Case: Plowden Weston and others, Plaintiffs in error vs. The City Council of Charleston, Defendants
Abbreviation: Weston v. City Council of Charleston
Decision Date: 1829-01
Docket Number: 
Citation: 2 Pet. 449
Volume: 27
Reporter: United States Reports
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Parties: Plowden Weston and others, Plaintiffs in error vs. The City Council of Charleston, Defendants.
Judges: 
Pages: 449–480

Head Matter:
Plowden Weston and others, Plaintiffs in error vs. The City Council of Charleston, Defendants.
A tax imposed by a law of any state of the United States, or under the authority of sudh. a law, o.n stock issued for loans made to. the United States, is uncon- - stiiujional.'
The power of this Court to revise the judgments of state tribunals, depends on the 25th section of the judiciary act.- That section enacts “ that a final judgment or decree in any suit in' the highest court'of law or equity of a state, in which a decision in the suit could Be had,” where is drawn in question the validity oif.a statute, or of an authority exercised under any state; on the ground of their bejng repugnant to the constitution, treaties or laws of the United States; and the decision is in favour of their validity, “ may be re-examined, and reverseu or affirmed in the Supreme Court of the United States.” [463J
The city council of Charleston, exercising an authority under the state of South Carolina, enacted an ordinance, by which a tax was imposed on the six and • seven per cent. irtock of the United States; and in the court of common plead of the Charleston district, an application was máde for a prohibition to restrain them'from levying, the tax, on the ground that the ordinancejiolated the constitution of the United States. The prohibition was granted, and; the proceedings in the case were removed.to the constitutional court, the highest court of law of the state; and in that court it was held that the ordinance did not violate the constitution of the United States, arid a writ of error was prosecuted on this decision to this Court. Held, that the question decided by the consti- . tutional court, was the very question on which the revising power of this Court is to he exercised. [464]
A writ of error to this Court may be prosecuted, where by the judgment of the highest court of the state of South Carolina a prohibition, issued in a stale court, to prevent the levying of a tax which was imposed .by a law repugnant to the constitution of the United States, was refused offthe ground that the law was not so repugnant to the constitution. [464]
The term suit is certainly a very comprehensive one, and is understood to apply to any proceeding in a court of justice, in which an individual pursues that remedy in a court of justice which the law affords him. [464]
The .words “ final judgment,” in the 25th 'section of the judiciary act, must be understood in the section under consideration as applying to all judgments and decrees which determine the particular cause; and it is not required that such judgments shall finally decide upon the rights which are litigated, that the same shall be Within purview of the section. [464]'
It is not the want of original power in an iridependent sovereign, state to prohibit loans to a foreign government, which restrains the state legislature"" from direct opposition to those made by the United States. The restraint is imposed by our constitution The American people have conferred the power of borrowing money, on the government, and by making that government supreme, have shielded its action in the pxereise of that power, from the action of the local governments. The grant of the power, and the declaration of supremacy, is a declaration that no such distraining or controlling power shall be exercised. [468]
THIS was a writ of error to the constitutional court of South Carolinas
On the 20th of February 1823, the city council of Charleston passed “ an ordinance to raise supplies for the use of the city of Charleston,, for the year 1823.” The ordinance provides “ that the following species of property, owned and possessed within'the limits of the city of Charleston, Shall be subject to taxation in the manner, and at the rate, and con-formably to the provisions hereinafter specified] that is to say, all personal estate, consisting of bonds, notes, insurance ■stock, six and seven per1 cent, stock of the United States] or other obligations upon which interest has been or will be received during the year, over and'above the interest which has been paid, (funded stock of this state, and stock of the incorporated banks of this state, and the United States bank excepted) twenty-five cents upon every hundred dpllars.”
■ In the court of common pleas for the Charleston district, the plaintiffs in error, in May 1823, filed a suggestion for a prohibition, as owners of United States stock, against the city council of Charleston, to restrain them from levying under the ordinances, on six and seven per cent, stock of the. United States and the tax imposed under the ordinance ; on the ground that the ordinance, so far as it imposes a tax on the stock of the United States is contrary to the constitution of the United States.
(The prohibition having been granted, the city council applied to the constitutional court, the highest court of law in the state, to. reverse the order, on the ground that the ordi7 nance was not repugnant to the constitution of the United ■States; and the proceedings in the case having been remov-. ed.to the said- court, the said court in May. term 1823, by a majority of their judges (four being in favour of the constitutionality of. the ordinance, and three against it), decided . that thp. said ordinance did not violate the constitution of the United States, in imposing a tax upon the holders- of United States stock. From this decision the relators appealed by writ of error to the Supreme Court of the United States.
The'error assigned in this Court was ; that , the judgment of the constitutional court was erroneous, in. that it decided the ordinance of the city council of Charleston not to be repugnant to the constitution of the United States.
The case was argued By Mr Hayne, for the plaintiffs' in error; and by Mr Cruger and Mr Legare, for the defendants..
