Doe ex dem. Carr v. Georgia Railroad & Banking Co. , 1 Ga. 524 ( 1846 )

By the Court

Warner, Judge.

This was an action of trespass in ejectment, brought by' the plaintiff against the defendants, to recover the possession of lot of laud number twenty-six, (26,) in a survey made by fí. L. Thomas on the east side of the North Oconee river, in the county of Clark. To this action the defendants plead not guilty, and also relied on the charter granted by the to the

It appears from the record, the plaintiff, in the year 1838, executed two deeds to the defendants, by one of which he granted the right of way over his land for the location of the railroad, the same to be located on a route which had previously been surveyed, particularly designated and staked by the company, “ known and distinguished as the most southern or western route, entering said Carr’s land on the line between him and Robert Morris’ field, and terminating the said road, on said Carr’s land, at or near the fence on or near the top of the hill, just above the Factory Company’s land, with the liberty to make such slight alterations in the route now surveyed so as not materially to change, the. location of the route as already designated, &c.” The other deed conveys to the company, lots number 13,^14, 15, 16 and 28. The first deed, it will be remembered, does not convey to the defendants a general right of way over the plaintiff’s land, on which to build the road, but is confined to a certain specified route, then surveyed and located, with liberty to the company to make such slight alterations in the route as no materially to change the location of the same.

The first question made on the trial was, whether the deeds c¡' the plaintiff covered the premises in dispute ; the plaintiff contend' ing the road was not built on the land granted by the deeds, a nr offered to show, the land over which the road now runs was mud more valuable than that over which the route was first located, and which never could have been intended, by the contracting parties, to have been included under the terms, “ slight alterations, so a : not materially to change the location of the route as already designated.-'

The court below decided, that testimony to prove the value of the lan 3 traversed by the respective routes, was not admissible, “on the ground, the word materially, in the deed of Carr, had no reference particularly t > the value of the land, but was used with reference to distance or locatioi,, and it was immaterial whether the land on which the road was located, was more or less valuable.” The words employed by the contracting parties are to be taken in their common acceptation, and we are to understand them in that sense. The specified route was not to be altered or changed, so as materially to ailect the rights of Carr, or his interests in tho property over which it was located. Whether the present location of the road was such a slight and immaterial variation from the route originally surveyed, as was contemplated by the parties, was the question for the jury to decide from the, evidence ; and we are of the opinion, it was competent for the plaintiff to have shown, upon the trial, the relative value of the land traversed by the two routes, the nature and condition of the same.

Although the words used in the deed may have had reference to distance or location, yet a change of location might become very material, with reference to the interests to be affected by such change. If the altered route was to destroy a valuable building-lot, or a valuable spring, incident thereto, which was not done by the original route, the value of the ground traversed by the respective routes, would, in our judgment, he a proper subject of inquiry, for the purpose of ascertaining the materiality of the alteration of the route hv the company, with reference to the interests of the plaintiff. Does the altered route materially affect or prejudice the rights or interests of the plaintiff? To enable the jury to determine this question correctly, evidence may be given as to the value of the rights and interests of the plaintiff, affected by the location of the road on the altered route, as well as to the nature and extent thereof, and also the value and extent of the rights and interests of the plaintiff, which would have been affected by the location of the road on the original route surveyed and staked by the company. The situation, value, and relative position of the property traversed by the two routes, would, in our judgment, go very far to illustrate and explain what the contracting parties intended, in reference to the subject matter of the contract, by the use of the words, “ with liberty to make, such slight alterations in the route, as now surveyed, so as not materially to change the location of the route, as already designated.” Suppose the tier of lots, over which the original route was located, were of the average value of one hundred dollars each, and the tier of lots over which the road is now located, are of the average value of live hundred dollars each, would not the increased value of the property taken for the location of the road, be evidence of the materiality of the alteration of the route, so far as the rights of the plaintiff are concerned ? Would the authority contained in the deed, “ to make such slight alterations in the route as not materially to change the location,” justify the company in abandoning the route over the tier of lots worth one hundred dollars, and locating their road over the tier of lots worth five hundred dollars ? We think not; and that the value of the land traversed by the two routes was admissible, for the purpose of showing the materiality of the alteration of the same, and ought to have been admitted by the court below, on the trial of the cause.

