Young v. McKenzie

3 Ga. 31

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: July 15, 1847
• Docket: No. 6
• Status: Published

Opinion

By the Court.

Warner J.

delivering the opinion.

It appears from the record in this case, that the complainant, who is the assignee of the Irwinton Bridge Company, made appli'cation to the Court below, for an injunction to restrain the 'defendants from prosecuting an' action of ejectment, for the recovery of the land on which the eastern abutment of the Irwinton Bridge is located. After hearing argument, the Court below refused the application for injunction, which refusal, the complainant assigns for error in this court.

The complainant’s equity is predicated on the act of the legislature heretofore recited, the first section of which incorporates certain individuals, their successors and assigns, as a body politic, by the name and style of the Irwinton Bridge Company, for the purpose of erecting a bridge across the Chattahoochee River, opposite the town of Irwinton, in the state of Alabama, commencing upon the lands belonging to the heirs of William Oliver, late of Randolph County, deceased.

It is also alleged by the complainant, that the company, whose assignee he is, procured the appointment of appraisers by the Inferior Court of Randolph County, to assess the damages, or value of the land taken for the eastern abutment of the bridge, as provided by die 6th section of the act, and that the appraisers so appointed, assessed the damages at $500, which sum had been tendered the defendants by the company, and was refused.

The order for the appointment of appraisers to assess the damages, was'attacbed to the complainant’s bill as an exhibit, by which it appeared, the order was made by the Inferior Court of Randolph County, when sitting for Ordinary purposes, and not by the Inferior Court, as required by the Act of Incorporation; that the same was rejected by the Superior Court, on the trial of the ejectment cause, when offered in evidence as a part of his title to the premises in dispute; that the company had attempted to comply with the provisions of the act in good faith, so as to vest the title in them to the premises in controversy; but owing to the defect in the record, he was unable to make out his title under the charter in a court of law, and prays that the defendants may be restrained from prosecuting their said action of ejectment for the recovery of the land and bridge erected thereon, and be decreed to accept compensation for the land, as provided by the terms of the act; and that the complainant, as the assignee of the company, may have and enjoy, the rights and privileges conferred by the act of incorporation upon them.

[1.] The first objection raised by the defendant in error, is, that the act of the legislature incorporating the Irwinton Bridge Company, is unconstitutional; — that the State, once having granted the land to one of her citizens, cannot again resume the use or disposition of it, without impairing the obligation of the contract.

Had the legislature declared the grant from the State or the title derived under it void, the obligation of the contract would manifestly have been impaired, and clearly within the prohibition of the 10th section of the 1st article of the Constitution of the United States; but the title of the defendants is not attempted to be divested on that ground.

It was no part of the contract between the State and its grantee, or those claiming title under such grantee, that the land granted should not be taken for public use, whenever the interest of the public required it should be so taken. The rights of private property must be made subservient to the public interest and welfare. The right of eminent domain, or "inherent sovereign power, gives to the legislature the control of private property, for public uses; provided, just compensation be made to the citizen therefor. The interest of the public is considered paramount to that of any private individual; and all grantees of lands from the State, as well as their assignees, hold the same under this tacit agreement or implied understanding. The legislature must determine, in its wisdom and discretion, whether the benefit to the public will be of sufficient importance to render it proper for them to exercise the right of eminent domain, and to authorize an interference with the private rights of individuals, for that purpose; 2 Kent Com. 338, 339, 340; Beekman vs. the Saratoga and Schenectady Rail Road Co. 3 Paige Ch. R. 45; Bloodgood vs. the Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road Co. 18 Wend. R. 9; the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road Co. vs. Chapell, Rice R. 383; Dyer vs. the Tuscaloosa Bridge Co. 2 Porter R. 296.

The legislature, as we are bound to believe from the en- [ 2 ] actment of the law incorporating the Irwinton Bridge Company, determined, in the exercise of their wisdom and discretion, that it was for the interest of the public, that a bridge should be erected across the Chattahoochee River, commencing on the lands now owned by the defendants; and therefore, expressly conferred upon the company certain rights and privileges, to enable them to construct such bridge; one of which was, to take so much land “as they might deem necessary for the construction, convenience, and protection of said bridge, and its abutments, piers, pillars, or any thing in any wise belonging to, or necessarily connected with, the construction and protection of the said bridge.” In case of disagreement between the owner of the land and the company, the act provided for the appointment of appraisers, to assess the damages or value of the land so authorized tobe taken; and when the value of the land should be so assessed, and payment therefor made, or the money tendered and refused, the right to the land should be vested in the company. The act also provides, that if either party shall think proper, they may appeal from the decision of the appraisers, to the Superior Court of Randolph County, and have the damages ascertained by the verdict of a special jury.