The counsel for plaintiffs in error submitted, tnal if the course of proceeding adopted by the plaintiffs in error was not approved of, by requiring a prohibition in the court of common pleas, and on the decision of the constitutional court being against them by taking the writ of error, some other mode would be employed. It was the wish of all the pp .ties to have the decision of this Court on the question inr volved in the case; and a ready and entire ’acquiescence would be yielded to the judgment of the Court by all who were interested. It was submitted to the Cps#C, that .for the purposes of justice, the Court would gi|e an opinion upon the matter'assigned for error; and if the form in which th^e case bad been brought up was not proper, the judgment of the Court-would be equally operative, and would be yielded to by the parties, plaintiffs and defendants in error.
‘ The. subject in controversy is one of proper cognizance for this Court. , It involves a most important constitutional question; the right of the states, or of state authorities, to tax the funded debt of the United States.
The subject matter of the case belongs to this Court. The soundest rule that can be adopted is, that when the matter in question belongs to the jurisdiction of the federal courts, a liberal construction in favour of the powers of the court over it, should be given.
The question in this case concerns the vital means of the nation; and the power claimed to be exercised under the ordinance, would interfere with those means on emerge^ tes of the deepest interest. It is a constitutional question, and as such is peculiarly under the guardianship of this Court.
The writ of error is to the highest tribunal of the state of South' Carolina; and the decision of that court has been in favour of the constitutionality of the ordinance; thus bring ing the easefblly within the 25th section of the judiciary act. Let this Court certify its opinion, and the controversy-will be at an end.
On more occasions than one, when the Court has felt some 'embarrassment as to its jurisdiction, it has expressed an opinion upon important questions; and when the general good required a decision.' United States vs. "Kirkpatrick., 9 Wheaton, 720..
2. The act oficongress organizing the courts of the United States, authorizes this Court to form and'mould its process, so as to enforce and. carrj .into effect the objects and purposes for which the federal Courts were established. It is conceived that the writ of prohibition is a mode of exercising jurisdiction which is essential to those purposes; There is a strong analogy between- the prohibition asked in this case, and those issued to district courts under the law. But if the writ of prohibition may not be adopted, and the Court should decide this case in favour of the^plaintiffs, in error, the case may be remanded to the court of common pleas for the Charleston district; and should that court refuse to proceed as required, the supreme court, may itself enforce its judgment.
Upon the general question, the counsel for the plaintiffs in error argued, that the ordinance does not impose a tax on all public funds, but specifically on the six.and seven per cent, stock of the United States. Thus there are selected, as the particular object of taxation, those debts of the government of the United’States; and the sum the government has stipulated to pay for the loan is diminished to the extent of the tax. The contract of the general government is invaded, and its credit impaired. Its competency to negotiate loans may be destroyed by the admission of this power of taxation. There are two sources of revenue which are essentially the right of the general government. That qf imposing duties, and that of. borrowing money on the credit of the nation. The safety of the whole, depends upon the free and undisturbed exercise of these powers. In peace, the first is necessary to revenue; in war, the se cond is vital to defence and success.. If these powers and rights are not guarded' and preserved, the functions and purposes of the union will be suspended and destroyed.
There is no warrant for' this tax, to be derived irpra the opinion of this Court in the case of M’Cullough-its. The'State of Maryland, 4 Wheaton, 316. - The Court, at the close of the opinion delivered in that case, sanction a tax oir\ property held by citizens of Maryland in -the Bank of the United States, in common -with other property throughout the state j, but they say expressly, that “ a. particular tax upon the? operation of an instrument employed by the government tó carry its powers into execution, is void.”
Mr Hayne presented, as a part of his argument, the opinion of Mr Justice Huger in the constitutional court; who with Nott and Bay, justices, dissented from the opinion of the majority of the court .
Mr Cruger and. Mr Legare, for the defendants in error.,
¡entended that a writ of error could not be sustained on proceedings in prohibition.
Should the Supreme Court reverse the judgment below in this «use, a mandate will' be directed to the inferior state court.. 3 Dali. 342. In the event of the state court declining or refusing t6 carry that mandate into effect, a ques tion will then , arise as to the mode of proceeding to be adopted as a remedy. That a futile exercise of jurisdiction may not. on this occasion take place, the difficulty ought to be anticipated; for if it be insurmountable, this tribunal will not, from self-respect, hold cognizance of the principal inquiry involved in the present suit.
Unless the Supreme Court acts in this matter through thé intervention of the state tribunal, it must issue a prohibition. of itself, addressed to the tax collector individually. Should he disobey, it will then have to proceed against him for a contempt, and inflict a fine; and thus be thrown into a course of practice' unprecedented, and extremely inconvenient. That it will not award compulsory process, directed to a re-cusant state court, may safely be assumed, upon the strength of.the reasoning in Martin vs. Hunter’s lessee, 1 Wheaton, 362. If not from a regard to the sovereignty of a state in its last refuge of the judiciary, this resort will not be had at least, because it. seems to be negatively precluded by the 25th section of the act of the 24th of September 1789. That. section provides for the Supreme Court’s “ proceeding to a final decision of the cause, and awarding execution therein, if it has been once remanded before.” Whether undér these words, on the refusal of a state' court to fulfil its mandate, this Court has jurisdiction in prohibition so as to enable it to execute its own judgment, by inhibiting the officers personally from collecting the tax, under consideration, if adr judged unconstitutional, must first be decided. If the power be wanting, nothing but an act of congress can supply the deficiency. The mode and forms of proceeding under the appellate authority of this Court, are dependent upon the acts of congress for their regulation. 6 Cra. 307. Although the 14th section of the judiciary act gives to the courts of the United .States “power to issue all writs necessary for the exercise of their respective jurisdictions, and agreeable to the principles and usages of lawthis general grant is limited by the 25th- section, in the particular instance of 'writs of error from final judgments of state courts to “ awarding executions.” No construction of these words consistent with technical accuracy, will Bring a prohibition within their meaning; and original jurisdiction will scarcely be assumed to’.admit the procedure.