The next ground of error assigned is, to the charge of the court to the jury. The court below charged the jury, “that the defendants, by their acts of incorporation,and those amendatory thereof, were authorized to construct a road from Augusta to Athens; provision was made in the charter for settling disputes between the company and owners oí lands through which the road might pass. In that provision, it was not declared who should make the' first application to the Inferior Court, to appoint commissioners to assess the damages'; that in the present case, when a deed granting the right of way through the plaintiff’s land, had been made by plaintiff, and the defendants had located their road, under the belief that the grant had been pursued, it was necessary for the plaintiff to give the proper officers of the company notice of his considering himself aggrieved, and requiring a proceeding, under the provisions of the charter, to assess the damage; that as no such notice had been given, the plaintiff could not iú law recover.”

By the amendatory act of 26th December, 1836, (Prince’s Dig. 358,) it is declared, “ that in all cases in which disagreement may exist, or may hereafter arise between individuals, or incorporations and the Georgia Kailroad and Banking Company as to the right of way or damages to property, the disagreement shall be settled as prescribed in the fifteenth section of “ an act to amend an act, incorporating the Central Railroad and Canal Company of Georgia.” By the fifteenth section of the Central Railroad and Canal Company it is declared : “ When any person shall feel himself aggrieved or injured by the said railroad being cut, or carried through his land, or by the use of lumber or other materials from any lands in the neighborhood of said road, or by any other works of the company ; or when the said company cannot agree with any person through or on whose land the said railway or appendages shall be conducted, or from whose land, timber, or other materials shall be taken for the use of tbe said road, as to the damages sustained, the amount of-such damage, or injury, shall be ascertained and determined by the written award of three sworn appraisers, all of whom shall be disinterested freeholders of the county where the land in dispute lies', to be chosen, one by the company, one by such owner, if he shall think proper, and one by the Inferior Court of the county where such land lies, or by any three of the justices of such court, in vacation; but if such owner shall decline to appoint an appraiser, then two to be appointed by the Inferior Court, or three justices thereof in yacation as aforesaid, one by said company, the award of whom, in writing, shall operate as a judgment for the amount as against the company, and shall be enforced by an execution from the luff rior Court, with the right of appeal to either party, to be tried by a special jury, at the next term thereafter of the Superior Court of said county, and the decision shall vest in the company the fee simple of the land in question, and in the other party a judgment for its value thus ascertained, which may be enforced by the ordinary proofs of said court, &c. Provided, that no difference, or disagreement between the company and any lancholder, shall operate by injunction or otherwise, to suspend the ¡togrtss of said work, but the same shall in all cases be continued without interruption, an adequate security being given, by said company to the landholder to pay such damages as shall be assessed, in manner aforesaid. And provided also, it do not interfere with the bouse, mill, or olhs r building or yard enclosure of individuals. Provided, fxe days’notice shall be given to the oumer of such land of the time and place of trial.” — Prince’s Dig. 331.

Whether a judgment against the company lor the damages assessed, to be enforced by the ordinary f recess of the roiut, or adequate security biing given by the company to the landholder to pay the damages, is sucha just compensation “ for the public me of private •property,” as is contemplated by the Constitution, was not discussed on the argument, and we do not desire to be considered as expressing any opinion on that question. Whether the deeds of the plaintiff to the defendants covered the premises in dispute, was a question of fact for the jury; and the charge of the court on that branch of the case is not excepted to. If, however, the deeds did not cover the premises in dispute, then, no legal protection was afforded the defendants by them against the plaintiff’s right to recover. The title of the defendants under their deeds, and their title under their charter, present two separate and distinct sources of title. The deeds of the plaintiff either protect the defendants in the possession of the premises, or they do not: if they do, there is an end of the controversy ; but if they do not, then the defendants are thrown upon their charter for their title, and the question is, have they shown such a title by their plea, and the evidence under it, as will protect them, in law, against the plaintiff’s right to recover ? The action of trespass in ejectment has been instituted for the sole purpose of trying the title to lands or tenements. — 3 Bl. Com. 203. In an action of ejectment, the legal title must prevail. An equitable title or interest cannot be set upas a defence, against the legal title. — Doe ex dem. Da Costa, vs. Wharton, 8 Term. Rep. 2; Jackson vs. Pierce, 2 John. Rep. 221; Jackson vs. Van Slyck, 8 John Rep. 487; Sinclair vs. Jackson, 8 Cowen’s Rep. 543; Jackson vs. Deyo, 3 John. Rep. 417.

