Watkins v. Lessee of Holman

41 U.S. 25 (____) 16 Pet. 25

RICHARD J. WATKINS, PLAINTIFF IN ERROR,
v.
THE LESSEE OF OLIVER HOLMAN ET AL.

Supreme Court of United States.

The case was argued by Mr. Ogden and Mr. Legare, for the plaintiffs in error; and by Mr. Crittenden and Mr. Key, for the defendants.

Mr. Legare, for the plaintiffs in error.

Mr. Justice M``LEAN delivered the opinion of the Court.

This cause is brought before this Court, by a writ of error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the southern district of Alabama.

The heirs of Holman commenced an action of ejectment against the plaintiffs in error, to recover possession of a certain lot in the city of Mobile. On the trial, the lessors of the plaintiffs proved that, before the year 1785, one Geronio was in possession of a lot in the city of Mobile, at the corner of St. Francis and Royal streets, which he continued to occupy until his death. Previous to his death he devised the lot to Lucy Landry, whose father, Simon Landry, took charge of it for his daughter until she became of age, when she occupied it as her own property. In 1818 she conveyed the lot to M``Kinsie and Swett, by deed, in which the eastern boundary was stated to be the Mobile river; and it is admitted that the deed embraced the lot in dispute.

M``Kinsie and Swett conveyed the premises on the same day to Oliver Holman; and in 1818 he took possession of the lot in controversy, erected houses and a wharf on it, and continued to occupy it as a merchant, in copartnership with one Charles Brown, who lived in Boston, Massachusetts, until December, 1822, when Holman died. He left, as his heirs, the lessors of the plaintiffs.

There was no proof of any paper title in Lucy Landry or her father, except the will above stated. Her possession commenced in the year 1800, or prior to that time; and it was proved that her enclosure extended on Royal street, the whole distance claimed in the declaration; and on the east it followed the high-water mark of the Mobile river.

It was proved that Water street, which runs parallel with Royal street and the Mobile river, was an irregular bank, reaching from St. Francis street southerly, the length of the city, formed by a deposit of shells and earth, and was higher than any land east of it, or any land to which the water extended. This land was not subject to inundation, though in many places the water ran across it.

Until the improvements by Holman, the lot in controversy was not susceptible of occupancy. Water street was laid out in 1817 or 1818, and the lot in dispute lies east of that street and east of the high land above described. The ridge or high land was protected by the Spanish authorities; no person was permitted to remove the earth or improve on the ground. It was called the king's highway and landing-place. And after the American authorities took possession, the general impression seemed to be that the ground east of Water street did not belong to the proprietors of lots west of it. But these proprietors in some instances made entries on this ground; and in others, entries were made by the corporate authorities of the city.

Under this state of doubt, the act of Congress of the 26th of May, 1824, was passed. Holman, it seems, built a wharf and warehouse on the lot in 1819 or 1820, and these were among the earliest improvements made east of Water street.

The defendants proved that since the year 1823, they, or those under whom they claim, have had the exclusive possession of the lot; and that they made valuable improvements thereon. They gave in evidence copies of deeds from Lucy Landry to M``Kinsie and Swett, and from them to Oliver Holman. They also exhibited in evidence a title-bond, dated the 29th of September, 1821, from Holman to Brown, for half of the land conveyed to him by M``Kinsie and Swett, excepting certain parts described. The deed was to be executed in two years. A map was also in evidence, purporting to have been made in 1760, by a French surveyor. The map represented the land lying near the river as divided into oblong squares bounded by streets, and that the vacant space between the river and the front line of the square had the word "quai" written upon it. But it is not shown by what authority this map was made, or that it governed in the sale of lots. Until the year 1817, the king's wharf was the only one in the city.

To explain the nature and extent of Lucy Landry's claim and possession, certain documents from the land-office at St. Stephen's, Alabama, were offered in evidence; and also an act of the legislature of Alabama, passed the 21st of December, 1823, authorizing the administratrix of Oliver Holman to sell the real estate of which he died seised in the city of Mobile. It was proved that Holman's estate was insolvent; and it was admitted that the attorneys of the administratrix, named in the act, had given the bond required before the premises in question were sold. The deed made in pursuance of the sale under the act of the legislature was read; also a record of certain proceedings in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts, wherein a license to the administratrix was given to make a deed in pursuance of the title-bond to Brown, and the deed that was made under this authority.