• The power of congress to incorporate a bánk, or even to invade the territory of a state to establish its branches, can-riot be controverted after.the decisions in M’Cullough vs. Maryland,4 Wheat. 316, and Osborne vs. United States Bank, 9 Wheat. *738 ; much less could their right to raise -loans for carrying on the operations of government be drawn into question. On the other hand it would be taken as conceded, that the right of the states to impose taxes is sovereign, and concurrent; and that there are no express limitations upon this attribute; except those contained in the 18th section, article 1st, of the federal constitution as tó duties, or imposts on imports, exports, and tonnage.
Through these mutual admissions, trie question now to be disposed of, is simply, can a state constitutionally tax the income accruing to its citizens from six and seven per cent, stock of the United States, owned by them individually?
The.purpose of plaintiffs in error is to make out by implication a restriction upon a sovereign and vital, tnough a con current state right. • This is attempted upon substantially three grounds. 1st. That the tax in dispute is a violation of the faith arid- obligation of a contract. 2d. That the credit of the United States upon which it bears, did nol exist until after the constitution was framed. . And 3dly. because it interferes with, the means of the federal governmenl necessary to carry their powers'into effect. •
As to the first, objection, certáinly- if the United States were to impose a tax, going ter diminish the. interest it had stipulated to pay the purchasers of this stock,; such a mear sure would.be a violation of faith. But the reason does not hold as to a third person, nót a party to the contract; and in this light the state of South Carolina stands; for hgr faith is .pledged as an integral part of the union in this respect only,' quoad federal taxation. She has come under no obligation individually, not to draw her resources from these funds, though emanating from the common authority, whenever they pass into the hands of her peculiar citizens; and it may. be presumed that the liability of this stock, so situated, to state taxation, was perfectly understood by those who became holders, and entered into their contract with the general government. As well might a tax imposed by a- state on the public lands within its limits, when sold out to private persons, be treated as a departure frópi good faith, and a violation of the contract of sale; for here, as much as where public stock is created and sold, a state is a party to the engagement, that no more than a certain,price is to be paid for the property, and that its profits ar.e not to bé diminished. It is said, however, that where lands are sold, the United States parts with the freehold with no prospect of resumption, and that it is otherwise with stock. Yet in point of fact, the only difference is between the real and personal property of the government; for in the case of a sale of the former on credit, liable to a foreclosure of mortgage, there will be a chance of its reverting to the public domain; and surely it will not be exempted from state taxation until the last cent of the price is paid off.
It is next said that this stock constitutes the credit of the union,, which, not having existed anterior to the adoption of the constitution, cannot-be subjected to. state taxes, unless by virtue of some provision in that instrument. This reason if of any avail, will go to exonerate all the territories and other property of the- United States acquired subsequently to that epoch; and failing of that result, must be.discarded altogether.
The objection most strongly urged however against this ordinance is, that it interferes with a law of the general government, which, being supreme, must predominate, and it is rotmdly laid down that “ should any state directly or in directly modify, alter, or abridge any of the acts oí sovereignty of the United States, br render any of its measures nugatory, or inoperative, or, in any mariner impeach the credit, or impair the resources of the union, by taxation or otherwise; the act would be an interference repugnant to the constitution,” and that “ a state' cannot tax any of the constitutional means employed by the government of the United States to execute its constitutional powers“ nór can it by taxation or otherwise, retard, impede, burthen, or in any manner control the operation of the constitutional laws enacted by congress to carry into effect the powers vested in the national government.”
Throughout this discussion the state has been treated of as in an antagonist position towards the federal government, and as seeking purposely to inco. nmode, and destroy its fiscal operations,; while the direct effect of these upon the resources of the state has been allowed no consideration; The ordinance in question is assumed to be a measure passed expressly to countervail and defeat a law of congress. ,But it is no where demonstrated that a tax on this stock, owned by individuals, will ■ be attended by any such consequence. The utmost that may ensue, will be a prejudice to the preference of this stock in market, and perhaps the citizens of the state imposing the tax may find it more profitable to invest their capital otherwise. This creates a quéstion • of policy, at the discretion of the state alone, whether it will drive abroad a particular means of speculation; but the reflection is beside the constitutional inquiry now agitated.
