Heirs of Pollard v. Kibbe

9 Port. 712

Opinion

ORMOND, J.

The lot of land sought to be recovered in this action, is in the city of Mobile, and was a portion of the territory east of the Ibberville, or river Mauchac, and|west of the Perdido.

By the treaty of St. Ildefonso, between Spain and the French Republic, entered into on the first October, eighteen hundred, the former retroceded to the latter, the province of Louisiana. On the thirtieth April, eighteen hundred and three, France ceded Louisiana to the United States, with all its rights and appurtenances, as fully, and in the same manner as they were acquired by the French Republic, in virtue of the treaty between France and Spain, before mentioned.

At the date of said treaty, the boundary of Louisiana on the west, was not accurately defined, and after the acquisition of Louisiana by the United States, the government insisted that the tract of country lying between the Ibberville and the Perdido, and south of the thirty-first degree of north latitude, was a part of the province of Louisiana, ceded by Spain to France by the treaty of St. Ildefonso, and acquired by the United States, by the treaty of Paris. This was resisted by Spain, who remained in possession of the disputed territory, and claimed it as a part of West Florida.

The United States asserted her right to the territory in dispute, not only by her minister’s diplomatically, but also by her laws, making void all grants of land within its limits, except for small quantities, and to actual settlers, after the date of the treaty of St. Ildefonso, and by annexing the land in controversy to the Territory of Orleans,

As early as the twenty-sixth of March, eighteen hundred and four, Congress passed an act, the I4th section of which enacts, “ that all grants for lands ceded by the French Republic to the United States, by the treaty of the thirtieth April, eighteen hundred and three, the title whereof was, at the date of the treaty of St. Ildefonso, in the crown, government, or nation of Spain, and every act and proceeding subsequent thereto, of whatsoever nature, towards the obtaining any grant, title or claim to such lands, and under whatsoever authority transacted or pretended, be, and the same are hereby declared to be, and to have been from the beginning, nuil and void, and of no effect in law or equity.” A proviso excepts the title of actual settlers, acquired before the twentieth December, eighteen hundred and three. That no grant of land, emanating from the Spanish government after the date of the treaty of St. Ildefonso, and not proteóted by the pcoviso above recited, or some subsequent act of Congress is valid, was settled by the great case of Foster and Elam vs. Neilson, (2 Peters, 253,) and subsequently confirmed by the case of Guicar vs. Lee, (12 Peters’ R.)

The grant upon which the plaintiffs seek a recovery, bears date the twelfth December, eighteen hundred and nine, and was reported against by the board of commissioners, appointed to investigate titles in the disputed territory, for want of inhabitation and cultivation, and therefore, not confirmed by Congress, and of itself no evidence of title. But it is insisted by the plaintiffs, that an act passed by Congress, the twenty-sixth May, eighteen hundred and twenty-four, confirms and makes valid this grant. The 2d section, which is alone material to this question, is in these words: “and be it further enacted, that all title and claim of the United States, to so many of the lots of ground east of Water street, and between Church street and North Boundary street, now known as water lots, as are situated between the channel of the river, and the front of the lots known under the Spanish government as water lots, in the said city of Mobile, whereon improvements have been made, be, and the same are hereby vested in the several proprietors and occupants of each of the lots heretofore fronting on the river Mobile — except in cases where such proprietor or occupant has aliened his right to any such lot now designated as a water lot, or the Spanish government has made a new grant or order of survey for the same, during the time at which they had the power to grant the same; in which case, the right and claim of the United States shall be, and is hereby vested in the person to whom such alienation, grant, or order of survey was made, ,or in his representatives; provided, that nothing in this act contained, shall be construed to affect the claim or claims (if any such there be) of any individual or body corporate.”

The plaintiffs "also gave in evidence, an act of Congress, approved July twentieth, eighteen hundred and thirty-six, entitled an act for the relief of the heirs of William Pollard. “ Be it enacted, &c. that there shall be, and hereby is, confirmed unto the heirs of William Pollard, deceased, a certain lot of ground situate in the city of Mobile, and bounded as follows, to wit: on the north, by what was formerly known as John Fobes & Company’s canal; on the west by Water street; on the south by the King’s wharf, and on the east by the channel of the river — and that a patent shall issue in the usual form for the same; provided, that this act shall only operate as a relinquishment on the part of the United States, of all their right and claim to the above described lot of ground, and shall not interfere with, or affect the claim or claims of third persons.” A patent issued in obedience to the said act of Congress.

To a proper understanding of the act of Congress of May, eighteen hundred and twenty-four, above cited, it is necessary to state, that as Mobile was laid out, and existed under the Spanish government, Royal strefct was on the back, or margin of the bay, running in a line from north to south, or nearly so, the tide flowing to what is now Water street, which lies parallel to, and east of Water street, so that the eastern limits of the lots fronting on Royal street, were washed by the tide. These are the lots described in the law, as lots known under the Spanish government, as water lots. When the city came into our possession, the restless and enterprising spirit of our countrymen, caused a gradual encroachment of the city to the eastward, by filling up the bay, and subjecting it to the use of man, for the purpose of building; so that now, there are several streets east of Water street, which are all encroachments on the waters of the bay.

