Judges: 
Pages: 436–458

Head Matter:
Carey Bagnell and the Executors of Morgan Byrne, Plaintiffs in error, vs. George W. Broderick, Defendant in error.
The plaintiff in error had exhibited, in an action instituted against him in thé Circuit Court of Missouri, evidence conducing to. prove that a patent from the United States, under which the plaintiff in the ejectment, the defendant in error, claimed the land, had been improperly granted by the government of the .United States, and that the title to the land was in him. Held, that in an action at law the patent from the United States for part of the public lands is conclusive. If those who claim to hold the land against the patent caji show that it issued hy mistake, then this equity side of the Circuit Court is the proper forum; and a bill in Chancery is the proper remedy to investigate the equitiés of the parties.
Congress has the sole power to declare the dignity and effect of titles emanating from the United States; and the whole legislation of the' government in reference to the public lands declares the patent to be the superior and conclusive evidence of legal title. Until ,it issues thg fee is in the government; which by the patent passes to the grantee, and he is entitled to recover the "possession in ejectment.
The practice of giving in evidence a special entry in aid of 'a patent, and dating the legal title from the date .of the entry, is familiar in some of the states, and especially in Tennessee. Yet the entry can only come in aid of the legal title, and'is no evidence of such title standing alone, when opposed to a patent for the same land.
The presumption is that the judgment of the Circuit Court is proper, and it lies on the plaintiff in error to show the contrary.
When the .title to the public land has passed out of the United States by conflicting patents, there can be no objection to the practice adopted by the Courts of a state to give effect to the better- right, in any form of remedy the legislature or Courts of the state may prescribe. ,
No doubt is entertairfed of the power of the states to • pass laws authorising purchasers of lands from the United States to prosecute actions of ejectment upon certificates of purchase, against trespassers' on the lands purchased; but it is denied that the states have any power 'to declare certificates of purchase of equal dignity with .a patent. Congress alone .can /give them such effect.
IN error to the Circuit Court of the United’ States for the District ofMissouri..
This was an action of ejectment for a tract of land in-the.state of. Missouri, instituted by George W. Broderick against, Bágnell, the defendant, the tenant in possession; and in the progress of the cause, Morgan Byrne,, the landlord, was made co-defendant, and he dying, his executors were substituted.
Other actions of ejectment.were at the same time instituted by George W! Broderick, for parts of the said "tract- in the possession of MfCunie, and of Sampson; and the executors of Morgan Byrne became in the same manner co-defendants in the cases. A verdict, in conformity to the opinion of the Circuit Court, having been given for the plaintiff in each of the cases, on the 10th of April, 1838, the defendants prosecuted writs of error to the Supreme Court; bills of exceptions having been sealed by the Court.
The bills of exceptions show that on the trial of these cases the plaintiff below read in evidence a copy of the patent from, the United States to John Robertson, Jr. dated 17th June, 1820, for the tract of land mentioned in the above statements, which, reciting that John Robertson, Jr. had .deposited in the general land office a certificate, numbered 192, of the recorder of land titles at St. Louis, Missouri ; whereby it appeared that in pursuance of ah act of Congress passed 17th February, 1815, entitled, “An act for the relief of the inhabitants of the late comity of New Madrid, in the Missouri territory, who suffered by earthquakes,’.’ the said John Robertson, Jr. was confirmed in his claim for 640 acres of land, being survey No. 2810, and section 32, township 5.0 north, and range 15 west of 5th principal meridian ;' and the United States granted to John Robertson, Jr. in fee, the tract of land described above. Also a deed from John Robertson, Jr. to Augustus H. Evans, dated 16th November,' 1830,. conveying the same tract cf land to the said Evans in fee, expressly stipulating, however, against any warranty. Also a deed' from' Augustus H. Evans to George W. Broderick, the plaintiff below, now defendant in error, dated 7th June, 1830, conveying the same tract of land to the said Broderick in fee, and proved possession of the premises by the defendants below; at the commencement of the suits respectively, and hére closed his testimony.
That the .defendants below, now plaintiffs in error, read in evidence a transcript' of a notice to the recorder of land titles for the United States at St. Louis, taken from the records of the office of the re.corder, given by John Robertson, Jr., which states that he claims ' 750 arpens of land in the Big Prairie, on the ground of inhabitation and cultivation, prior to and on 20th December, 1803, by and with the consent of the proper .Spanish officer.