The defendants plead the general issue of not guilty, and further allege, if they ever did enter, and commit the trespasses complained of, they had a right to do so, under the statutes of this State, giving the defendants a right to construct a railroad from the city of Augusta to Athens in Clark county, and for that purpose had a right to pass through the lands of the plaintiff and others, and giving to plaintiff and others a specific mode of redress, and remedy for any acts or use of such land so taken for said road ; and that if any trespasses .were made, the same were in the. construction and use of a road, made under such statute ; all this, the defendants are ready to verify, &c.

By the 5th article of the amended Constitution of the United States, it is declared, “ private property shall not be taken for public use, without just compensation.” The power of taking private property for public use, can only be justified by the law of necessity, and before the plaintiff can be_deprived of his land for such a purpose under the charter of the company, it is incumbent on them to show everything has been done which the Constitution and the charter require to be done. “ In the construction of statutes, made in favor of corporations or particular persons, and in derogation ofcommon right, care should be taken not to extend them beyond their express words or their clear import. — Sprague vs. Birdsall, 2 Cow. Rep. 420; Melody vs. Reab, 4 Mass Rep. 473.

The defendants claim the, right, under their charter, to take the private property of the plaintiff, and appropriate it for the use of their road: indeed, their plea admits they have so taken it, but does not show they have made, or offered to make him any “ just compensation” therefor, by giving him adequate security for the damages, as provided in the charter, or in any other manner whatever. If the charter had eon tained no provision for making compensation to the plaintiff for his land, it would be in direct conflict with the Constitution, and void.

To enable the defendants to protect themselves under their charter, they should hayo at least plead, and proved at the trial, they had given adequate security to the jdaintiff, to pay such damages as should be assessed against them for taking and appropriating his' land to the use and construction of their road.

Whether the right of action against the Georgia Railroad and ^Banking Company would give to the plaintiff a “ just compensation” for his property, we cannot judicially know; but such a right of action against the Monroe Railroad and Banking Company, and some other railroad companies in this State, we have reasons to believe, would fall very far short pf being that just compensation” contemplated by the Constitution. We must settle the principle, as applicable to all chartered companies authorized to take private property for public use, without regard to their solvency or insolvency ; and hold them down to a strict compliance with the provisions of their constitutional charters in that regard.

Admitting the charter of the company as plead, to have been sufficient to have authorized the defendants to have entered upon the plaintiff’s land for the purpose of surveying .and locating the road ; yet, we are of the opinion, the plea is not sufficient to authorize them to appropriate the same for the permanent use and construction of the road, and vest the title thereto in the company, without showing that they had given to the plaintiff adequate security, to pay such damages as should be assessed in the manner pointed out thereby.

This is the only provision in the charter, which, in our judgment, gives life and vitality to it; without it, there is no “ adequate security” to compensate the landholder for his private property, taken for the use of the public, unless, indeed, a right of action against the company shall be considered such a “just compensation” as is contemplated by the Constitution.

In the case of Bloodgood vs. The Mohawk and Hudson Railroad Company, (18 Wend. Rep. 9,) the identical question which we have been considering, was thoroughly discussed and decided; and in our judgment, decided in accordance with the meaning and spirit of the fundamental law of the land. The courts of justice cannot well be too vigilant in guarding the rights of the citizen, against the eager, and oftentimes imprudent, hasty hand of legislation. While we feel bound to protect all the vested rights which have been legitimately acquired by all chartered companies, in the most sacred manner, yet we feel bound to guard, with great care and vigilance, the rights of the citizen against all unauthorized encroachments on their part, by confining them strictly within the limits of their respective charters.