The Court instructed the jury that the act of Alabama was unconstitutional and void, and that no title passed under it; and that the proceedings in the Massachusetts Court were inoperative, and did not authorize the administratrix to convey the title.

The Court also overruled, as evidence, the documents above offered, contained in a volume of state papers published under the authority of Congress.

Exceptions were taken to the rulings of the Court, and to their instructions to the jury; and on these, the questions for consideration arise.

The plaintiff in error asks a reversal of these judgments on two grounds.

1. Because the lessors of the plaintiff showed no legal title.

2. Because the defendant established a title in himself.

On the part of the defendant's counsel it is contended, that, as the plaintiff in error claims under Holman, he cannot question his title: and in support of this position the cases of Jackson ex dem. v. Bush, 10 Johns. 223; Jackson ex dem. Bowne v. Hinman, 16 Johns. 292, 293, are relied on. But these are cases in which the lessors of the plaintiff claimed under sheriffs' sales; and the defences set up were under the defendants in the judgments. The Court say, "The rule, excluding a defendant against whom there has been a judgment and execution from defeating the purchaser's recovery of his possession, by setting up a title in some third person, is founded on justice and policy; and the reason of the rule equally applies where such defendant has, in the mean time, delivered up his possession to another." The case of Brant ex dem. Cuyler et al. v. Livermore, cited from the same volume, arose between landlord and tenant. And the decision relied on in Schauber v. Jackson, 2 Wendell, 14, does not sustain the ground assumed.

The relation of landlord and tenant in no sense exists between the vendor and vendee; and this is especially the case where a conveyance has been executed. In the language of this Court, in the case of Blight's Lessee v. Rochester, 7 Wheat. Rep. 548, the vendee acquires the property for himself, and his faith is not pledged to maintain the title of the vendor. If the vendor has actually made a conveyance, his title is extinguished." And the Court say, "The property having become, by the sale, the property of the vendee, he has a right to fortify that title by the purchase of any other which may protect him in the quiet enjoyment of the premises."

To the same effect are the cases of the Society for the Propagation, &c., v. the town of Pawlet, &c., 4 Peters, 506; Jackson ex dem. Bradstreet v. Huntington, 5 Peters, 402; Thomas Willison v. Watkins, 3 Peters, 43.

In Kentucky, it is well established that a purchaser, who has obtained a conveyance, holds adversely to the vendor, and may controvert his title. Voorhies v. White's heirs, 2 Marshall, 27; Winlock v. Hardy, 4 Lit. Rep. 274. And this is the settled doctrine on the subject.

The plaintiff in error contends, as the lessors of the plaintiff have shown no paper title emanating from the government, they must be considered as trespassers; and that their right is strictly limited to the pedis possessio of the occupants under whom they claim. That a mere trespasser cannot set up the right of a riparian proprietor, unless his enclosures are extended so as to include the alluvial formations.

In the case of Ewing's Lessee v. Burnet, 11 Peters, 41, this Court held that an enclosure was not necessary to show possession, under the statute of limitations. That for this purpose it is sufficient to show visible and notorious acts of ownership exercised over the premises.

In this case it appears that the proprietors of the contiguous lots, by a deposit of earth and other means, contributed to the new formation on the shore of the river; so that this formation was not wholly attributable to the action of the tides. And it may well be contended that this labor of the proprietors made their claim and possession of the water-lot as notorious as if it had been surrounded by an enclosure. It appears, too, that the wharf and warehouse were erected by Holman on the lot in dispute, as soon as it was susceptible of occupation. These facts, connected with the possession of the adjacent lot since 1785, present a strong ground to presume a title. And so far as regards the controversy between the parties to this record, and looking only at the facts and circumstances before us, we think that the lot in dispute may be considered as included in the title of Holman.