The position broadly taken here is, that' if the exercise of a concurrent power by a state, interferes With a power of the general government, the former must give way. What is the extent of interference which is to be thus resisted1? and how is this interference to be graduated ? Here it is always put as mounting to. the point of destruction, and as brought into action, ipso intuitu. • To presuppose hostility on the part, of the- state is wholly gratuitous, and .greatly to be deprecated. ■ As fnuchj may be trusted to the liberality and forbearance of a state;! as of the federal government; and comity, and cordial confidence should characterize att'their relations. All the reasoning in this case is, against the abuse of a conceded state right, and it is founded upon a quia timet, and its materials are extremes. Not even a surprise is thrown out, that this tax has, in point of .fact,, impeded, much less frustrated, a fiscal operation of government; but. it is said, that if the power it involves were pushed further it might have that effect; and that, as it is without any limit or control, save the discretion of, a state, no guarantee against its abuse, short of abolition, should be accepted. This is in a strain of hostility that well warrants the interrogatory, why ¡should an unprescriptible sovereign, and indispensable right of a state be postponed, and put in derogation in favour of an implied,, auxiliary, and optional means of the general government ?.. Is not the power to use this means also a power to destroy, and alike unlimited,el
The general government, by carrying' their power, to extremes in the creation of extensive loans, might furnish facilities of exempt investment, that would entirely absorb from the reach of state taxation all tlie'funds of its citizens, and. thus destroy one of its highest prerogatives and very existence. If the possible abusé of the power to tax by a state; is to' infringe upon the .right, the like objection will assuredly attach to the power of, borrowing on the part of the United States'. In answer to this a suggestion has been made, that the general government does not hoard up its revenue, but immediately reinstates by expenditure, all that has been substracted from the resources of a state. This is only partially true, and yields but indifferent consolation, and affords occasion for another most forcible impeachment of the preva_ling system of internal improvéments, and other government expenditures of the public money.1 By the supposed operation the southern states not only have their capital drawn off. from local .taxátion, but in the existing state of things supply another means of conferring benefits, or rather gratuities, in which they have no participation.
The doctrine that interference with federal power will ’suffice, / by implication, to neutralize, or even annihilate state righto is startling in itself, and most pernicious when carried out to its legitimate results. The degree of interference being entirely unsettled;, and incapable of adjustment^ however slight or shadowy it may be, the, objection can never be started but to a fatal issue. Indeed it will go to abolish all power, in the states,-under .some .circumstances, to levy and -collect taxes.. In the event of a resort to direct taxation, on the part of congress, whatever is subjected to federal assessment must, ipso facto, be discharged from all other imposition; inasmuch as a tax by a state, on any given article, must necessarily diminish its capacity of bearing other exactions, and, if carried to excess, must frustrate any attempt on the part of the. general government to raise a revenue from the same, sources. In fact, there are but. few powers, reserved to the states that, upon the possibility of abuse, may not be brought, under the ban of interference with federal measures.
. In, the case, of Bulow et al. vs.' the City Council of Charleston, 1 JYott & M ’ Cord, 527,. it has been decided that United States bank stock, in the hands of individuals, inay constitutionally b,e taxed by- a state.. And in M’Cul-loiigh vs. Maryland, it is admitted-, that the. principle there, ascertained “ does not extend to a tax; paid by the real property, of the, bank of the United States, in common with the other real property in a. particular state; nor to a tax imposed -upon- the proprietary interest which the citizens of that state may hold in. this institution,m common with' other property of the same description throughout the state,” and that; “ as to the bank stock belonging to its own citizens, it still continues liable to state taxation, as a portion of tbeir individual property in common with aH other private property in the. state.” The stock brought under contribution by the city ordinance now attacked, comes within this, exception. When taxedj it had been sold --out. by. government,? and, was in. the hands of . individuals, whose proprietary interest in the fund was subjected in common with property of á similar description. : The tax bere ássessed was not in the nature of a penalty on. lending, to the United States, being neither excessive nor discriminating. If charged on the stock, eo..nomine, the name was inserted in thé ordinance merely as a description of one among several sources, from whence the income of' the citizens might arise On which it was to bear. The words of the ordinance evince-clearly that this species of pioperty was not singled out for proscription, or. a sinister, purpose, as various others are enumerated ; and if an exception. is made in favor of stock of the United States bank, and of local institutions, motives of expediency, or the fact that a bonus had’ been paid in commutation of taxes, probably influenced the departure from, while they recognized the existence of the general rule.
This tax then is .not obnoxious to the objections urged against it, and being upon the interest held by individuals in the funded debt of the United States, in common-with other property of the same description in South Carolina, it. comes within the exception made in the leading cáse decided by this Court upon the subject, and the ordinance imposing it is constitutional and valid.
