Canfield v. Westcott

5 Cow. 270

Opinion

The Court,

without hearing J. Platt, who was to have argued against the demurrer, were clear that judgment must be for the plaintiff. They said the provision that this agreement should be void, was for the benefit of the vendor. On the vendee’s default, the vendor might, therefore, consider the agreement void at his own election; or affirm it, and brings his action on the covenants; and they said this had been often so held in much stronger cases; as where the provision in the articles was general and positive, in the words of both parties, that if the vendee failed to perform, the contract should be void.

The Chief Justice told Steele, he might withdraw the demurrer and plead, if he had any other defence.

But Steele said he had not; and

The plaintiff had judgment,

(a)

May term, 1823. Mancius v. Sergeant.

On Error to tho C. P. of Columbia. The declaration in the court b^Iow tvas hi covenant by Mancius against Sergeant, on articles of agreement, by tvhich Mancius covenanted, on Sergeant’s fulfilling his covenants after mentioned, to convey to him. He then covenanted to pay, &c. by instalments and the articles then provided, that if Sergeant should fail to perform hi covenants, Mancius should be released and discharged from his covenants and that Sergeant should forfeit his payments, (if any.) The declaration averred a total non-performance on the part of Sergeant.

General demurrer and joinder.

The C. P. gave judgment for the defendant below.

E. Williams, for the plaintiff in error.

C. Bushnell, contra.

Curia, per Savage, Ch. J. That the intent of the parties is to be the governing consideration in the construction of every contract, cannot be denied; nor that such intent (when doubtful) is to be collected from the whole instrument, and the nature of the contract; every part of it having meaning and effect if possible.

What, then, was the meaning of the parties when they entered into this contract? Did they intend it should be a felo de sc, or that the defendant below might make it so, or valid and operative at his election ? What inducement could the plaintiff below have for making such a contract ?

The covenants by the defendant below were absolute ; and on his performance, the plaintiff below would have been bound ; but the clause providing for a forfeiture of previous payment was totally inoperative until, at least, one payment made. The whole clause providing for the vendor’s discharge from his covenants, and the forfeiture of the vendee’s payments, is clearly a condition in favor of the former; not the latter. The vendee was bound to pay at all events. If he had failed, even after having made payments, the vendor might consider the contract at an end, and sell the land to another. If, however, he chooses not to do so, but hold the vendee to his contract, he has an undoubted right to enforce it by compelling payment. A con. trary doctrine would be allowing the vendee to take advantage of his own negligence, without ajiy advantage to the vendor, but rather an injury; as he is, in the mean time, prohibited from selling the land to any other purchase*

Judgment reversed.

Church against Ayres.

After the decision in Mancius v. Sergeant, a question on the void clause was submitted to the Supreme Court, between Church, plaintiff, and Ayres, defendant. The case was this; Ayres paid Church $5 fer land; and by articles between the parties acknowledging this payment, covenanted to pay upwards of $400 more within nine years, by equal annual instalments, with interest annually, &c. The articles then had this clause: “ and in caso default shall be made in any of the payments of the above principal or interest, at any of the annual periods above stipulated for the payment thereof, this agreement shall be absolutely null and void.” The Articles then proceeded to provide that if Church should not enforce the pay tnents, or annul the contract, Ayers would pay interest upon interest, &c.

The money not being paid pursuant to the contract, Church brought co Tenant, alleging the breach ; and Ayers demurred.

H. Welles, in support of the demurrer.

S'. S. Haight, contra.

Savage, Ch. J. (in delivering the opinion of the court) after recognizing the same general principles as in Mancius v. Sergeant, that the intent is to govern &c. and every part of the contract is to have effect, proceeded as follows : " It seems to me very clear in this case, that it was the intention of the parties, that on the failure of the defendant to pay, according to his stipulation, it should be optional with tho plaintiff, to avoid the contract, or not. A further provision is made in his favor, in case he shall not avail himself of the clause in question. It is a settled principle, that a party in whose favor a provision is made by the contract, may waive it if he pleases.

The very point now raised, was decided by this court, on the same state of pleadings, in Van Rensselaer v. Fitch The case is not reported; but I have been favored by the late Chief Justice, with the demurrer book, and the decision of the court, Van Rensselaer sued Fitch on an article of agreement, as follows: "First; the said party of the second part, (Fitch,) agrees to purchase of the said party of the first part, Van Rensselaer, the lands hereinafter mentioned ; and to pay him for the same, the sum of $32 96, in one year from tho dato hereof, with interest on the same till paid; otherwise these presents to be void both at law and in equity.” Van Rensselaer then covenanted, that the money being paid, he would convey. To a declaration on this contract, the defendant demurred ; and judgment was rendered for the plaintiff.

The present is even a stronger case for tho plaintiff. The authority cited is in point, and a similar judgment must be given.

Judgment for the plaintiff