Harris v. Wetmore

By the Court.

Lumpkin, J.

delivering the opinion.

[1.] The single question presented in this case is, whether, under the Judiciary Act of 1799, an execution can issue during the term at which thev'erdict was obtained, or the confession of judgment was made,or within the four days after the adjournment of the Court. We are of the opinion that it cannot. It is conceded that the party cast in the suit, is allowed four days after the adjournment of the Court, either to enter an appeal, or stay the execution. The issuing of the execution previously, would seem to conflict directly with this privilege. In many cases where the Court is adjourned over for several months, where verdicts have "been rendered at an early period during the session, if the execution, were allowed to issue immediately, the defedant’s property might be seized and sold, while his right of appeal or stay of execution still existed. But we consider the language of the Statute itself, conclusive upon this point. It declares, “ Provided, always, that any party against whom any judgment shall be entered, may give good and sufficient security, either in open Court or in the Clerk’s office, toithin four days after the adjournment of the Court, for the payment of the judgment and costs within sixty days; and if such party shall not pay the same agreeably thereto, execution may issue against such party and the security, without any other proceeding therein.” Prince, 426.

Two things are manifest from this clause: — First, that the judgment may be entered up at any time after verdict, for the stay of execution is supposed to be subsequent to the signing of judgment, and yet this may be done in open Court-, and second ly from the fact, that upon failure of payment, after the expiration of sixty days, the execution is to issue, both against the principal and his security, it is evident that the law did not contemplate the issuing of an execution against the principal alone, previously.

Seeing no good reason, therefore, for overturning a practice of a half a century’s standing, and one so well understood by our people, we are constrained to reverse the judgment. "VYc can well conceive that special circumstances might exist to justify the issuing of an, execution immediately, as that the defendant was about removing his person or property, or both, without the limits of the State, or that he was a single gentleman, and such like ; but it isfor the Legislature, and not the Courts, to confer this power, •and under such restrictions as the General Assembly may see lit to impose.

Judgment reversed.