Also a copy of proceedings had before the board of commissioners on land claims, on the 11th July, 1811, taken from the minutes of the proceedings of the hoard for ascertaining and adjusting the titles and claims to lands, which shows that on the claim of John Robert-son, Jr. for 750 arpens of land in the Big Prairie, the board granted to John Robertson, Jr.-200 arpens of land. Also a transcript of opinion, and report of .the recO ¡der of land titles of the .United States at St. Louis, made 1st November, í S15, which, in connexion with act of Congress of 29th, April, 1816, entitled, “An act for -the confirmation of certain claims of land in the western district of the state of Louisiana, and in the territory of Missouri,” (see sec. 2 of this act,) shows that the confirmation of 200 arpens, parcel of the claim of John Ror bertson, Jr; for 750 arpens of land in the Big Prairie, made by .the . board of Commissioners aforesaid, was extended to 640 acres, and this quantity, 640 acres, was accordingly confirmed to him. Also a deed from'John Robertson, Jr. to Edward Robertson, Sr. dated 29th May, 1S09, conveying the said 750 arpens of land to' the said Edward . Robertson, Sr. in fee ; reciting- in same conveyance that 330 arpens of the said 750 arpens- had been surveyed, and how; and specifying the manner of laying'' off the residue, and authorizing the said Edward Robertson to. apply fpr and receive from government of the proper authorities, a patent in his 'own name for same ;■ and covenanting on behalf of himself and his heirs, to warrant the title against all persons claiming under, through, or by the vendor. Also a' deed from Edward Robertson, Sr, to Morgan Byrne, dated 30th •October, 181-3, .conveying to the said Byrne, in fee, 300 arpens of land out' of a .tract of land the head right , of John Robertson, Jr. •situated and being in the'Big Prairie, bounding the part conveyed, parcel of the 750 arpens above described 5 and covenanting for himself and his heirs to warrant and defend the title against all claims whatever, .Also a deed from Edward Robertson, Sr. to Morgan Byrne, dated 11th September, 1816, conveying to the said Byrne in .fee 250 arpens of land, part of the head'right of John Robertson, Jr. of 7.50 arpens, situated in the Big Prairie, and containing a covenant for himself and heirs, to warrant the title .against all claims whatever. Also a-copy óf deed from Edward Robertson, Sr. to William' Shelby, -dated 29th October,J816, conveying to the. said Shelby in fee. two hundred arpens of land bounding the same, parcel of the head right óf John Robertson, Jr., (and parcel of t.he 750 arpens above de-.. scribed,). and containing a covenant of general .warrant]". Also a copy, of deed from William Shelby to Levi' Grimes, dat3d -2d December, 1816, conveying to the said Grimes .in.fee" the 200 arpens of land next above described, and containing a covenant, of- general yarranty.
' Also a deed from Levi Grimes '.to Morgan Byrne, dated 26th February, 1817, conveying to the said Byrne in'fee the 200 arpens of land next above described, and containing a special warranty.
The defendants also-produced in evidence an extract from registry of relinquishments, in Office of recorder of land titles for the United States at St.. Louis-, of lands materially injured by earthquake,s, under the act of Congress óf 17th February,. 1815; which shows that.the confirmation aforesaid to John Robertson,. Jr. for 640 acres, situated-in the Big Prairie, was relinquishedby Morgan Byrne, ás the legal representative of John Robertson, Jr., and on such.relinquishmént the location certificate No: 448 issued.
' Also a copy of certificate of location, dated September,-1818, and numbered^ 448, issued by recorder of land titles of United, States at St. Louis., which certifies that a tract of 640 acres of land situated in the Big Prairie Was materially injured by earthquakes, and that in conformity with the previsions .of the act of Congress of 17th February, 1815,: the said John Robertson, Jr., (reciting that he appears from the hooks of his office,.recorder of land titles of United States, to he the' owner,) or his legal representatives, was entitled to- locate 640 acres .of - land, on any of the public lands, &c. " Also, a Copy of the location under' the. foregoing certificate of-location, made 8th Qctober, 1818,.which shows that Morgan Byrne, as the legal representative of- John Robertson, Jr., entered and located 640 acres, of land,, by virtue of. the certificate of location, commonly called a New Madrid certificate, issuedby the recorder of land titles- of the United State's at St. Louis, dated September, 1818, and numbered 448, so as to includerise.QtiQn'NQ-.32., township 50-north,: range 15 yest of. 5th principal meridian, (the same premises ip dispute;) arid herb the defendants below closed their testimony,
The plaintiff below then read in evidence, a copy of notice by John Robertson, Jr., of claim for .330 arpens, and proceedings on-same had before the board Of commissioners'of land claims, oh 24th March, 1806, and 15th August, 1811, which show'that- John Robertson, Jr': filed á notice of claim for 330' arpens, situated in the district of New Madrid, under the second section of the act" of Congress Of March, 1805, accompanied by q plat of survey, of 330 arpens, made by one Joseph Story, at request of John Robertson, Jr., (as the same purports,) who, as the survey recites,Claimed the -same as part of-' his settlement right, by virtue of the second section of the act of Congress, of'March, 1805; that the hoard of commissioners on the 24th March, 1806, grant to claimant 750 arpens, and -on-the l‘5th Arigust,. 1811, reject .the claim entirely, saying the claim- ought not-to be granted. Also-, a transcript of opinion, and,report of the recorder .of land titles of United States, at St. Louis, madelst November, 1815, which, in connexion with the act,of Congress of 28th. April, 1816, before referred to, shows, that .the Claim of John Robertson, for 330 arpens, was confirmed .to him, and 330 arpens accordingly granted. Also, a copy of certificate of location -in favour of John Robertson, Jr. or his legal representatives; dated 18th September, 1818, and numbered 447,-issued by the .recorder of land-titles of the United States, at St. Louis, which certifies that a tract of 330 arperis of land situated on lake St. Marie., had been materially injured by earthquakes, arid that in conformity with the provisions"of the'actof Congress,-, of 17th February; 1815, the said John Robertson, Jr., reciting- that he appears from the books of his offiee, recorder of land titles of the United States, to be the-Owner, or-his. legal representatives, was entitled to locate 330 arpens Of land, &c.