The position assumed by the plaintiff's counsel, that a mere intruder is limited to his actual possession; and that the rights of a riparian proprietor do not attach to him, is correct. He can have no rights beyond his possession. The doctrines of the common law on this subject have been taken substantially from the civil law. In the case of the Mayor of New Orleans v. The United States, 10 Peters, 662, we had occasion to examine this doctrine, especially in reference to the laws of Spain.

The act of Congress of the 26th May, 1824, entitled "An act granting certain lots of ground to the corporation of the city of Mobile, and to certain individuals of said city," embraces the lot in controversy; whether the title be vested in the lessors of the plaintiff, the defendants in the ejectment, or in the city of Mobile. As no right to this lot is asserted on the part of the city, we can now only consider the law as affecting the title before us.

At the time the law was passed, either the plaintiffs or defendant were the proprietors of the front lot, and claimed the water lot with its improvements; and this brings them within any known construction of the act of 1824. It relinquished to the proprietor or proprietors of the front lot, under the circumstances of this case, whatever right, if any, the United States had to the water lot.

The volume of state papers offered in evidence by the defendants, we think, should have been admitted. This volume was published under an act of Congress, and contains the authentication required by the act. Its contents are, therefore, evidence.

The recital in the preamble of a public act of Parliament of a public fact, is evidence to prove the existence of that fact. Rex v. Sutton, 4 Maule and Selwyn, 532; Starkie on Evidence, 197. The journals of the House of Lords have always been admitted as evidence of their proceedings, even in criminal cases; and the journals of the House of Commons are also admissible. It is said that the journals are not evidence of particular facts stated in the resolutions, which are not a part of the proceedings of the House; as, for instance, a resolution stating the existence of a popish plot would not be evidence of the fact in a criminal case. Jones v. Randall, Cowp. Rep. 17; 5 Term Rep. 465; Doug. 572; Starkie's Ev. 199.

In this country, in all public matters, the journals of Congress and of the state legislatures are evidence; and also the reports which have been sanctioned and published by authority. This publication does not make that evidence which, intrinsically, is not so; but it gives in a most authentic form certain papers and documents. In the case under consideration the volume of documents was offered to show the report of certain commissioners under an act of Congress confirming the title in question. Now, this original report, duly authenticated by the treasury department, to which it was made, would be evidence, and it is evidence in the published volume. The very highest authenticity attaches to these state papers published under the sanction of Congress.

We come now to consider the proceedings in the Supreme Court of Massachusetts. These proceedings took place under a statute of that state, and were founded upon the title bond given to Brown by Holman, for nearly a moiety of the lot purchased by him from M``Kinsie and Swett. Brown applied to the Court by petition, setting out the title bond and representing that Holman had deceased, without making a deed; and he prayed that Sarah Holman, his administratrix, might be licensed and empowered to execute to him such a conveyance of the premises as Holman would have been obliged to make if he were living.

Sarah Holman, as widow and administratrix, certified to the Court that she had read, and had due notice of the petition of Brown, and that she had no objection to the prayer of it.

And the guardian of Sarah Holman and Oliver Holman, minors and children of Oliver Holman, deceased, certified that they also had notice, and that they had nothing to allege against the prayer of the petition.

The Court, on hearing the petition, licensed and empowered the administratrix to make the deed. And in pursuance of this order she executed a deed in conformity with the bond to Brown, the 10th March, 1824.

That this deed is inoperative is clear. It was executed by the administratrix under a decree or order of the Supreme Court in Massachusetts, and by virtue of a statute of that state. The proceeding, it is not pretended, was authorized by any law of Alabama. And no principle is better established than that the disposition of real estate, whether by deed, descent, or by any other mode, must be governed by the law of the state where the land is situated.

A Court of Chancery, acting in personam, may well decree the conveyance of land in any other state, and may enforce their decree by process against the defendant. But neither the decree itself, nor any conveyance under it, except by the person in whom the title is vested, can operate beyond the jurisdiction of the Court.