This act of the legislature does nothing more than take” the land of the defendants for the use of the bridge, Which they have determined is for the benefit of the public; providing, that just compensation should be made to the defendants therefor by the verdict of a jury, if they should think proper to have the damages so assessed; and is, in our judgment, for the reasons already stated, a constitutional act.

[3.] The next question presented by the record in this caséis, what are the rights of the respective parties, under this act of incorporation ? It appears the bridge has been built, and the eastern abutment thereof located on the land of the defendants; that a portion of the bridge has fallen down, that the company is insolvent, and that the complainant has become the purchaser and assignee of all the interest and rights of the company, and is desirous to rebuild the bridge; that the defendants have instituted their action of ejectment to recover the land, and the bridge located thereon. Has the complainant, or the company through whom he derives his title, complied with the requisitions of the charter, so as to divest the defendants of their title to the land, and vest the same in the company 1 We think not, and the fact, that he is now applying to a court of chancery for assistance, is a virtual acknowledgment that he has not done so; forif the requisitions of the charter had been complied with, he could have successfully defended himself in the common law court, against the defendant’s action of ejectment. The complainant alleges, that the company applied to the Inferior Court for the appointment of appraisers, who were appointed, and the damages assessed and tendered; but the record clearly shows, that the appointment of the appraisers was made by the Inferior Court sitting as a Court of Ordinary, and not by the Inferior Court, as the act prescribes. It is true, the same individuals are the officers of both courts; but the jurisdiction of the two courts, is not the same. The Court of Ordinary, under the charter, had no authority to appoint appraisers to assess the damages. And, although it appears, that the damages assessed were tendered to the defendants, yet, it does not appear, that the company or the complainant, have the money now ready to pay them; which is a very important requisite when the title is sought to be divested; especially when it is alleged, that the company, which made the tender, is insolvent. In the case of Doe ex. dem. Carr vs. The Georgia Rail-road and Banking Company, 1 Kelly, 524, we held, “In the construction of statutes made in favour of corporations or particular persons, and in derogation of common right, care should be taken not to extend them beyond their express words, or their clear import.” “ And while we feel bound to protect all the vested rights which have been legitimately acquired by all chartered companies, in the most sacred manner, yet, we feel bound to guard with great care and vigilance, the rights of the citizen against all unauthorized encroachments on their part, by confining them strictly within the limits of their respective charters.” That the complainant, under the peculiar statement of facts presented by the record in this case, has an equitable right to the enjoyment of all the privileges and immunities conferred upon the Irwinton Bridge Company by the Act of Incorporation, on strict compliance with the terms and provisions of that act, is readily admitted ; and our judgment will be so regulated as to secure them to him.

The next question for our consideration, is, what are the [4.] rights of the defendants, as presented by the record before us?

The Irwinton Bridge Company, under the authority of the legislature, seek to appropriate private property for the benefit of the public, in the erection of a bridge across the Chattahoochee River. The existence of this public necessity to take the private properly of the defendants for that purpose, has already been determined by the legislature ; and the terms on which their private property is to be appropriated for the use of the public, clearly defined in the act.

By the 5th article of the amended Constitution of the United States, it is declared, “ Private property shall not be taken for public use, without just compensation.” But it is said, this amendment of the constitution, does not apply to the States — that it is a restriction on the Federal Government alone — that there is no such restriction in the Constitution of the State of Georgia. Does the amended Constitution of the United States, by declaring “ Private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation,” introduce, or create, a new principle of restriction, which did not exist before ? Did not the same principle of restriction exist, both as it regards the Federal and State Governments, before the adoption of the amendment in question? Does the amended constitution do any thing more than declare a great common law principle, applicable to all governments, both State and Federal, which has existed from the time of Magna Charta, to the present moment ? The amended constitution of the Union asserts a great principle, applicable, it is said, to the National Government. Why is not the same great principle equally applicable to the State Government ? Can any solid reason be given, why the State legislature should take private property for public use without just compensation, when the national legislature cannot?