The defendants below then read in evidence, an. extract from registry of -relinquishments, in the office of recorder of land titles of the'united States, at St. Louis, of lands materially.injured by earthquakes/ under the'act of Congress of 17th February,'181.5, which shows'that the confirmation aforesaid, of 330 arpens to, John Robertson, Jr., was,relinquished by James Tanner, ás his -legal- repre-. sentative, and- that on srich relinquishment the location certificate, No. 447, issued. Also, a. certificate of the recorder of land titles aforesaid, that from.entries made in the' books'of his office of New Madrid location certificates issued, the certificate of -location -,No. 447, was. delivered to one Jacoby, for- James Tanriet, and certificate of locatiori No. 448, was delivered to Morgan Byrne; and proved that the premises in dispute in each case, was of the value of three thousand dollars: which closed, and was all the evidence given in the causes.
Upon the case made, the defendants below, moved the CduTt to instruct the jury as follows:
That the entry or New "Madrid location, made by Morgan Byrne-in his own. name, as given in evidence in these cases, is proof of legal title to the land; and is a sufficient defence against all persons who do not show a better legal title to the same land.
2. That the patent,- a copy of which has been given in evidence by the plaintiff, did not vest, in- the patentee any better legal right to the land in question than he had before the date thereof, as' against the defendants'claiming the same land adversely by other title. ■'
3. That after the entry and before the patent, Morgan Byrne had a legal title to the land- in question, sufficient to enable him to prosecute or defend an action of ejectment therefor: And that the issuing of the’ patent could not divest that title.
. 4., That if the jury believe the patent, a copy of which has been offered in evidence by the plaintiff, issued on the location made by Morgan Byrne, and shown in evidence on the part of the defendants ■in these cases'; the patent is not such title as will-avail against the location.
All which instructions the Court refused: to which refusal exceptions were taken.
Mr. Beverly Allen submitted a printed argument for the plaintiffs in’error.
The errors assigned are,-besides the general’assignment, four; answering respectively to the"refusal of the Court to give the four instructions prayed :■ and a fifth, that the judgment against the executors of Byrne, was de bonis propriis, whereas, it should have been de bonis testatoris.
It appears from the testimony in the three cases, that Morgan Byrne, the landlord and testator was the owner of- the-land in New Madrid,-which was injured by earthquakes; that he applied for and obtained the certificate of location No. 448, relinquishing his land in NewMadrid, iirliéu of which- this certificate issued by the United States, and was located in his own name on the tract of land in dispute, in virtue of certificate No. 44S; that upon his location, a p,atenf certificate .issued, and on this certificate a patent issued to J'ohú Ro.bertson, Jr., the. same person who once owned the land in’New. Madrid, relinquished by Byrne -and under whom Byrne claimed that .láncL That the plaintiff, derives title to the .land in dispute, from John Robertson, Jr., by deed's executed since the issue of .the patent; and being such owner, instituted these, actions of éjectment to recover the possession- of the landlocated ’as aforesaid by Byrne.
The question is, whether in such a case and on such á statement-of facts, John Robertson, Jr. the patentee, or George W. Broderick, his assignee, can recover against Morgan. Byrne, the locator of the-land, or his representatives. The plaintiffs.in error, contend that the patentee and his assignee cannot; and rely on the. folio wing-grounds :'
'l. The title of Morgail Byrne was sufficient to maintain an ae tion of ejectment. See Revised Code of Missouri', of 1825, page .343, sec. 2d, in force, at commencement of these suits. And Revised Code of Missouri, of -1S35, page 234, 235, sec. 1, 2, and 9, in force at trial of'same.
2. That whatever was sufficient to maintain, must be sufficient to defend an action of ejectment. This is -a corollary from the -first ground. If these two points are well taken, the first special error is well assigned. •
3. That the patent is not, in this case, and on this statement of facts,,the “better title” contemplated by-the acts of assembly referred to.
As to the first point, argument cannot elucidate the words of the law. Its -meaning is evident, and the first, rule of construction. is not to construe that which needs no construction..
As to the second point. The.corí-ectness of this is necessarily implied in .the language and spirit of the law. It is á sequence from the first. If the title of Byrne was such as would enable him to maintain an action of ejectment and recover possession, it would be absurd not to hold'it to be.sufficient to maintain that possession whet recovered. - .