The Massachusetts Court, in granting this license to the administratrix, did not exercise Chancery powers. Neither the administratrix nor the minor heirs were made parties and required to answer, as a procedure in Chancery. It was a proceeding at law, informal and summary in its character. The administratrix only was required to execute the conveyance. By the laws of Alabama, she had no power to dispose of the real estate of her husband, as administratrix, except for the payment of the debts of the estate, under the sanction of law.

But the defendants insist that the title-bond given to Brown by Holman, for a part of the premises, constituted a good defence in the action; that, the consideration having been paid, Holman and his heirs held the property in trust for Brown and his assignees; and that a Court of Law will give effect to the trust, at least so far as to prevent the trustees from recovering the possession against the cestui que trust.

This doctrine seems to have been sanctioned, to some extent, in New York, in the cases of Foot and Litchfield v. Colvin and others, 3 Johns. Rep. 216; Jackson ex dem. Benson v. Matsdorf et al. 11 Johns. Rep. 91; Jackson ex dem. Sulye v. Moore, 16 Johns. Rep. 197. These decisions may have been influenced somewhat by the statute concerning uses in that state, which subjects the estate of the cestui que trust to execution. In one of the cases, Spencer, Justice, giving the opinion of the Court, says, "Without the aid of the statute, I consider James Litchfield, if he advanced the purchase-money, as having an interest liable to be sold on execution."

In the case of Jackson ex dem. Walton v. Leggett, 7 Wend. Rep. 377, the Court remark, "the legal estate must prevail." "The only exception to the rule is in the case of a resulting trust: in such case the trust may be proved by parol, and the estate of the cestui que trust may be sold on execution, and has been so far considered the property of the cestui que trust, as to be a defence in an action of ejectment."

This was the doctrine of the Lord Mansfield, in the case of Armstrong and others v. Peirse and others, 3 Bur. Rep. 1899. In Doe on the demise of Bristow v. Pegge, 1 Term Rep. 758, note a, he lays down the broad doctrine, "that a trust shall never be set up against him for whom the trust was intended;" and the other judges concurred.

It is known that that great judge had a strong leaning to the principles of equity in trials at common law. His successor seemed to be under a different influence; although he had been Master of the Rolls for some years. This equitable doctrine in a Court of Law was overruled in the case of Doe on the demise of Hodsden v. Staple, 2 Term Rep. 684. Lord Kenyon says, "Is it possible for a Court of Law to enter into the discussion of such nice points of equity? We have no such authority. Sitting in this Court, we must look at the record, and see whether a legal title is conveyed to the party claiming under these instruments: now, there is no colour for saying that these give any legal title. Without deciding, or presuming to think what a Court of Equity would do in this case, it is enough for me to say that we are to decide a legal question, and cannot enter into such an entangled equity." The other judges, except Buller, concurred with the chief justice.

In Doe on the demise of Shewen v. Wroot and others, 5 East Rep. 132, Lord Ellenborough said, "We can only look to the legal estate, and that is clearly not in the devisees, but in the heir at law of the surrenderor; and if the devisees have an equitable interest, they must claim it elsewhere, and not in a Court of Law. For as to the doctrine that the legal estate cannot be set up at law by a trustee against his cestui que trust, that has been long repudiated." And this is the settled doctrine in England on this subject; and, with few exceptions, in this country. In the states where no Courts of Chancery are established, Courts of Law, in giving relief, of necessity, trench upon an equitable jurisdiction.

It is not perceived why a Court of Law should regard a resulting trust more than other equitable rights; and any attempt to give effect to these rights at law, through the instrumentality of a jury, must lead to confusion and uncertainty. Equitable and legal jurisdictions have been wisely separated; and the soundest maxims of jurisprudence require each to be exercised in its appropriate sphere. We are clearly of the opinion that the title-bond in question, constituted no defence in the above action.

Whether any title passed under the Alabama statute, is the last point to be considered.

