Garland v. Bowling

10 F. Cas. 5

• Court: U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Arkansas
• Decided: April 15, 1855
• Status: Published

Opinion

DANIEL, Circuit Justice.

The proof taken in the case is not sufficient to show that the slaves were unsound at the time of their purchase as alleged by the complainant in his bill. This is a ground to be made out by him clearly and satisfactorily before he could be entitled to relief In any aspect of the case. And having failed in that respect, he could not in any event succeed. But there is another objection which is fatal to his claim to relief. It is that he still holds the slaves in possession, and does not offer to surrender them, or to place the parties in statu quo. His object appears to be to enjoin the collection of the purchase-money and retain the negroes. Such conduct a court of equity cannot sanction. If he desires to rescind the contract for any cause whatever, and is entitled to do so, he is bound to restore to the adverse party what he received from him. This is demanded by the rules of equity and fair dealing, and is without exception in the forum of conscience. He cannot hold the property of another, and refuse to pay for it; and as it appears by the evidence that he retains the possession and claims the slaves as his own, and does not offer to surrender them, it is not only a complete bar to relief, but very significant evidence that the slaves are not so valueless as the complainant has alleged them to be in his bill.

The injunction granted in this case must be dissolved, the bill dismissed with costs, and the defendant remitted to his judgment at law, and execution to be issued thereon. Decreed accordingly.