Phillips v. Solomon
Phillips v. Solomon
Opinion of the Court
concurring.
This was an action brought by the plaintiff against the defendants on a promissory note, dated 22d May, 1866, payable to the plaintiff six months after date. Solomon, one of the defendants, pleaded that he signed the note as surety, that Morrison, the principal debtor,'had been discharged as a bankrupt from the payment of the debt under the provisions
The sole question for our decision and judgment in this case is, whether the discharge of the principal debtor, under the provisions of the Bankrupt Law of Congress, also discharges the surety to the note. By the 8th section of the I. Article of the Constitution of the United States, Congress has the power to establish uniform laws on the subject of bankruptures throughout the United States. The XI. Article of the Constitution of 1868, of this State, declares as the supreme law, the Constitution of the United States, and the laws of the United States, in pursuance thereof. The 33d section of the Bankrupt Law of the United States, declares that no discharge granted to the bankrupt under that law, “shall release, discharge, or affect any person liable for the same debt, for or with the bankrupt, either as partner, joint contractor, endorser, surety, or otherwise.” Morrison, the principal debtor, has been discharged from the payment of the debt under the provisions of this Bankrupt Law, which, under the Constitution, is to have a uniform operation throughout the United States; and Solomon, the surety, claims to be discharged from the payment of that debt because the principal debtor has been discharged, notwithstanding that same Bankrupt Law which discharged the principal debtor expressly declares that no discharge granted to the principal debtor shall release, discharge, or affect any person liable for the same debt, for or with the principal bankrupt debtor, either as partner, joint contractor, indorser, surety, or otherwise. But it is said the 2121st section of the Code of this State declares, that “the obligation of the surety is accessory to that of his principal, and if the latter, from any cause, becomes extinct, the former ceases, of course, even though it be in judgment;” and that the parties contracted in view of this local law of the State. This general declaration of the Code does nothing more than to announce the
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.