The act authorized the administratrix of the late Oliver Holman, resident in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, to sell by Nathaniel Littlefield and Gorham Davenport, her attorneys in fact, the real estate of which the said Holman died seised, in the city of Mobile, "on such terms, and in such manner, as may be deemed most advantageous to his estate." "The second section authorized the administratrix, by her attorneys, to convey the premises to the purchaser." And the third section provided that before the sale the attorneys shall give bond with sufficient security for the faithful payment of the money received by them to the administratrix, "to be appropriated to the payment of the debts of the deceased."

Under this law, a sale was made, and a conveyance executed to Brown, by Sarah Holman and her attorneys in fact, the 24th April, 1824.

This act of the legislature, it is contended, is in violation of the constitution of Alabama; and, with the proceeding under it, is consequently void.

The first section of the second article of the constitution declares that "the powers of the government of the state of Alabama shall be divided into three distinct departments: and each of them confided to a separate body of magistracy, to wit: those which are legislative, to one; those which are executive, to another; and those which are judicial, to another." And the second section declares that "no person or collection of persons, being of one of those departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to either of the others, except in the instances hereinafter expressly directed or permitted."

The passage of the statute, it is insisted, was a judicial act by the legislature, which the constitution inhibits.

On the part of the plaintiffs in error, a great number of acts of this character, by the Alabama legislature, shortly after the adoption of the constitution, are cited, to show a settled construction of that instrument. The defendants in error referred to reports by committees of the legislature, which maintained the unconstitutionality of these acts. And it is asserted and not contradicted, that since that report, under a conviction of its soundness, the legislature have passed no laws on the subject. A manuscript decision of a Circuit Court in Alabama, in the case of Campbell and Havre v. Scales and others, was read; but the question now under consideration seems not to have been raised. In almost all the states, laws of this description are common; and the titles to an immense amount of property depend upon their validity.

The phraseology of the constitution of Alabama in regard to the distribution of its powers, is somewhat peculiar; but it is not substantially different from the constitutional provisions of some of the other states. The third section of the Virginia constitution declares that "the legislative, executive, and judiciary departments shall be separated and distinct, so that neither exercise the powers properly belonging to the other."

Indeed, in all the state constitutions, the legislative, judicial, and executive functions are vested in different functionaries; and it would seem to follow that the powers thus specially given should be exercised under their appropriate limitations. The inhibition of the Alabama constitution contains, in terms, that which necessarily arises from the construction of the constitutions of other states.

In some cases it is difficult to draw a line that shall show with precision the limitation of powers, under our form of government. The executive, in acting upon claims for services rendered, may be said to exercise, if not in form, in substance, a judicial power. And so a Court, in the use of a discretion essential to its existence, by the adoption of rules or otherwise, may be said to legislate. A legislature, too, in providing for the payment of a claim, exercises a power in its nature judicial; but this is coupled with the paramount and remedial power.

But, whatever difficulty may arise in certain cases, in regard to the exercise of these powers, there would seem to be little or none in the case under consideration.

The character of the act in question is essentially remedial. It contains no other feature. An authority is given to the administratrix to sell, in a particular manner, the property in dispute, for the payment of the debts of the intestate. The act does not determine the amount of the debts, nor to whom they are payable. It is proved, however, that the estate was insolvent. And it is conformably to the settled policy of Alabama, to apply the real estate of a deceased person in payment of his debts. The case under consideration, the administratrix residing in Massachusetts, and being desirous of selling the property through her attorneys in fact, was not embraced by the general statute on the subject; and hence the necessity of the special authority.

Now, how does this act differ in principle from the general law on the same subject? The general law was passed from the knowledge which the legislature had of its expediency and necessity. The special law was passed from a knowledge of its propriety in the particular case. The power exercised in passing the special as well as the general law, was remedial.

Under the general law, application is required to be made by the executor or administrator to the County Court, representing that the personal estate is not sufficient to pay the debts of the deceased: that he left real estate, particularly describing it, and praying that it may be sold, &c. A notice is required to be given to the heirs and devisees, &c., who are to answer, &c., and the Court on the hearing are authorized to decree a sale of the estate, on the petitioner's giving bond, &c.

