Manufacturers' Bank v. Ellis
Manufacturers' Bank v. Ellis
Opinion of the Court
This was an action brought by the plaintiffs against the defendant to recover the amount of certain described bank bills issued by the defendant, payable to bearer, a part of which were issued before the war, and the other part thereof) were issued in May and June, 1862. The defendant filed two pleas, alleging that the bills issued in 1862 were issued and used as Confederate currency, and in aid of the Confederate government, in the war between it and the United States, and were illegally issued. That the bills issued in 1862 were intended, and universally understood, to be payable in Confederate treasury notes, and should be scaled under the ordinance of 1865. The plaintiffs.demurred to the plaintiff’s pleas. The court sustained the demurrer, and defendant excepted.
What was the contract between the defendant and the party who received its bills now sued on, and the consideration of that contract? Who was the party making that contract? What was the intention of the parties to that contract? What was the consideration received by the defendant for its bills now sued on at the time it paid them out? It is not sufficient for the defendant to allege, in general terms, that the bills sued on were issued and used as Confederate currency, in aid of the Confederate government, in the war between it and the United States, and that many of said bills were actually furnished by said bank to agents of the Confederate government, in exchange for Confederate treasury notes to enable the latter to pay off persons in the employment of the government of the Confederate States, and to make change for that purpose. To make a contract illegal, as being in aid of the rebellion, as provided by the 17th section of the Vth article of the constitution of this state, it should be alleged with whom the contract was made, and the terms of it, and that it was made with the intention and for the purpose of aiding and encouraging the rebellion, and the consideration therefor should have been alleged, so that the court could determine, from the facts alleged, whether the contract was made with the intention and for the purpose of aiding the rebellion. The bills sued on, which were issued by the defendant in 1862, as has been already stated, were issued under a charter granted by the state to the defendant, whereby the defendant Avas authorized to issue bills and circulate the same as money,, on the terms and conditions specified therein. The bills of the defendant were issued and put in circulation in pursuance of the contract made by the defendant Avith the state Avhen it accepted the terms of its charter. When the defendant issued the bills in question, it exercised one of the franchises which its
In this case, the defendant cannot derive any assistance from the act of 29th of November, 1862, because the bills Avereissued some months before the passage of that act. Whilst we know that human tribunals are not infallible, and have no poAver to make parties satisfied with the judgments thereof, (which Avould be entirely ineffectual if they had, Avhen the judgment is against a party,) still this court.has the poAArer and authority, under the constitution and laws of the state, not to compel parties to be satisfied, but to compel them to acquiesce in its judgments Avhen made on full consideration of the questions involved therein.
Let the judgment of the court beloAV be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Manufacturers' Bank of Macon, in error v. W. L. & Hayne Ellis, in error
- Status
- Published