The act of Congress of twenty-sixth May, eighteen hundred and twenty-four, is not as precise in its terms as could have been desired — it being open to some controversy, whether the lots east of Water street, which were made by filling up the margin of the river Mobile, were intended to be given to the “proprietor” of the lot fronting such water lot on the west side of Water street* or to the “occupant” of the improved lot on the east side of Water street; but both of these classes of persons were postponed to the Spanish grantee, who (in the language of the act,) had obtained a “ new grant or order of survey for the same from the Spanish government, during the time at which they had the power to grant the same.”

The plaintiffs assert no title to the lot on the west side of Water street, fronting the one in dispute; they must, therefore, derive their title either as improver or occupant of the lot on the east side, or by virtue of the grant made in eighteen hundred and nine; and it is insisted, that the term “ new grant,” as used in the act of eighteen hundred and twenty-four; was designed to confer on such grants as the one now under consideration, a capacity to be the source of title.

In support of this proposition, it is strenuously contended by the counsel for the plaintiffs, that such a construction should be put on the act, as will, if possible, give effect to every word in it — that this can only be done, by supposing that the word new found in the law, coupled with Spanish grants, must have reference to some epoch connected with the subject matter. That grants made before that period, were by Congress considered old grants — those made after, new grants, and this epoch, he supposes-was the date of the treaty of St. Ilde-fonso — the first October, eighteen hundred.

The rule itself, and the propriety of its application, when possible, is distinctly admitted; but it is most obvious, that the date selected as the epoch from which the grant is to be considered new, is purely arbitrary. There is nothing in the law, which authorises the selection of that in preference to any other date or period of time which might be supposed. Sensible of this, the counsel has drawn his arguments in support of his theory, from the history of the country, and from the mass of laws passed by Congress on this subject.

It is certainly a correct mode of expounding a doubtful statute, to compare it with other acts in pari materia, and to construe it in reference to the object in view, giving effect, if possible, to every purt of it. This we have done; and the process has satisfied us, that the proposition of the plaintiffs’ counsel is untenable.

Ever since the acquisition of Louisiana, in eighteen hundred and three, the United States, through all the departments of the government, have perseveringly maintained, that by the treaty of St. Ildefonso, Spain ceded to France, the territory between the Ibberville and Perdido, south of the thirty-first degree of north latitude; and that all grants made by the Spanish government, for land within the territory of Louisiana, after the date of the treaty of St. Ildefonso, are absolutely void.- As early as eighteen hundred and four, by the laW already referred to, this principle was asserted by Congress, the only exception being in favor of actual settlers, and for a limited quantity of land. No subsequent law of Congress, (though many have been passed on the subject,) has changed this principle, unless it has been done in this instance ; though in the spirit of a wise and benignant policy, ample provision has been made for the adjustment of those titles, on just and equitable principles.

What reason, then, can be assigned for a departure from the long established policy of the country ? We certainly cannot infer such abandonment from the use of an ambiguous term, to which it is difficult to assign any sensible meaning. Under the law which previously existed, if the claim of the plaintiff were meritorious, it would have been recognised — it was offered and rejected. And if it were permitted to examine the decision of the commissioners, it could not be pretended, that removing some drift-wood in eighteen hundred and thirteen, to land a boat, or for any other purpose, would bring the plaintiffs’ claim within the purview of any of the acts of Congress on the subject.

As the opposite of the term “ new” is old, there appears to be some plausibility in the supposition of the defendant’s counsel, that where Congress applied the term new to Spanish grants, they had not reference to time alone, by reference to an epoch after which grants should be considered new, as it is inconceivable, on that hypothesis, why the date was not mentioned in the land, but that new grant, was put in contradistinction to an old grant, for the same tract of land. But this construction is open to many objections, the most obvious of which is, that the old grant would be valid under the treaty, and there could be no possible reason for legislating in favor of the new grant, if made to the same individual: still less could it be supposed, that Congress would attempt to confer the title on the subsequent grantee of the same land. It is possible, that the term “ new grant,” applies to a grant of the shore, or space between high and low water marks, there having been a previous, or old grant, immediately in front, bounded by high water mark. This construction receives some countenance from the fact,, that the Spanish government, at least in one instance, made such a grant.

But if the act of Congress leaves us in doubt as to the 'meaning affixed to the term new grant, it at least requires such grants to have one quality, without which, they cannot be evidence of title to the lots intended to be granted. It was not only to be a “ new grant,” but it must have been made during the time when the Spanish government had “power” to make it. This we understand lo be nothing more than a reiteration of the principle for which the government has always contended.