The naked charter of the company, as set forth in the defendants’ plea, without an averment of a compliance, on their part, with that provision which requires them to give adequate security to the landholder, who is the plaintiff in the action of ejectment, does not justify them in seizing, and approj>riating to their exclusive use, his private property. Admitting the giving the adequate security by the company, to pay the damages which may be assessed, is such a “just compensation” as required by the Constitution, which would authorize the company to take the private property, of the plaintiff for the public use ; yet it is clear, in this case, such just compensation has not been made. Until that is done, it will hardly be contended that the title of the plaintiff has been legally divested, and the same vested in the defendants. To vest the title in the defendants to the promises in dispute, or to authorize them to appropriate the same to their exclusive use, under their charter, it is incumbent on them to show they have made tho plaintiff “just, compensation” therefor, which in our judgment, does not appear from the record in this ease.

Tho court below charged the jury, that it was necessary for tho plaintiff to recover in law; that lie should have given the proper officers of the company notice of his considering himself aggrieved, and required a proceeding, under tho provisions of the charter, to assess the damages. That as no such notice had been given, the plaintiff could not recover. The right of tho plaintiff to recover in this action, it will be perceived, was placed on tho ground of notice by the plaintiff to tho defendants, that he considered himself aggrieved by the company appropriating his private property for the use of their road. The reason given for requiring the notice is, that the defendants had a deed granting tho right of way through tho plaintiff’s land, and had located the road under the belief the grant in the deed had been pursued. What may have boon the belief of the defendants upon this subject, when locating their road, it is somewhat difficult for human tribunals to decide.

Tho right of way granted by tho deed, as we have already seen, was for a certain specified, route, surveyed and staked, with tho liberty to make slight and immaterial alterations.

J. M. Hunt testifies tho road was located with a variation at tho point of termination, some 70 or 80 yards from the place where the stakes were first placed; that neither the road nor depot touch either of the lots deeded by Carr to the company. If the road had run as first staked, it would not touch either lots number 24, 25, 26, or 27, nor would fifty feet on either side. Fifty feet on either side of the road now located, takes a belt through 26, 27, and a portion of 25 and 24. According to the plat furnished us by the defendant’s counsel, it appears the first route staked, and which was convoyed by the plaintiff to tho company, runs on the north side of the middle of one tier of lots, and the road, as located, runs through another tier of lots, and nearly through the centro of lots 26 and 27.

Pearson B. Monk testifies he was engaged in locating the road, and that the plaintiff objected, at tho time, to the alteration of the route.

Willis Cooper testifies he did, as the agent of tho plaintiff, who was absent from the State, protest, at tho timo of the location and building the depot, against tho company making the alteration they did.

But admit the defendants did believe they had located their road on the land conveyed by the deed of the plaintiff, when, in point of fact, it was not so located, would their mistake in any way affect the plaintiff’s title to the land not conveyed, or would their mistake vest the title in themselves?

Individuals frequently purchase land, pay their money for it, and go into possession under a warranty deed, with tho most perfect belief they have a good title thereto, and yet are ousted by one having a paramount title to the premises. He who has the paramount title, would hardly think it necessary, we suppose, to notify tho purchaser in possession, who purchased under tho belief ho had a good title, as a condition, precedent to liis right in law to maintain ejectment for the premises in dispute. Such, notice might be considered neighborly and equitable, perhaps, but would not affect the legal tille of the respective parties.

In the action of ejectment, as we have already seen, the plaintiff must recover, and the defendants defend, upon the strength of the legal title. The defendants do not claim as the tenants of the plaintiff.

