Steptoe v. Auditor

3 Va. 221
CourtSupreme Court of Virginia
DecidedFebruary 26, 1825
StatusPublished

This text of 3 Va. 221 (Steptoe v. Auditor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Steptoe v. Auditor, 3 Va. 221 (Va. 1825).

Opinion

Judge Caes:

This case comes up on a supersedeas to a judgment of the General Court, rendered by default, against the clerk of Bedford county, for a forfeiture of $ 600, incurred by failing to pay the taxes received by him, from 1st September, 1819, to 1st September. 1.820. To this judgment, [222]*222several objections were stated in the argument, and others have occurred in our conferences on the case. I will briefly consider such of them as seem material.

The first is, that no motion lies for this forfeiture, none being given by the law of 1819, or any preceding law. If this objection be sound, it puts an end to the case at once. The act under which this motion was made, (like most others of the revisal of 1819,) was compiled of many separate acts; and the compilers have, with great accuracy, marked at the bottom of the page, the former acts and editions, from which each clause is taken; noting, by short explanations, where an alteration has been made, and, by inverted commas, where a new provision has been introduced. The 17th section, giving the forfeiture against clerks, and some other officers, is not noted either as a new provision, or an alteration, until we come to the proviso, which is marked by inverted commas. We are referred to the editions of 1799, 1803, and 1814, for the matter of which this section is composed. I have examined those laws, and find, that on the point we are now considering, they are substantially the same with this section. In prescribing the mode of recovery, the act of 1803 says, “to be recovered by the Auditor, on motion, in the General Court, with costs.” In the act of 1819, it is said, “recoverable with costs, by the Auditor, in the General,Court, for the use of the Commonwealth, after giving ten days notice;” the words “after giving ten days notice,” in the last act, seeming to have been put for “on motion,” in the first. If we look back to 1784, and follow the series down, we find, that the usual mode of recovery against delinquent collectors of the revenue, has been by motion. ' This is no slight indication of the Legislative mind on the subject; but without its aid, I think it clear, both from the words themselves, and the context, that a motion is given. There shall be a recovery says the law. How ? Not by debt, bill, plaint or information; but “after giving ten days notice.” Notice of what ? Why surely, notice, that for the failure [223]*223of the clerk to pay the taxes, an application (call it by what name you piease,) will be made to the'Court, for judgment against him, for the forfeiture incurred. This seems to my mind, the only rational mode of construing the law.

The next objection is, that “ no forfeiture could be incurred for failing to pay only;” for the words “failure therein,” relate to all the duties prescribed by the act, and not to part only. The act directs, that clerks, &c, shall, on or before the 15th day of December, in each year, account for, on oath, with the Auditor, and pay into the treasury, the taxes received, previous to the 1st day of September, in each year; and, on failure therein, it shall be lawful for the General Court to render judgment, &te. The law here imposes upon clerks two distinct duties, to be transacted with two different officers of the Commonwealth. To the Auditor, they are to render an account of the taxes received for the last year. This account must be sworn to, and must also have, annexed to it, the certificate of a commissioner, that he has compared the account with the books in the office of the clerks, and that it thence appears, that, all taxes by them received, are accounted for. Having done this, they have still to perform a duty vastly more important; a duty, to which this first was merely introductory, and ancillary; a mean to effect the end. They must pay the amount they have collected for the Commonwealth, to. the Treasurer. Both these duties, they are commanded to perform; and the penalty accrues “on failure therein.” Failure wherein ? Why, failure-to execute the duties enjoined; failure to comply with the'law. Two distinct duties being enjoined, to comply with the law, he must perform both. If he executes but one, has he not .left something undone, which the law commanded him to do ? And is there not “a failure therein ?” Suppose the statute .had said, the clerks shall account with the Auditor, on the 15th of December, annually, for the taxes received; and, on failure therein, should incur the penalty. Would not a failure'to account, be a failure therein ? Suppose it [224]*224had said, that clerks shall, by the 15th day of December, jn each year, pay to the Treasurer the taxes received, without more ? Would not a failure to pay, be a failure therein ? When then, the law says, that clerks shall both account and pay, if either be omitted, is there not equally a failure therein ? And may he not be said, most emphatically to fail, who, being commanded to account and pay, accounts only, but refuses to pay ? When the money is the sole end and aim of the proceeding; when it is indispensable to the support of the government, and so difficult to be wrung from the hands of its officers; and when, to effect this vital purpose, the law has said that the officer shall account and pay, under a penalty of $ 600; would it not be a strange construction to say, that if the officer does not account, he shall incur the penalty; but if he accounts, and shews $ 1000 in his hands, while he refuses to pay a cent, the penalty does not touch him ? Suppose I were to put into the hands of an individual, a number of bonds to collect; and to take from him a covenant, by which he bound himself to account with, and pay to, me, at the end of the year, whatever sums he should have collected. At the time agreed on, he comes and renders an account, by which it appears that he has collected every cent. “Very well,” I say to him, “you have rendered a fair account; but the most important point remains. Pay me the sum, which the account shews to be due.” He replies, “It is no part of my purpose to do that. ' There can be no failure, no breach of my covenant, unless I fail doth to account and pay; and I have fairly accounted.” Could he find a jury in the country, who would sanction this construction, on the plea of conditions performed, or covenants not broken ? I apprehend not. The rule, to be a good one, must work both ways. Suppose an officer, who receives a fixed salary from the Commonwealth, were to go to the Auditor for his warrant to the Treasurer, to pay him his quarter salary. The Auditor gives him a paper, stating that the Commonwealth owes him $ 600 for his services, [225]*225but adding that this is not to be considered a warrant for the payment thereof. The applicant is astonished. He says, “Sir, this is not what I want; I want the money.” “But,” replies the Auditor, “the Commonwealth has imposed taxes for the purpose of paying you officers. She has appointed collectors, and has passed laws, saying that they shall account for, and pay, her revenue, annually, under the penalty of $ 600. When, however, I move against them to recover that penalty for non-payment, the Courts decide, that there is no penalty incurred: that the account is the important matter, and that being now rendered, the mere failure to pay the money, is no breach of the law.” Now, if this be good law against the Commonwealth, it must bo good for her. “I have rendered you the account.

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Bluebook (online)
3 Va. 221, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/steptoe-v-auditor-va-1825.