The argument of the plaintiffs’ counsel, that “power,” as used in the law, has reference to the period of time which intervened between the date of the treaty of St. Ildefonso, and the occupation of the disputed territory by the United States, cannot be admitted. The government of the United States, as already stated, insisted on their right to the territory in dispute, and that the possession by Spain was wrongful. Such a construction would be, in effect, a concession by the United States, that her pretension to the territory in dispute, was unfounded. It would convict, our government of the injustice of having taken advantage of the weakness of a foreign power, to take forcible possession of a territory to which it had no valid title. For, if “power,1” in the manner it is employed by Congress, means (as we must understand it to mean.) lawful authority, it would necessarily follow, that the claim of the United States, to the territory in dispute, was unfounded, as it is inconceivable that the Spanish government could have lawful authority to grant land which belonged to the United States. A construction which would lead to such consequences, it would not be respectful in this court to make, without the clearest evidence that such was the intention of Congress — (See the cases of Foster vs. Elam, 2 Peters, and Garcia vs. Lee, 12 Peters.)

Whatever, then, may have been the meaning of Congress, by the use of the term “ new grant,” in the act of eighteen hundred and twenty-four, we cannot presume it was intended to give any sanction to grants emanating from the Spanish government, for lands within the disputed territory, after the first October, eighteen hundred, further than they had already been provided for by law.

But it is said the government intended to be bountiful, and that its acts may be liberally construed — that the government cannot be suspected of wishing to drive a “ Smithfield bargain.” In the adjustment of the Spanish land titles, the government has been influenced by a wise and liberal policy. Denying that the Spanish government had lawful authority to grant lands within the territory claimed by the United States, yet as Spain held possession of the country, all grants for a reasonable quantity of land to actual settlers, were recognised and legitimated. But mere donations of the public domain, without a consideration of a public or pecuniary nature, are not in accordance with our practice, or consonant to our institutions, and therefore, cannot be presumed. Monarchs may have favorites — Republics can have none. Upon this principle, our government has always acted, and it is preserved in the act of eighteen hundred and twenty-four. The lots of ground which Congress were disposing of, were not given capriciously, but apparently on the ground of the^public benefit conferred by filling up the lots, and thus subjecting them to the purposes of man, and the uses of commerce.

It is therefore our opinion, that the grant offered in evidence by the plaintiffs, is not embraced by the terms f< new grant,” in the act of eighteen hundred and twenty-four, before referred to.

The act of eighteen hundred and thirty-five, is in terms a mere confirmation, but it must operate as a grant of all the interest of the United States, in the land mentioned in the act at the date of the law, such being the evident intention of the Legislature. Out of abundant criterion, doubtless the act recites that it shall only operate as a relinquishment of the title of the United States, and shall not interfere with or affect the claims of other persons. The question, then, is, had the United States previously parted with their title? — and this leads to the examination of the title of the defendant.

The defendant’s title consists of conveyances for the lot of land in dispute—

1. From John Forbes & Co., who held the lot on the west side of Water street, fronting the one in controversy, by a confirmed Spanish grant, dated in eighteen hundred and two;

2. From Curtis Lewis, who entered upon the lot in dispute, and improved it by filling it up ;

3. From the mayor and aldermen of the corporation of Mobile.

The title of the defendant, is also derived from the act of eighteen hundred and twenty-four, already cited. It cannot be concealed, that the meaning of the act is exceedingly obscure, and that it is difficult to determine whether, under the 2d section of the law, the lots on the east side of Water street, were intended by Congress to be granted to the improver or occupant of the lot, or whether they were granted to the proprietors and occupants of the lots fronting them on the west side of Water street, But it is not necessary to determine the mean ing of the law, because the defendant can protect himself in this case, in any possible construction of the law. Through Lewis, he derives title from the improver and occupant of the lpt on the east side of Water street, and through John Forbes & Co., from the proprietor of the lot fronting it on the west side of Water street. The union of these two must, under any construction of the law, constitute a perfect title under the act of Congress, unless opposed by a valid Spanish grant for the same lot, in which attitude, the plaintiffs in error have not placed themselves.

It is not, therefore, necessary to consider whether the charge of the court, that the proprietor of the lot on the west side of Water street, was under the act, entitled to the lot fronting his lot on the east side of Water,whether such lot were improved by him, or by another, as the plaintiffs do not show on the record, that they have any Interest jn the decision of that question, and therefore, if the judgment of the court on that point were wrong, they cannot be prejudiced by the decision.

No notice has been taken of the title of the defendant, derived from the corporation of Mobile, as it is not necessary to the decision of this case, and would lead to the discussion of matters which will be necessary to be determined in other cases, now before the court.

For the same reason, no notice has been taken of the argument, in relation to the rights of riparian proprietors, on a navigable stream. In this case, both parties claim under an act of Congress, and assert a grant for the lot in dispute, and neither are in a situation to contest the right of Congress to legislate on the subject. Let the judgment of the court below be affirmed.