In Jachson vs. Deyo, 3 John. Rep. 417, already cited, it was expressly decided, a person in possession of land, who claims to hold it in fee, is not entitled to notice previous to bringing an action of ejectment; although the defendant in that case, held under an equitable title, the court say: “It never has been decided, that a notice to quit was necessary, unless where the relation of landlord and tenant existed. We might as well require a previous notice to quit, in every case.” As we have already stated, the deeds of the plaintiff to the defendants, either cover the premises in dispute or they do not; if the deeds dojiot cover the premises in dispute, then the defendants stand as if no deeds had ever been made, so far as any legal title conveyed thereby is concerned, and they are thrown upon their charter for a title,- to defend themselves against the plaintiff’s action. We have no doubt, the defendants were at liberty, notwithstanding the grant of the special right of way by the plaintiff to them, to abandon the route granted, and locate their road on a different route through the plaintiff’s land, provided their charter is constitutional, and they have complied with its provisions in that respect. It is true, the charter does not declare which party shall make application for the appointment of commissioners to assess the damages which the landholder may sustain, by the taking of his private property for the use of the company, nor is it necessary for us now to decide that question : but when we take into consideration, that the company is the moving party, and the citizen in the peaceable and quiet enjoyment of his property, guarantied to him by the constitution and laws-of his country, of which he cannot be deprived, but for the use of the public ; and 'the proviso in the charter, requiring Jive days’ notice shall be given to the owner of the land, of the time and place of trial, when the assessment of damages is to be made ; added to the fact, he is entitled to select one appraiser, if he shall think proper, and the mode of proceeding pointed out, if he declines to appoint an appraiser ; we should hesitate before deciding, it was not both the moral and legal duty of the company 1o make the application, before an exclusive appropriation of his private property to the use of the road — the more especially when their agents were notified of his dissatisfaction at the time of its location.

Conceding, however, the plaintiff in this action had a remedy under the charter for the damages sustained, in consequence of taking his private property for the use of the road, did this affirmative remedy take away or destroy his common-law right of action ? We think not; for the charter providing for the assessment of damages for depriving the plaintiff of his property, gave him no new right; he was entitled to damages by the common law, before the enactment of the statute; and there are no negative words in the statute, expressed or implied, from which we can arrive at the conclusion, it was the intention of the Legislature to deprive the plaintiff of his common-law remedy. The remedy given by the statute was merely cumulative: “ If a statute gives a remedy in the affirmative, (without a negative expressed or implied,) for a matter which was actionable by the common law, the party may sue at the common law as well as upon the statute, for this does not take away the common law.” — 1 Comyn’s Dig. 447, letter C; 1 Chitty’s Pleading, 144; Rex vs. Robinson, 2 Burrow’s Rep. 803; 1 Saunders Rep. 136, note 4; Crittenden vs. Wilson, 5 Cowen’s Rep. 165; Scidmore vs. Smith, 13 John. Rep. 322; Farmer’s Turnpike vs. Coventry, 10 John. Rep. marginal page 389; Almy vs. Harris, 5 John. Rep. 175.

Such we believe to have been the common law, at the time of the enactment of our adopting statute in 1784, and the giving of notice to the defendants by the plaintiff, that he considered himself aggrieved by their exclusive appropriation of his private property for the use of the road, was not necessary to enable him to maintain his common-law remedy of trespass in ejectment, for the premises thus exclusively appropriated without his consent. The statute under which the defendants claim, being in derogation of a common-law right, must be strictly' construed.

We are, therefore, of the opinion, the court below erred in its charge to the jury : “ that as no such notice had been given, the plaintiff could not in law recover;” inasmuch as the plaintiff’s common-law right of action of trespass in ejectment, did not depend on such notice being given, and ought not to have been controlled thereby. Considering the title of the defendants, independent of the deeds of cbnve3rance, and as depending on their charter alone, our conclusion is, that the charter which provided for the assessment of damages for lands taken for the use of the road, did not take away the common-law remedy of the plaintiff, to maintain his action of trespass in ejectment for the seizure and appropriation of his private property, for the exclusive use of the road, and notice to the defendants that he was aggrieved thereby was not necessary to enable him to maintain such action. To have authorized the defendants to have acquired the fee-simple title to the premises in dispute, or in depriving the plaintiff thereof, and appropriating the same for the exclusive use of the road, under their charter, it was incumbent on them, not only to have shown by their plea, but to have proved on the trial, that they had complied with that provision in their charter which requires adequate security to be given by them to the plaintiff, who is the landholder, to pay such damages as might be assessed, in the manner pointed out thereby. Without such compliance on their part, they had no right under the Constitution to take the private property of the plaintiff for the use of the public ; for that is the only “ just compensation ” provided for the landholder whose property is taken, except, perhaps, a right of action and judgment against the company alone.

Let the judgment of the court below be reversed, and a new trial granted.