It will be seen upon examination, this great principle was not only recognised by the civil jurists, but was distinctly asserted, as a part of the common law, long anterior to its adoption into the amended constitution of the United States. In the 29th chapter of Magna Gharta, we-find this declaration, “No freeman shall be taken, or imprisoned, or be disseised of his freehold, or liberties, or otherwise destroyed, but by lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.”

The State of South Carolina has substantially adopted this clause of Magna Gharta into her State Constitution. The 2d section of the 9th article of the State Constitution of South Carolina declares, “No freeman of this State shall be taken, or imprisoned, or disseised of his freehold, liberties, or privileges, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any manner destroyed, or deprived of his life, liberty or property, but by the judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land.” The people of South Carolina substantially asserted the principles declared by Magna Gharta, as did the people of the several States, when they ratified the amendments to the Federal Constitution, and declared “private property shall not he taken for public use without just compensation.” The declaration is made in language somewhat different, more explicit, but the principle for all practical purposes, is the same.

Sir William Blackstone in his Commentaries, speaking of the rights of property, after repeating the provisions of the great charter, continues “ So great moreover, is the regard of the law for private property, that it will not authorize the least violation of it; no, not even for the general good of the whole community. If a new road, for instance, were to be made- through the grounds of a private person, it might perhaps, be extensively beneficial to the public; but the law permits no man, or set of men, to do this without consent of the owner of the land. In vain may it be urged' that the good of the individual ought to yield to that of the community; for it would be dangerous to allow any private man, or even any public tribunal, to bo the judge of this common good, and to decide whether it be- expedient or no. Besides the pub-lie good is in nothing more essentially interested, than in the protection of every individual’s private rights, as modelled by the municipal-law. In this and similar cases, the legislature alone can, and indeed frequently does, interpose, and compel the individual to acquiesce. But how does it interpose and compel Í Not by absolutely stripping the subject of his property in an arbitrary manner, but by giving a full indemnification, and equivalent for the injury thereby sttstained. The public is now considered as an individual, treating with an individual, for an exchange. All that the legislature does, is to oblige the owner to alienate his possessions for a reasonable price, and even this is an exertion of power which the legislature indulges with caution, and which nothing but the legislature can perform.” 1 Black. C. 139, 140.

Here then, we find this great common law principle distinctly asserted, that private property is not to be taken for the use of the public without just compensation, long -anterior to the amended constitution. Chancellor Kent in the 2d volume of his Commentaries 339, says “A provision for compensation is a necessary attendant on the due and constitutional exercise of the power of the law-giver, 1 o deprive an individual of his property, without his consent; and this principle in American Constitutional Jurisprudence, is founded in natural equity, and is laid down by jurists, as an acknowledged principle of universal law.”