As to the third point.. Here the inquiry arises what-is the meaning-of the phrase “better title” in the acts of assembly referred to. A title is -thus defined by Lord Coke, 1 Instr,"345: “ Titulus est justa. ,causa possidendi id quoc nostrum est.” Or/by Blackstone,Black. .Com. vol..ii. p. 195: “It is the means whereby the Owner -of lands hath the. just possession of his property.”. What this “justa causa” or “ means” is, must, in all countries, depend on the' law of the country.where the subjectof the title is'situated. United States vs. Crosby, 7 Cránch, 115. Clark vs. Graham, 6 Wheat. 567.' Kerr vs. Devisees of Moon, .9 Wheat. 565.- M‘Cormick et al,.vs. Sullivan et al. 10 Wheat. 192. The' “justa causa” or “ means” is nothing more than those indicia of; ownership - which are recognised by the laws of the country as evidence of right. Title is by descent or ..purchase; The indicia, of the former is' heirship, of the latter any .of those modes of acquiring property which_are recognised by law. The laws of- Missouri, where lies the property-in dispute, recognise the entry, or location of land, as in this case, to. be a mode of acquiring property, and an evidence of right in the. locator They also recognise a patent to be a mode.of acquiring property, and an evidence of right. We have then an indicium of ownership in Morgan Byrne,.arid an indicium of ownership in John Robertson, Jr..: •and these indicia of ownership are considered by the laws of Missouri such evidence of right as.will enable either to maintain or defend an action of ejectment. Morgan Byrne had, in this case, the possession, the right of possession, and the right of-property, which together constitute a Completely good title, denominated a. double right “ jús.duplicatúm,” or “ droit drpit.” Black; Com. vol. ii. p. 1.99. In him wag the. “juris et seisina conjunCtio” Which constitute the title completely legal, or a perfect title. ( Kent’s Com. Lee.. 65..
( -. It .may be admitted that'a patent is* corisidéred in-law. a higher, species of evidence of right, but that ean avail nothing in this ease, where the evidence-of right in the. other party is sufficient to maim tain or defend, the action of ejectment. The words of the law are not' “.against, any person .not. having a title thereto, proved by a higher, species of evidence,’’ buir “ against any person not having a better title theretothat is, an indieiupi of ownership, recognised by the law -as evidence of a better right. It then necessarily follows, that in the construction of the' words “b'ettér title” we must look not at the species of evidence Of the title," but to the justness Of the title.
On looking into the titles of these two ..contending claimants, the .patentee and.the, locator, We find they both'have the game origin: they both originate in the relinquishment-made by Morgan Byrne and the certificate of location No. 448; and now,-which of the two has thé better title, Or- more just title to the land located under the certificate, Morgan Byrne,-whose land was relinquished, or John Robertson, Jr. who,had no. interest in the land relinquished-; Byrne, who was interested in and made the location,.or Robertson, Jr., who had nó interest therein, was no party to it, and wffio had previously sold and conveyed to him, under whom Byrne .'claimed the land thus relinquished, and in virtue of which relinquishment Byrne tnade that location ? ■ Seeing then both to have those evidences of right recognised by- the law to be sufficient to maintain- or defend an ejectment, the justness of the title of Robertson, Jr., must be examined. On this examination it will be found that Robertson, Jr., shows no title better than Byrne’s; and failing in this, Broderick, the assignee of Robertson, Jr., cannot recover against, the tenant and representatives of Byrne.
There, has been no adjudication by the Supreme Court of Mis-, soun, what is meant by the words “better title.” .In the case of the administrators of Janis-rw. G-uerno, 4 Miss. Rep; 458, the Court says, “what shall be considered a better title, the act. does not define. It surely does not mean that the. bare possession of the defendant' shall be so considered. We understand then that .the meaning of the act is, that, when the plaintiff producfes a confirmation of thfe land to himself, he has made out his case, and will be entitled to recover unless the defendant c.ah show a better title. ' What in all cases, or indeed what would be a better title in any case, need not be now decided.”
Titles are-legal or equitable, predicated on that distinction known-m many of the; states of the Union between law and equity. The former are subjects.of'examination in Courts of law, and the .latter in Courts of equity. In those states, of which Missouri is one, legal titles are the subject of. examination in Courts of law, equitable' in Courts of equity, whether a title be legal or equitable; that is, whether it be the.subject of éxamination in a Courtof law or equity: the foundation of a proceeding in one- Court ot the other depends on the statute of the state where the tribunal is situated in which the examination or proceeding is had, Robinson ««.Campbell, 3 Wheat. 212. Society for the propagation of the gospel vs. Wheeleret al. 2 Gallis.105. In Missouri the title of Morgan Byrne is the subject of examination, and the foundation -of a proceeding in a Court of law.- It is a.title on which'an ejectment, which by the law of Missouri is a legal proceeding, may be maintained or defended, and - is therefore a legal- title, and will be so considered in the Courts of the United States, Conformably to the decision in Robinson ««.-Campbell, 3 Wheat. Si2.' There is then before the Court in these cases •a legal title in both plaintiffs and defendant in error, and the inquiry again recurs which. has the better title;. not which has the higher species of evidence of title, but which in point of justness of superior right should prevail. . What has already been said shows that Byrne, who owned the land in New Madrid, relinquished the sp.me to.the United'States.