Huger, J, dissentiente. — This was an application for a1 prohibition to restrain the treasurer of the city of Charleston from levying a tax, imposed by a city ordinance, on six and seven per cent, stock of the Unifed States. The words of the ordinance are: All personal estate, consisting of bonds, notes, &c. six and seven per cent, stock of the' United States, or other obligations, upon which in'terest has been or will be received during the year, over and above the interest which has been paid, (except, &c. &c.) twenty-five cents on every $100. The prohibition was ordered. Amotion is now submitted for the reversal.of that order. I am unwilling,- on so important a question, merely to express my dissent from the judgment of the Court. It is now for the first time agitated, and ought to be fully discussed, that it might be better understood. . It affects the use of a power, as essential to the general government in periods of difficulty and danger, as any other which the people have delegated tp it. If the city council of Charleston can tax the stock of the United States, eo nomine, the states can; and if the states can, it is impossible not to perceive that the fiscal operations of (he,general government may be completely frustrated by the state's. It will be in vain for congress to pass acts authorising the secretary of the treasury to borrow money, if the holders of their stock can be taxed for having done so by the states. Congress may .offer ten per cent, for loans, but who will lend, if the states can appropriate the whole to their own use ? .Whether the states will do so or not may be problematical, but if they can do so, the risk of their doing so must he covered by the terrns on which the loans will be made. " There is but one substantial security for the proper- administration of our governments, the immediate responsibility of the'administrators thereof to the people. If, however; the people have or feel no interest-in the measures of a governmentj-its administrators are only nominally responsible; they will only he checked where they act in. derogation of wbat is understood- or felt to b.e the interest of their constituents. Remote interests are not seen by the better informed, and they always must pre sent grounds for much difference .of opinion,' even among the Best informed. It is not a sufficient guard- to the powers of- the general government, that the con? stituents of the administrators of the state governments have a remote interest in the preservation of those po.wers, or in an unembarrassed exercise of them by the general government. They must not be seen, or may not be understood, and the very case before us, presents a full illustration of the truth. No' government, pot revolutionary; has ever attempted to tax its own stock, and among others, for two very satisfactory reasons. 1/ Because such a tax must necessarily operate injuriously upon all future loans; and 2. Because there is in fact a violation of contract in so doyig, and therefore immoral and impolitic.' Under the influence of these reasons, the legislature of this state has refused'to tax the stock, of the United States; but it appears, th^t the city council of Charleston have thought differently, and have taxed it. 1 -There are, however, some very obvious - reasons why the council of Charleston should be less disposed to impose such a tax than the legislature. In the first place'the city of Charleston being commercial,.is' more within the influence of the policy of the general government than the' legislature : if, therefore, the council of the city can believe it politic and just to tax the stock of the United States, can it be thought improbabledhat the legislature may do so ? . If they can do so at all, they may do So to any extent; if is equally within their power to tax twenty per cent. or .one hundred per cent, as .one-half per cent. What shall govern their discretion, it is impossible to fore-' see. A state or a few states may concur in a policy at variance with that of the government, nay.in hostility to it. This, unfortunately, has been already witnessed. They may, indeed, be indisposed to dissolve the union, and declare war; when they might have no objection to counteract congress, and confronts measures by the exercise of a power-strictly constitutional. Seven-tenths of the stock of the United States, are owned in the cities of Boston, New York, JPhiladeJphiá, Baltimore and Charleston.
The same causes which have concentrated the sfoclc in-these, cities, will,,in all probability, continue to operate, and the greater p¡irt of future loans will be effected there. Should, therefore, even so small a portion of the United States as these cities, unite in taxing stock to any considerable amount, the government may be defeated, and will.,,certainly be impeded in its fiscal operations, to the-extent of any tax imposed. It may be supposed,- that these cities would be checked in such proceedings by their state legislatures. Whether this codld be done, must depend upon the constitutions of the states, and the charters of the cities. It may not suit the prevailing policy of a state to interfere in such a case, even if it possess the power. We know, from the charter of the city of Charleston, ♦hat the legislature of this state can interfere and repeal the ordinance in question; this, however, has not been done, although they have refused to impose such a tax themselves; and South Carolina is, has always been, and I hope will ever continue to be, as national as any other state in the union. It may be said, that admit ail this to be true, it cannot affect the question before the court; who are called upon to decide what the constitution is, and not what it ought to be. The judicial branch of the government most certainly ■ does not possess the- power of legislating; much less, then, can they claim the power of malting a constitution. But, in construing the constitution, they must look to the objects it professes to attain, and they cannot so as to defeat the very end and aim of its creation, nor can they make it inconsistent with itself, if it be possible to avoid it. The general powers of congress may be sufficiently designated in the constitution,,but the extent and ramifications of each power, it was not in the wisdom of man to, foresee and precise!