Judge Story, commenting on the 5th article (amendments) of the Constitution of the United States, that private property shall not be taken -for public use without just compensation, says, “ this is an affirmance of a great doctrine, established by the common law for the protection of private property. It is founded in natural equity, and is laid down by jurists as a principle of universal law.” 3 Story’s Com. 661. In Bradshaw vs. Rogers, 20 John. R. 106, Chief Justice Spencer, speaking of the 5th article of the amended Constitution of the United States, which prohibits the taking of private property for public use without just compensation, says — “ It is declaratory of a great. and fundamental principle of government, and any law violating that principle, must be a nullity, as it is against natural right and justice.” In the Louisville, Cincinnati and Charleston Rail Road Co. vs. Chappell, Mr. Justice Richardson, speaking of the 5th article of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which prohibits the taking private property for public use without just compensation, says — “It is a plain recognition of the principle asserted by all writers upon the fundamental law of national societies, and it may now be taken as a principle, expressed, or implied, in every one of our State Constitutions.” Rice R. 387. We have thus endeavoured to show, by reference to Magna Charta, the learned commentaries of Blackstone on the common law, and the opinions of the distinguished jurists and eminent judges of our own country, that the amended Constitution of the United States, which declares “ private property shall not be taken for public use without just compensation,” does not create or declare any new principle of restriction, either upon the legislation of the National or State governments, but simply recognised the existence of a great common law principle, founded in natural justice, especially applicable to all republican governments, and which derived no additional force, as a principle, from being incorporated into the Constitution of the United States. But it may be asked, if this principle of restriction existed before the adoption of the amendments to the Constitution, why were the amendments proposed and adopted 1 The preamble to the resolution of Congress, proposing the several amendments to the State legislatures, gives the answer, The preamble states, “ The convention of a number of States having, at the time of their adopting the Constitution expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added; and, as extending the ground of public confidence in the government will best insure the beneficent ends of its institution.” Marbury fy Crawford Dig. 660. It is admitted that some of the amendments create new restrictions upon the general government, and are applicable to Congress alone, while others are declaratory of great fundamental principles, then existing and recognised. The amendments were proposed and adopted, because a number of the States had expressed a desire, to prevent misconstruction or abuse, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added. The clauses to be added were not all declaratory nor were they all restrictive ; but some of the clauses to be added were restrictive, and some declaratory ; of. which latter class is the clause which declares, “private property shall not be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Does this great fundamental principle, founded on natural equity established by the common law for the protection of private property, lose any of its force when applied to the legislation of our State Government, because it is asserted and declared in the Constitution of the United States 1 We think not, and in the absence of any similar declaration in our State Constitution, we refer to it, as a plain, simple declaration, of a great constitutional principle of universal application, recognised and declared by the distinguished statesmen and learned civilians of our own country. When we say, an act of the legislature which takes the private property of the citizen for the use of the public, without making him just compensation therefor, is unconstitutional and void, as being in violation of the Constitution of the United States, we only say, it is a violation of the fundamental law of the land, as asserted or declared by the Constitution of the United States. Most of the States have embodied this great fundamental principle in their State Constitutions; but the State of Georgia has not: and hence it is that we usually refer to the Constitution of the United States, where it is plainly and explicitly declared, when we desire to make a practical application of the principle to the legislation of the State.

It is admitted that the Ifwinton Bridge Company have taken the private property of the defendants, for the erection of the eastern abutment of their bridge. Have they made them just compensation therefor as required by the Constitution % We think not, and before they can be deprived of their land, for One permanent use of the bridge, this must be done. We do not intend to say, that the company could not have entered on the land, made the necessary survey and examination of the premises, under the authority of the legislature, for the purpose of locating the eastern abutment of the bridge; but we do intend to say, the company had no authority to appropriate the private property of the defendants for the permanent and exclusive use of the company, until just compensation had first been made therefor in the manner pointed out by the charter. The landholder stands upon all his rights, and may enforce them by all legal remedies, until he is divested of his title for the use of the public in the manner prescribed by the Act of Incorporation.

The bill alleges that the company, in good faith, attempted to comply with the terms of the charter, and thought they had done so, and proceeded to erect the bridge; but owing to the mistalce of the clerk, the application for the appointment of appraisers was entered on. the record book of the clerk of the Court of Ordinary; and that it would be unjust now to permit the defendants to recover, in their action of ejectment, the bridge so erected by the company, under a mistaken apprehension of their rights under the charier.

Under the peculiar circumstances of this case, as shown by the record, we are of the opinion, that the complainant is equitably entitled to have the action of ejectment enjoined, until he shall have a reasonable time allowed him to comply with the terms of the charter, and that the injunction be then dissolved, reserving to the defendants the right to prosecute their action of ejectment, for the recovery of the mesne profits only of their land, from the time the same was used and occupied by the company and their assignee, up to the time the title of the complainant shall be perfected.

This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the Superior Court of Randolph County, and was argued by counsel.

Whereupon it is considex-ed and adjudged by the Court, 'that the judgment of the Court- below refusing the injunction be reversed ; and that the same be granted, and allowed to operate, in conformity to the opinion of this Court herein expressed.

It is the opinion of this Court, that the complainant is entitled to have the action of ejectment in the record mentioned, enjoined, so as to give thq complainant a reasonable time to comply with the provisions of the charter incorporating the Irwinton Bridge Company, in acquiring the title to the use and enjoyment of the land on which the eastern abutment of the Irwinton Bridge is located. When such compliance is made, then said injunction to be dissolved, reserving to the defendants in the equity cause the right to prosecute their action of ejectment for the recovery of the mesne profits only of their land, used, enjoyed and occupied by the Irwinton Bridge Company, from the time of such user and occupation by said company, or their assignee, up to the time the title of said company, or the assignee thereof, shall be pei’fected, as required by the said act of incorporation.

Judgment reversed.