-and made the location, has a more just and superior right, in other words; a better, title, to the land located than. John Robertson,. Jr., original .owner of the land in New Madrid, who sold the same to Edward Robertson, Sr., under whom Byrne claimed the .same, who had no agency in the relinquishment, no interest in the land relinquished, and no right to the land located by Byrne anterior to the issuing of the patent. In other words, by Byrne’s act the land in dispute was severed from the domain of the United States, and by him appropriated with the consent of the United States, by him purchased for a good and valuable consideration from the. United States, by him acquired in' an exchange' with the . United States. -He gave other lands for' it to the United States. From the moment of the location it becamé his — the United States had no title "to it at the date of the patent. See act of Cóngress, 17 Feb. 1815, sec. 2, proviso 2. The title was in Byrne, and that title was such as enabled Byrne to institute in the Courts of law of Missouri .an. action of ejectment; and it is submitted, whether under these, circumstances it can be said that the title of John Robertson, Jr.,' is'better than. the.title of Morgan Byrne: whether a patent issuing from the United States to John Rbbertson, Jr., for land they had previously disposed of, can prevail against Byrne, to whom it was so disposed, and this disposition-being recognised by the laws, 'of Missouri as a-title on which to maintain an ejectment. Our statute requites that in actions of ejectment an examination be made . into the successive gradations of title, or the various evidences of title to'land in a contest between two persons claiming the same land, . whenever those gradations 'or evidences are recognised by the law as legal titles, or titles, on which an ejectment may be maintained or defended. This is all that is- insisted on in these 'cases. It is not asked to maintain or defend an ejectment on an equitable title, nor to look behind the patent as to the regularity of the steps from the first to the-last ending with the issue of the patent; but to. ascertain who-had the prior legal, right, that right on which an ejectment might be maintained or defended. The plaintiffs in error .feel confident that on such examination their right will be found to. be a legal and prior right; being legal, it' is examinable in a Court of ■ law, is the-foundation of a legal proceeding, is sufficient to maiiitain or defend an action of ejectment; and, being.prior in time, is more powerful in law and right, and must preváil against’ the right of the defendant in error, which, though legal, is posterior in time. But-if it should be said that'the patent is the legal title, and the location an equitable title',.yet-the statute of Missouri making this equitable title examinable in a Court of Law, and giving it that dignity Avbich authorizes an action of ejectment to be maintained or defended on ■ it,_the Courts of the United States, are bound to give it the same dignity; and when they find it possessing the effect ascribed to it by • the laws of Missouri, to give to. it the like preference over the patent in this case, that the. Courts of Tennessee and the Supreme Court of the United States, folloAving thosé Courts, give to the junior patent founded on an elder entry over, an elder patent founded on a junior entry. Pqlk’s lessee'-as. Wendall, 9 Cranch, 87.
The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States; that a patent is a title from its date, and conclusive against all those whose rights do not commence previous to its' emanation, 7 Wheat. 212, implies that there'may be rights commencing anterior to the patent Is there a right, in these cases, commencing anterior to the date of the patent?. The location was anterior, and gives a right, Is this anterior fight examinable in a Court of law ?', The statute of Missouri makes it so examinable; and being so, whenever a contest arises between a patent and an anterior location, this location, whether a legal or an equitable right, must in the construction of- the statute of Missouri, have, its effect; and, if of a merit superior to the patent, have the same effect it would have in a .Court of equity and prevail over the' patent. Finley vs. Williams et al., 9 Ctanch, 164. McArthur vs. Browder, 4 Wheat. 488.
• If the preceding views be correct, the general and first four special .errors are well assigned.
As to the fifth special error. There is no such' thing known to the law or in the practice of the law in' the Courts of Missouri, as those pleas peculiar to an executor or administrator growing. out of the matter of assets.- In Missouri no, execution issues against an executor or administrator sued as such, unless specially sued for a devastavit, or on his bond as such.- All demands, no matter of what dignity, are presented to the Court having cognizance over, the- administration of estates, by whom they are classed.; and at the annual settlements of the administrators or executors, that portion of the assets which consists of money, is apportioned among the creditors: and thus and not otherwise are demands, whether by simple contract, by specialty or by judgment, against an estate collected.. For all defaults on the part of an executor or administrator, a. suggestion of a devastavit is made and tried in the Court having cognizance of the administration of estates, dr the bond of the executor or administrator is put in suit. Judgments predicated on the false pleading of the executor or administrator, as- technically understood in the laws of England, are unknown to the law or in.its practice - in ■Missouri. See-Revised Code of Missouri of 1835, title Administration.
Coxe for the defendant in error.—
The decision of the Circuit Court is to be considered correct, until its incorrectness is made to appear. -This was so held by this Court in the case of Carroll vs. Peake, 1,Peters, 23. Have the plaintiffs in. error -shown that there was error in the decision of the Circuit Court? It was a question on-the legal title of the parties in the cause, and this question alone was decided by the Court. The equitable claims of those who alleged they were justly entitled to. the land under Robertson; could pot be taken into consideration in the action on the law side of the Circuit Court. The chancery powers-of the Court could have been invoked by the défehdants' in another form than in a. defence to an action of ejebtment. .
-The grant and patent are evidence in a Court of law of the mat-* ■tprs recited in them. The grant, legally and fully executed, was •corqpefent evidence of the matters set forth in. it; and as none other was necessary,,it was.in effect conclusive.” The United-States. Arredondo et al., 6. Peters, 724. No facts behind the grant can be investigated. 1.1 Wheat. 5SÓ. A patent is evidence in a Court of law of the regularity of all the previous' steps to ■ it. . 5 Wheat; 293. 7 Wheat. 151. The Court are bound to presume the acts of commissioners intrusted by laws ,of Congress to inquire into claims, to lands, regular; and the. decisions of these commissioners are, in Courts of law binding and effectual. This principle was decided in the cage of Ross vs. BarlUnd, 1 Peters, 668.