The mode of procedure under the general law was required by the legislature, from motives of expediency; but it by no means follows that it was the only mode they could adopt. In some of the states, the heirs or devisees are not required to be made parties by the administrator. His application is ex parte to the Court; which orders a sale of the real estate to pay the debts of the deceased, where the personal estate is insufficient. And no doubt can be entertained that the legislature may authorize the administrator, by a general or a special act, to sell lands to pay debts, where the personal assets are exhausted, without any application to the Court. And in such case the administrator would act on his own responsibility, and be accountable to the creditors and heirs for the correct performance of his trust, in this, as in other parts of his duty.

This is a question of power and not of policy; and on such a question we cannot test the act by any considerations of expediency. Whether the act may be open to abuse, whether it be politic or impolitic, is not a matter now before us: but whether the legislature had power to pass it.

A report in the senate of Alabama on this subject says; "Upon the death of the ancestor, the real estate owned by him descends to and vests in his heirs, and the title thus vested cannot be divested without some proceeding to which the heir is a party. A minor could not legally assent to the passage of a law authorizing the sale of his real estate; but would have the right to affirm or disaffirm the sale when he arrived at lawful age."

This is laid down on general principles, and without reference to the constitution of Alabama As a legal proposition, it is wholly unsustainable.

In the first place, it is contrary to the general practice of many of the states, and to the received notions of the profession on the subject. Titles in Ohio and in many other states, to a vast amount of real property, rest upon sales of executors and administrators under the order of a Court, without making the heirs parties; and it is believed that a doubt of the validity of such titles, where the proceedings have been regular, has never been entertained or expressed. These titles have been contested in State Courts and in this Court; and a defect of power to convey a good title in the mode authorized, it is believed, has never been objected.

A course of proceeding so extensive, involving interests so great, and which has been subjected to the severest legal scrutiny, is no unsatisfactory evidence of what the law is.

But, on principle, this proceeding is sustainable. On the death of the ancestor, the land owned by him descends to his heirs. But how do they hold it? They hold it subject to the payment of the debts of the ancestor, in those states where it is liable to such debts.

The heirs cannot alien the land to the prejudice of creditors. In fact and in law they have no right to the real estate of their ancestor, except that of possession, until the creditors shall be paid.

As it regards the question of power in the legislature, no objection is perceived to their subjecting the lands of the deceased to the payment of his debts, to the exclusion of his personal property. The legislature regulates descents, and the conveyance of real estate. To define the rights of debtor and creditor is their common duty. The whole range of remedies lies within their province. They may authorize a guardian to convey the lands of an infant; and indeed they may give the capacity to the infant himself to convey them. The idea that the lands of an infant which descend to him, cannot be made responsible for the payment of the debts of the ancestor, except through the decree of a Court of Chancery, is novel and unfounded. So far from this being the case, no doubt is entertained that the legislature of a state have power to subject the lands of a deceased person to execution in the same manner as if he were living. The mode in which this shall be done is a question of policy, and rests in the discretion of the legislature.

The law under which the lot in dispute was sold decides no fact binding on creditors or heirs. If the administratrix and Brown have acted fraudulently in procuring the passage of this act, or in the sale under it, relief may be given on that ground. But the act does nothing more than provide a remedy, which is strictly within the power of the legislature.

The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings, in accordance with this opinion.

This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the Circuit Court of the United States for the southern district of Alabama, and was argued by counsel. On consideration whereof, It is now here considered, ordered, and adjudged by this Court, that the judgment of the said Circuit Court in this cause be, and the same is hereby, reversed, with costs; and that this cause be, and the same is hereby, remanded to the said Circuit Court, with directions for further proceedings to be had therein, according to law and justice, and in conformity to the opinion of this Court.

Gustavus Beall et al. v. The Lessee of Holman et al.

This case was also brought before the Court by a writ of error to the Circuit Court for the northern district of Alabama, on substantially the same grounds as those considered in the above opinion. There is no material difference in the facts on which the judgment of the Court rests, between the two cases. The judgment of the Circuit Court in this case is also reversed; and the cause remanded for further proceedings.