}' describe; How they are to operate and exhibit themselves, must depend upon the future contingent circumstances of the nation; and, as these must be forever varying, constitutional questions or doubts must arise, as-long ,aS, the constitution shall exist. These are the certain and legitimate consequences cf a written constitution. The numerous questions which the statute of frauds has given rise to, simple as was its object, may afford some intimation of, the number, which an instrument so complicated and general in its objects as the constitution-may be expected to produce. The great difficulty is, not only in ascertaining and defining the powers which result from those which are expressly given to the government; but, (as in this case, and in that of the bank of the United States), in determining the influence of these. On the powers of the different states. In the decision of such'cases, there must,, at least, be the semblance of legislation. I am not conscious of even a desire to,extend unnecessarily the powers of the judiciary ; the pursuits and habits of near twenty years, by far the better part of my life, have given at least to my feelings a direction decidedly favourable to the legislative branch of the government; when attached in fact, as I was in feeling, -to that branch, I could not but-discem the importance •of the judicial branch of the government,-and the necessity of leaving to its decisions all questions like the one before the Court, though they savoured of legislation. I shall certainly not omit to do now-What I formerly regarded as incumbent upon the judiciary to perform. I shall now proceed to inquire — 1st, Whether the tax'in question be an income tax. That it is not, appears very clearly from - the facts, of the case, as well as'from the terms of the ordinance. The stock óf the state; the- stock of the city; bank stotpk universally,,as well as the profits of. agriculture, enjoyed by those who reside in (he city, are not taxed; nor does the. ordinance affect to regard it as an income tax. It is a tax upon the United States stock, eo nomine. As this is not a tax upon- income, it is unnecessary to inquire if the city council, ora state, have the power'to tax income, and include therein the interest received on United States stock. I shall, therefore, proceed to inquire if the city council, or a state, have the power to tax the United States stock, £0 nomine. The first question presented by the inquiry is,, the méaning of the term United States stock. It is, I apprehend, a credit on the government for so much money, on which they have agreed to pay a certain interest. He who has the credit is the holder, and the certificate is the Evidence of thé credit, and the terms on which the credit has been given. The power to create this credit is expressly given-by the 8th section, 1st article, of the constitution of the United States: “ congress shall have power to borrow money on the credit of the United States.” The credit of the United States is the essence of the stock; without it the stock is of no value. The credit of the United States is a creation of thegeheral government, which did not exist until they brought- it into-being; and, in the production of which, the state governments did .not par ticipate. The state could not tax it before the constitution was formed, for it did .not exist; if therefore they can tax it now, it must be by some new power vested in them by that instrument; but there is no such power given: the credit of the United States cannot be'taxed by the states. It is contended, that to deny the states a power to tax' money loaned to the general government, is to deprive them of a great resource without any adequate object.. In the first place, I must observe, that if the states cannot tax the stock of the United States, the general, government will be able to borrow on better terms, and in this way the people of the United States will be compensated for any inconvenience that might fesult from .the exemption of the stock from the taxation of the'state governments. In the second place, I must repeat, they have no. cause to complain, because It is a creation of the general government which the states did npt possess before its establishment. But on this subject I cannot but think that a very erroneous opinion prevails. It appears to be thought that for every thousand dollars loaned to- the general government, so much taxable property has been withdrawn-from the states. But this is certainly not so. ■ Of the one hundred millions of dollars loaned to'the general government, during the late war, how milch of it remains with the government? Not one cent. Where then is it?' Certainly in-the states. If a certain number of individuals paid it into the treasury of the United States, the govérnme.nt has returned it to individuals living in the different states; and if liable to taxation at all, can now be taxed by the states. If the general government had been foreign to the state governments, or-had they hoarded it up, this objection might have had some force; but as fast as they got it, they'return.ed it, and no means of the .state governments'Were affected, but an increased difficulty of borrowing money, owing to the competition of the general government. One of the great objects of the constitution was to render the general-government independent of the state governments; for those pecuniary means which are necessary to effect the great purpose for'which it was established : viz. to form a more perfect union, establish justice,-ensure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, &c. &c. If, however, means •so essential in periods of distress and danger, as loans, can be controlled by the states,.congress is yet essentially dependent upon the states. There is'another objection to this tax. I regard it as a violation of the contract made with, the holders of the United States stock. The people' of .the United States, of whom' the citizens of Charleston are a. part, have contracted to pay so much per cen--tum on the stock by their agents the general government. To authorise the citizens of Charleston to deduct a part from the interest-agreed upon, they must possess the power of altering the contract, without fhe.consent of the holders of the stock, which would be a violation of the obligation of the contract. But the constitution expressly declares that they shall not violate the obligation of contract.
To recapitulate my objections to the tax, they are :
1. Because á tax upon stock of the United States, eb nomine, is a tax upon the credit of the United States.
2. Because the credit of' the United States was not a subject for taxation by the states, anterior to the adoption of the constitution; the credit of the United States being a'result of the establishment Of the government oí the .United Slates; and the constitution has given no new powers to the state governments.
8. Because the objects of taxation by the state governments are not diminished by withholding from them the power of taxing stock of the United States; as the money borrowed by the United States is immediately, by disbursements, returned to the people of the different states.
4. Because it renders the general government dependent upon the discretion of the state governments, for one of its essential me-ns in accomplishing the purposes for-which it was established, a result at variance with one of the prineipl objects of the cónstitution, which was to render the general government independent of the pecuniary aid of the state governments.
And lastly, because it is a violation of the obligation of contract.

Opinion:
Mr Chief Justice Marshall
delivered the opinion of the Court.
This case was argued on its merits at a preceding term; but a doubt having arisen with the Court respecting its jurisdiction in cases of prohibition,, that doubt was suggested to the bar, and a re-argument was requested. It has been re-argued at this term.