■ The defendant in error supported his claimt0 the lahd by a patent issued by the proper authority... .The.pátent was granted on the facts stated in the records of the land office, and those.records are evidence of the proceedings stated in "them. They are. conclusive evidence.' This was fully decided by this-.Court in- the case of Galt vs. Galloway and others, 4 Peters, 342. This Court then said, “As the. records of the lahd office are of.great importance-to the country, and- are kept under the official’ sanction of the government, their contents must always be considered, and they are always .received in Courts of.justice, as evidence of the facts stated:”
The commissioner of the land- office was empowered by the act-of Congress to investigate the facts connected with every application for land, in consequence of the injuries sustained by the earthquake; and he was to adjudge to the person entitled, after such investigation, the land to be granted by the United States. In this case, Robertson was in full life wheii the land was granted and patented to him; and he conveyed it to those under Whom by regular conveyances the defendant in .error holds. In a Court-of law nothing more was necessary than the exhibition of such a legal title.
. Nor could the plaintiffs in error derive any.right to maintain, their title under the provisions, of the law of Missouri of 1835. That law can have no operation on the system. established” by the United States for the sale of their public lands, and the granting of titles thereto. Against trespassers, the law of Missouri may have full effect; and a holder of land in Missouri under a pre-emption right, New Madrid location, or entry with the register, might maintain an ejectment. But this law could give no right to an ejectment under an incohate rjghtin the Courts of the United States, against a patent issued by the proper officer authorized by. the act of Congress, to grant a patent. The states of the United States cannot make by their statutes any titles or claims to lands by certificates of entry which are inferior to k patent, of equal-dignity with a patent.
“ Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, that any person claiming lands or tenements, by virtue' of any pre-emption right, New Madrid location, entry with the register and receiver, confirmation by the board of commissioners of land claims, for the territory of Missouri, or by the recorder of land titles, Or by concession not exceeding one league square, or by settlement right, or other right, where such right or concession has been confirmed by the commissioners aforesaid, or recorder aforesaid, or by any act of Congress: or where the same is held by deed, patent, entry, warrant, or survey, being confirmed as aforesaid; or by any French or Spanish grant, warrant, or order of survey, which prior to the tenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and four, had been surveyed by proper authority, under the French or Spanish governments, and recorded according to the custom- and usages of the country, although such person may not be in the actual possession; or if the same shall “have been actually surveyed, by authority of the United States, since, the. tenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and. four, or by any proper officer, under the French or. Spanish governments, prior to the said tenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and four, suqh person shall, and may maintain actions of ejectment or trespass, in any Court having jurisdiction thereof, against any person not having a better title: • and in all actions of ejectment, where a verdict shall be found for the plaintiff, the jury shall also find damages for the mesne profits, up to the time of rendering the verdict: Provided, ■however, That mesne profits, shall not be recovered for any time prior to the commencement of the suit, unless the plaintiff shall prove that the defendant had knowledge of hi claim; and then only from the time of such knowledge coming from the defendant.”
“ Sec. 1. The action of ejectment may be maintained in all cases when the plaintiff is legally entitled to the possession of the premises.
“Sec. 2. The action of ejectment may also be maintained in all cases where the plaintiff claims possession of the premises, against any person not having a better title thereto, under or by virtue of,
First, An entry with the register and receiver of any land office of the United States, or with the commissioner of the general land office thereof; or,
Second, A pre-emption right under the laws of the United States; or,
Third, A New Madrid location; or, .
Fourth, A confirmation made under the laws of tho United States; or,
Fifth, A French or Spanish grant, warrant, or order of survey, surveyed by proper authority under the Fiench or Spanish governments, and recorded according to the usages of the country, prior to the tenth day of March, eighteen hundred and four.”
“Sec. 9. To entitle the plaintiff to recover, it shall be-sufficient for him to show, that, at the time of the commencement of the action the defendant was in possession of the premises claimed, and that the plaintiff had such right to the possession thereof, as is declared, by .this act to be sufficient to maintain the action.”

Opinion:
Mr. Justice Catron
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This was an action of ejectment by.Broderick against Bagnell, for a section of land lying in Howard county, Missouri; and Peter and Luke Byrne were admitted to come in • and defend, under the following-circumstances. - Morgan Byrne claimed to be the owner of-the land, and he was first admitted a co-defendant with Bagnell. Byrne, died, and Margaret Byrne, his executrix, was admitted as a co-defendant. Then she died-; and Peter Byrne and Luke Byrne, executors-of the last will of Morgan Byrne, were admitted.
The judgment below is, that the plaintiff recover the land and costs, against Carey Bagnell and P. and L. Byrne, executors of Morgan Byrne.
It is assigned for error, that.the judgment for costs against Peter and Luke Byrne, should have been de bonis testatoris, .and hot de bonis propriis. .