The. power of this Court to revise the judgments of a state tribunal, depends on the 25th section of the-judicial act. That section enacts " that a final judgment or decree in any suit in the highest court of law or 'equity of a state in which a decision in the suit could be had," " where, is drawn in question the validity of a statute or of an authority exercised under any state, on the ground of their being repugnant to the constitution, treaties, or laws of the United States, and the decision is in favour of- such their validity," " may be re-examined and reversed or affirmed in the Súpreme Court of the United States.*' »
'In this case the city ordinance of Charleston is the exercise» of an " authority under the state of South.Carolina," the validity of which has been drawn in question on the ground of its being repugnant to the constitution," and " the decision is in favour of its validity." The question therefore which was decided by the constitutional court, is the very question on which the revising power of this tribunal is. to be exercised, and the only inquiry is, whether it has been decided, in a case described in the section which authorises the writ of error that has been awarded. Is a writ of prohibition a suit?
The term is certainly a very comprehensive one, and is understood to apply to any proceeding in a court of justice, by which an individual pursues that remedy in a court of justice, which the law affords him. The modes of proceeding may be various, but if a right is litigated between parties in a court of justice, the proceeding by which the decision of the court is sought, is a suit. The question between the parties, is precisely the same as it would have been in a writ of replevin, or in an action of trespass. The constitutionality of the ordinance is contested; the party aggrieved by it applies to a court; and at his suggestion, a writ of prphibition, the appropriate remedy, is issued. The opposite party appeals; and, in the highest court, the judgment is reversed and judgment given for the defendant. This judgment was; we think, rendered in a suit.
We think also that it was a final judgment in the sense in which that term isMised in the ,26th section of the judicial act. If it. were applicable to those judgments and decrees only in which thé right was finally decided, and could never again be litigated between the parties, the provisions of the section would 'be confined within much narrower limits than the wor,ds import, or than congress eould have intended. Judgments in actions of ejectment, and decrees in chancery dismissing a bill withoüt prejudice, however deeply they might affect rights protected by the constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States, would not be subject to the revision of this Court. A prohibition might issue, restraining a collector from collecting duties, and this Court would not revise and correct the judgment. The word " final" must. be understood in the section under consideration, as apply ing to all judgments and decrees which determine the particular cause.
. We think .then that the writ of error has brought the cause properly before this Court.
This brings us to the main question. Is the stock issued for loans made to the government of the United'States liable to be taxed by states and corporations ?
Congress has power to borrow money on the credit of the United States." The stock it issues is the evidence of a debt created by the exercise of this power. The tax in question is a tax upon, the contract subsisting between the government and the individual.. It bears directly upon that contract, while subsisting and in full force.. - The power operates upon the contract the instant it is framed, and must imply, a right to. affect that contract.
If the states and corporations throughout the union, possess the power to tax a contract for the loan of money, what shall arrest this principle in its application to every other contract? What measure can government adopt which will not be exposed to its influence ?
But it is unnecessary to pursue this principle through its diversified application to all the contracts, and to the various, operations of government.. No.one can be selected which is of more vital intérest to the cpmmunity than this of borrowing money on the credit of the' United States. No power has been conferred by the American people on their government, the free and unburthened exercise of which more deeply affects every member of our republic. In war, when the honour, the safety, the independence of the nation are to be defended, when all its resources are to bp strained to the utmost, credit must be brought'in aid of taxation, and the abundant revenue of peace and prosperity must be anticipated to supply the exigences, the urgent demands of the moment. The. people, for objects the^-most important which, can occur in the progress of nations, have empowered their government to make., these anticipations, " to borrow money on the credit .of. the United States." Can any thing be more dangerous, or more injurious, than the admission of a principle which authorizes every state and every corporation in the union.which possesses the right of taxation, to burthen the exercise of this power at théir discretion1?
If the right to impose the tax exists, it is a right which in its nature acknowledges no limits. It may be carried to any extent within, the- jurisdiction of the state or corporation which imposes it, whjch .the will of each .state and corporation may prescribe. A. power which is given by the whole American people for their common good, which is to be exercised at the most critical periods for the most important purposes, on. the free exercise of which the interests certainly, perhaps the liberty of the whole may depend; may be burthened, impeded, if not arrested, by any of the organized parts of the confederacy.
In a society formed like ours, with one supreme government for national purposes, and numerous state governments for other purposes; in many respects independent, .and in the uncontrolled exercise of many important powers,- occasional interference's ought not to surprise us. The power of taxation is one of the most essential to a state, and one of the most extensive in its operation. The attempt to maintain a rule which shall limit its exercise, is Undoubtedly among the most delicate and difficult-duties which can devolve on those whosé province it is to expound the supreme law of the land in its application to the cases of individuals. This duty has more than once devolved on this Court. In . the performance of it we have, considered it as a necessary consequence-from the supremacy of the government-of the whole, that its action in the exercise of its legitimate powers, should be free and unembarrassed by any conflicting powers •in the possession of its parts; that the powers of a state cannot rightfully be.so exercised as to impede and obstruct the free course of those measures which the government of the states united may rightfully adopt.