. The presumption, is, that the judgment of the.Circuit Court is pro.pér, and it lies on the plaintiffs in error to show the contrary. 1 Peters, 23. The executors.'of Morgan Byrne had no interest' in the' land by virtue óf their letters testamentary, but cbuld. well have an interest by the will of their testator. On no other ground could they properly-have been permitted to come.in and defend in the character of executors. On this ground, thereforej we presume they were admitted,; and, like other defendant^ in ejectment, having'failed to show the better title, the recovery^ was proper; and costs necessarily followed the judgment de bonis propriis.
The .plaintiff Brbderick claimed'by virtue of a patent from .the United States, to John Robertson,-Jr., dated June 17th, 1820 • and deeds in due form from Robertson and others to himself, proved Carey in possession at the commencement of the suit; and here rested his case.
To show that the better title had been in Morgan Byrne, the defendants produced a deed dated 20th May, 1809, from John Robertson, Jr., to Edward Robertson, Sr., for seven hundred and.fifty arpensof land lying in Big-- Prairie township, in the district of New Madrid, adjoining the lands of Sheckler and Cox; and which deed authorized Ed . ard Robertson to procure a. patent from the government. By different conveyances Morgan Byrne claimed title to the 750 arpens through and undéí Edward Robertson.
The land lies in the county of New Madrid, in the state of-Missouri, and was injured by the earthquakes of December, 18.11. To relieve the inhabitants Who had suffered by this calamity, Congress passed the act of 17th February, 1815; providing that those whose lands had. been-'materially injured,-should' be authorised to locate the same quantity on any of the public lands in the Missouri territory, but not exceeding in any casé £40 acrés; on which being done, the, title to the land injured should revert to the United States.
The'recorder of land titles for the territory of Missouri was made-the judge, " to ascertain who was entitled to-the benefit of the act, and to-what extent;"- on the examination of the evidences-of claim; as compensation for which, if well founded, he was directed to issue a certificate to the claimant. This certificate having issued, and a notice of location having been filed in the surveyor general's office, on application of the 'claimant-the surveyor was directed to survey, the land selected, and to return a plat to the office of the recorder of land titles, together with á notice in writing, designating the tract located; and the ñame of the claimant on whose behalf the location and survey had been made; which plat and notice it was the duty of the recorder to record in his office: and he was required to transmit a report of the claim as allowed, together with the. location by survey to the commissioner of the general land office; and deliver to the claimant a certificate stating the circumstances of the case, and that he was entitled to. a-patent for the tract designated. The notice of location made by the" claimant with the- surveyor general is-no part of the evidence on which the general land office acted; but .the patent issued on the plat and certificate of the surveyor, relumed to the recorder's office, and which was by him reported to the .general land office. '
The United States never deemed, the land appropriated until the survey was returned, for the reason that there were many titles -and claims, perfect and incipient, emanating from the provincial governments of France and Spain, and others from the United States, in the land district where the New. Madrid -claims were subject to be located. • So, there were lead mines and salt springs excluded from entry. Then, again, the notice of entry might be in a form inconsistent with .the laws of the United-States: in all which cases' no survey could be made in. conformity to it. . If no such objection existed it was the duty of the Surveyor to conform to the election made by the claimant, having .the location certificate from the recorder. Still the- only .evidence of the location recognised by the government as an appropriation was the plát.-and certificate .bf the surveyor. Such is the information obtained from the- general land office; As evidence of the form of location, and practice of the office, we have been furnished With a copy of ffie plat and certificates of survey on which the patent in this record is founded, and which is annexed. As before stated, the patent, to John Robertson, Jr. is' deemed to have-been issued regularly; and we must presume that all the usual incipient steps had been taken before the title was perfected. 5 Wheat. 293. 7 Wheat. 157. 6 Peters, 724. 727, 728. 342. And -of course; that the certificate of survey returned by the recorder; .was in the name of John Robertson, Jr. The patent merged the location certificate on which- the survey was founded; so that no second survey could be made by virtue, of the certificate. Thus fortified stands the title of the plaintiff below.
The defendant there relied upon a notice of éntryfiled'witn me surveyor general in these words: " Morgan Byrne, aS the legal fepre-' sentative of John Robertson, Jr.', enters six hundred and forty acres of land, by virtue of a New Madrid certificate, issued by the recorder of land titles for the territory of Missouri, and dated St. Louis, September, 1818, and numbered 448, in- the- following manner, tb' wit, to include section No. 32, in township No. 50, north of the base line; range Nó. 15, west of the fifth principal, meridian.
" St. Louis, Oct. Qth, 1818. Morgan Byrne."
Which is founded on the following certificate of location r.
" No. 448.
" St. Louis, Office of the Recorder of Land Titles,
" September, 1818.
" I certify that a tract of six hundred and forty acres of land, situate, Big Prairie, in the 'comity of .New Madrid, which appears, from thé hooks of this office to. be owned by John Robertson, Jr., has been materially injured by earthquakes''; and that in conformity with the provisions of the act of Congress, of the- 17th. February, 18Í5, the said John Robertson, Jr., or his legal representatives, is entitled to locate six hundred and forty acres of land,, on any of the public lands of the territory of. Missouri, the sale of which is authorised by law. Vide Com'is Cer'e, No. 1126, ext'd.