This subject'was brought before the Court in the case of M'Culíough vs. The state of Maryland , when' it was thoroughly argued and deliberately considered. The question decided in that case bears a near resemblance to that which is involved in this. It was discussed at the bar in all its relations, and examined by the Court with its utmost attention. We will hot repeat the reasoning which conducted us to the conclusion thus formed ; but that conclusion , was that "all subjects over which the sovereign power of a state extends, are. objects of taxation 3 but those over which it does not extend, are upon the soundest principles exempt from taxation." "The sovereignty of a state, extends to every thing which exists by its own authority, or is introduced by its permission;" but not "to those means which are employed by congress'to carry into execution powers conferred on that body.b} the people of the United States.". "The attempt to use" the power of taxation " on the means employed by the government of the union in pursuance of the constitution, is itself an.abuse, because it is the usurpation of a power which the people of a single state cannot give."
The Court said in that case, that " the states have no power by taxation, or otherwise, to retard, impede, burthen, or in any manner control the operation of the constitutional laws enacted by congress, to carry into execution the powers vested in the general government."
We retain the opinions which were then .expressed. A contract made by the government in the exercise of its power, to borrow money on the credit of the United States, is undoubtedly independent of the will of any state in which the individual who lends may reside, and is undoubtedly an operation essential to the important objects for which the government was created. It ought, therefore, on the principles settled in the case of M'Cullough vs. The State of Maryland, to be exempt from state taxation, and consequently from being taxed by corporations deriving their power from states.
It is admitted that the power of the government to borrow money can not be. directly opposed, and that any law directly obstructing its operation would be void; but, a distinction' is taken between direct opposition and those measures which may. consequentially affect it; that is, that a law prohibiting loans to the United States woulcl be void, but a tax on them to any amount is, allowable.
It is, we think, impossible not to perceive the intimate connexion which exists between these two mbdes of acting on the subject.
It is not the want of original power in an independent sovereign state, to prohibit loans to a foreign government, which restrains the legislature from direct opposition to those made by the United States. The restraint is imposed by our-constitution. The American people have conferred the power of borrowing money on their government, and by making that government supreme, have shielded its action, in the exercise of this power, from the action of the1 local governments. The grant of the power is incompatible with a restraining or controlling power, and the declaration of supremacy is a declaration that no such restraining or controlling, power shall be exerciser,.
The right to, tax the contract to any extent, when made, must operate upon the power to borrow before it. is exercised, and have a sensible influence on the contract. The extent of this influence depends on the will óf a distinct government. To any extant, however inconsiderable, it is a bur-then on the operations of government. It may be carried to. an extent which shall arrest them entirely.
It is admitted by the counsel for the defendants, that the powpr to tax stock must affect the terms on which, loans will be made; but this objection, it is said, has no more weight when urged against the application Of an acknowledged power to government stock, than if urged against its application to lands sold by the United States.
The distinction is, we think, apparent. When lands are sold, no connexion remains between the purchaser and the government. The lands purchased become a part of the mass of property in. the country with no implied exemption from common bvrthens. All lands are derived from the general or particular government, and all lands are subject to taxation. Lands sold ar,e in the condition of money bor-1 rowed and re-paid. Its liability to taxation in any form, it may then assume is not questioned. The connexion between the borrower and the lender is dissolved. It is no .burthen on loans, it is no impediment to the power of borrowing, that the money, when re-paid, loses its exemption from taxation. But a tax upon debts due from the government, stands, we think, on very different principles from a tax on lands which' the government has sold.
"The Federalist" has been qúoted in the argument, and an. eloquent" and well merited eulogy has been bestowed'on the great statesman who is supposed to be the author of the number from which the quotation was made. This high authority 'was also relied Upon in the casé of M'Cullough vs. The state , of Maryland, and was. considered by the Court. Without repeating what was .then said, we refer to it as exhibiting our view of the sentiments expressed on this subject by the authors of that work.
It has been supposed that a tax on stock comes within the' exceptions stated in the case of M'Cullough vs. The state of Maryland. We .do not think so. The bank of the United States is an instrument essential to the fiscal operations of the government, and the power which might be exercised to its destruction was denied. But property acquired by that-corporation in a state .wás supposed to be placed in the same condition with property acquired by an individual.
The tax on government stock is thought by this Court to be a tax on the contfaét, a tax on the power to borrow money oh the credit of the United States, and consequently to be repugnant to the constitution.
We are, therefore, of opinion that the judgmént of the constitutional court of the state of South Carolina, reversing the order made by the. court of common pleas, awarding a prohibition to the city council of Charleston, to restrain them from levying a' tax imposed on six and seven per cent, stock of the United States, under an ordinance to raise supplies to the usé of the city of Charleston for the year 1823,. is erro- . neous in this; that the said constitutional court adjudged that the said Ordinance was not repugnant to" the constitution of the United States; whereas, this Court is of opinion that suc.h repugnancy does exist. We are, therefore, of opinion that the said judgment ought to be reversed and annulled, and the causé remanded to the constitutional court forthe state of South Carolina, that farther proceedings may be had therein according to law.
4 Wheaton, 316.