'" Frederick BatésN
This, is obviously the foundation- of the survey and patent to John Robertson, Jr. ; , a fact admitted ; but'it is insisted that Byrne had the better title to the recorder's certificate ; that it issued to him. in fact as the "legal representative of John Robertson, Jr. ;" and that the notice of entry filed with the surveyor general, vested in Byrne a title .of a character on which he could have maintained an ejectment against Broderick-; and that, consequently, his devisees could successfully defend themselves.. That they corild, if. the entry, be the better title, must be admitted. '
There is evidence .in this record, tending to show that Morgan Byrne made the relinquishment of the New Madrid claim; but the same evidence, (being extracts from the records of the recorder's office,) show that the location certificate was granted to John Robertson, Jr. They are as follows:
Warr. or ord. of survey.. Survey.' Notice to the recorder. Quan'ty claimed. Where situated: Ross'n, Inli'n, Cult. &c. Opinions of the recorder^.
By Ü. S. Corn's for 200 arpens, cer. 1126.-Johft Robertson, Jr. 750 arpens. Big Prairie. Granted 6^0 acres £.
A list of relinquishments of lands materially injured by earthquakes, in the late county of New Madrid, (present) state of Missouri, under the ac.t of Congress of 17th February, 1815.'
Loc'n cert. Claimants of-record. Quantity. Situation. Relinquishment by whom, and general remarks.
448 John Robertson, Jr. 640 acres. Big Prairie. Morgan Byrne, legal representative,
. This evidence, taken in connexion with the deeds to Edward Robertson, and those from him and others to Byrne, it is. insisted, esta blish the better equity- to have been in the latter; and that this equity can be made available for the defendants in the Circuit Court, by force of the act of the legislature' of Missouri, which provides, that an action of enactment may bé maintained'on " a New Madrid location."
Our opinion is, first, that the location referred to in the act, iff the plat and certificate of survey returned'to the recorder of land titles; because, by the laws of the United States, this is. deemed the first appropriation of the land,and the legislature of Missouri hadnopower, had it made the attempt, to depiare the notice of location filed with the surveyor, general an appropriatioh contrary to the laws of the United States. The survéy having been made and certified to the recorder in the name óf John Robertson, Jr., Byrne had no title that would sustain an ejectment in, any case; and of'course, "those -claim-ting under him- cannot successfully defend themselves on the evidence they adduced.
But secondly, suppose the plat and certificate of location had-been made and returned to the recorder in.the name of Morgan Byrne,; and that-it had been set up as the better title, in opposition to the patent adduced.on behalf of the plaintiff in ejectment; still, we are of opinion the patent would have been the better legal title. Weare bound to presume' for. the purposes of this action, that all previous steps had been taken by John Robertson,- Jr., to entitle himself to the patent, and .that he had the superior right to obtain it, notwithstanding -ihe claim, set up by Byrne ; and having obtained the patent, Robertson-had the best title,, (to wit, the fee,) known to-a 'Court, of law.
Congress has the sole power to declare the dignity and effect of titles emanating from the United States; and the whole legislation of the'federal government,'in reference to the public lands, declares the patent the superior and conclusive'-evidence óf legal title; until its issuance, the fee is in the government, which, by -the patent, passes to the grantee; and he is entitled to recover -the possession in ejectment;
If Byrne's devisees can show him to have been the true owner of the 750 arpens off land, Relinquished because" injured by. earthquakes,and that, the patent issued to John Robertson, Jr.,-by mistake ; then the equity side off the Circuit Court tis the proper forum, .and a Rill. the. proper remédy, tó investigate the equities of the parties. But whether any equity existed tip -virtue of'the act of 1815; and if so, whether it was "adjudged, between the parties by the recorder of land titles; are .questions op which we have formed no opinion, and wish to be understood, as pot irititnating any.
We have been referred to the case pf Ross vs. Barland, 1 Peters, 662, as an adjudication involving the principles in this case; we do not. think so. In that there were conflicting patents; the younger being founded on an appropriation of the specific land, by an entry in the land office of earlier date than the "senior patent. The Court held that the entry , and junior-patent , could be given in evidence in connexion as one title, so as to overreach the elder patent; The practice of giving in evidence a special entry in aid of a patent, and dating the legal title' from the date of the entry, is familia* in some of the states, and especially in Tennessee; yet the entry can only come in aid of a legal title; and is nó evidencia of such title standing alone, when opposed-to -a patent for the same land. Where the title has passed out of the United States by conflicting patents, as it had in the case in 6 Peters, there can be no objection to the practice adopted by the Courts of Mississippi to give effect.to the better right, in any form of remedy the legislature or Courts of the state may prescribe.
Nor,4o we doubt the power of the states to pass laws authorizing purchasers of lands from the United States, to prosecute actions of. ejectment, upon certificates of purchase, against trespassers on the lands purchased; but we deny that the states have any power to declare certificates of purchase of equal dignity with a patent. Congress' alone can givé them such effeet.--
Por the several reasons stated, we have no doubt the judgment of the Circuit Cóurt was correct.;, and order"it to be affirmed.
•In the cases of Sampson against Broderick, and M'Cunie agairist the same, the judgments are. álso affirmed.'- • -