Buck v. M'Caughtry
Buck v. M'Caughtry
Opinion of the Court
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
, On the 15th December, 1818, I-íczekiali Conn, as the agent of Thomas Buck of Virginia, sold to William BÍ’Caughtry, a tract of land conveyed to Buck by Jonathan Taylor, on the seventh day of Biarch, 1818, as seven hundred and eighty-seven acres, at the price of soten dollars jkt acre, tiie quantity to be ascertained, by actual
M’Caughtry paid about ,$2,700, and on the 18th September, 1821, exhibited liis bill, to rescind the contract; to recover back the money paid, and the value of the imprqvements made on the land by him.
The bill complains, that Conn represented the land as lying “on a certain side of a path shewed by Conn to him, and that it covered certain land on that side of the path, pointed out by said Hezekiah, to your orator, or that it was nearly all on that side.”
That since the sale he has discovered, that Conn, “falsely and fraudulently pointed to him the situation of the land, different from its real location, and is part out side of the line, he. will state that the land lies on both sides of the path stated before, and that it is inferior in value to the land shewed him by said Conn, and which he believed he was really purchasing at the sale aforesaid.”
The bill charges Conn with having so misrepresented the situation of the land, to beguile the complainant into the purchase, well knowing, that upon a fair and correct representation, said Conn would fail to make sale for the price aforesaid.
That Buck and Conn “are unable to convey the land which the said Conn represented to your orator, the said Buck owned, and which he was induced to believe he was purchasing, by the misstatements of the said Conn.”
By this bill, Conn is asked -to exhibit his authority to sell; Buck is asked to produce his title papers; but no want of authority in Conn, nor any defect of title in Buck is charged. The bill alleges that about $2,700, had been paid, part to Conn, and part to Buck himself.
To this bill, Conn answered at September term, 1821; denying the fraud and misrepresentation; that not knowing the lines and corners, he sent for some of the oldest settlers and residents to assist in shewing the land, by whom the complainant and defendant were attended; that he supposes the path running through the land in-a northwardly direction, from Wm. Thornberry’s, to the plantation on the tract sold, is that alluded to, and avers he shewed the land as lying on both sides of that path, and that they viewed the land on both sides of it, and went to the north-west corner, and to the northeast corner, and from thence as nearly as they could in the direction of the eastwardly boundary to the road that leads from the plantation to Gill’s.
He says that he received part of the money, alleged to have been paid, that about $2,000 thereof, was paid by complainant himself to Buck, in Virginia; who recognized his authority; and that he was authorized by Buck to sell,
At March term, 1822, the answer of Buck was filed, taken upon commission, awarded, and sent to Virginia where he resided. He admits Conn’s authority to sell, and that he has personally ratified the contract. As to the fraud and misrepresentation, he answers that he knows nothing of it, and that he does not believe it.
After the answers of Buck and Conn were'filed, and the title papers exhibited, the complainant filed an amended, bill, by which he charges, that Buck had not the legal title to the land; and has not the legal title at the time of the amended bill; and that Conn had no legal authority to sell; he calls for Buck’s title papers, and for Conn’s authority to sell; and if Buck has not the legal title, or if Conn had no legal authority to sell, he prays the contract may be rescinded.
To this, Buck and Coun answer, and say that Conn had authority to sell; that Buck’s title is complete, and that they are ready to comply on their part, as soon as complainant complies on his part.
At March term, 1824, the circuit judge decreed that the contract be rescinded; that the defendants refund that portion of the purchase money which had been received, viz: $2,100; and also the sum of $600, for improvements; allowing no deduction for use and occupation; the former sum to be paid in specie, the latter, in paper of the Bank of the Commonwealth, and unless the money was paid by the first of July ensuing, the land was ordered to sale by a commissioner appointed for that purpose; from which the defendants appealed.
As to the misrepresentation chafgéd in the bill, about the situation of the land, there is no color of proof; on the contrary, it is clearly in proof, that land on both sides of the path was shewn to, and viewed by the complainant, as part of the tract. The complainant and defendant Conn, were attended by three of the neighbors. The houses and plantation are on the east and south-east of the path. The complainant viewed the land west of the path, leaving it twice for that purpose, and going towards the western boundary, called, (on the plat returned in this cause,) Springer’s line, and proceeding on the left, or west and north-west, of the path, and near Springer’s line, arrived at the north-west angle of the tract, thence they went to the house and plantation. After this, they went out and viewed the land to the north and east of the plantation, and to the north and east of the path. The complainant’s own examination of the witnesses called to depose by him, as well as the depositions on the part of the defendant, prove that they entered on the land by this path, leading from Montgomery’s, through the body of the land, and passing the south-west and north-west corners of the plantation. They entered at the southern boundary, (called on the plat, Green’s line,) there he was shewn the line, and told they were on the land. They progressed along the path north-westwardly,
The complainant has gone into testimony, to shew a concealment, or failure, on the part of the defendant to shew a cypress flat or pond, of about sixty-four acres. This is'shiftinghis case from that which was alleged; to that which is not alleged, from a charge of suggestion of falsehood, to a suppression of the truth. He has likewise gone into proof about a small angle of land at the north-west corner, claimed now by the complainant as shewn, and as extending just beyond the road fretm Shawncctown to Morganlield, amounting to some ten or twenty acres, of no peculiar or better quality or advantage. This is another matter not alleged nor complained of by the bill. Again he has gone into proof to shew that the eastern boundary was shewn at Gill’s path, as crossing it about twenty or thirty poles east of where it turns out to be. This is another mailer not complained of nor alleged in the bill.
Without scanning the proof of the ’complainant, dr the repelling proof of the defendants on these three new subjects — the swamp, the triangle at the north-west corner, and the variance at the crossing of Gill’s path — it is sufficient to say, that it is catching at straws. They were not thought worthy of complaint in the original bill, to which the affidavit of the complainant was annexed, to obtain an in
The burthen of the proof seems to be, that there is more bad land on the tract, than the complainant saw; and it may also be said, there is more good land than he saw. If the complainant has been disappointed in the proportion of poor and rich land, the fault is his own; it was a matter open to examination and to view. That he did not make a more thorough view and survey of the land before he bought, is not the fault of Conn. Although settled on the land, and extending the farm, it is near three years before he complains Of his bargain, in the mean time, lands generally in that quarter had fallen one half in price» This cannot be cause for rescinding the contract. But if the complainant can make out good cause in equity to' rescind the contract, he has a right to have back his purchase money, and avail himself of the fall in prices, by re-investing his money more advantageously. His case should he heard without prejudice from the fall in prices, and the defence of the defendants, should be equally unprejudiced thereby.
The next ground of complaint asserted by the bill, is a want of authority in Conn to make the sale. After the complainant had paid a part of the purchase to Buck hi^nself, after Buck’s answer taken upon commission and filed in the cause, in which he acknowledges Conn’s authority, and his personal ratification of the contract, and his willingness to perform it, it was idle, in the amended bill, to charge a want of authority and ask a rescission of the contract on that ground.
Tile want of title in Buck to the tract of land described in the contract, as that purchased of Taylor, and conveyed by his deed of March, 1818, is the next subject to be considered.
Part of the land so conveyed by Taylor to Buck, is a survey of two hundred and twenty acres, bearing date on the 8th day of May, 1813, lying in the county of Union, granted to “the justices of Union county, for the use of a Seminary,” “by virtue of an act of assembly for the endowment of certain Seminaries of learning, and for other purposes.” The argument is: first, that the grant issued to the justices, was not authorized by law. Secondly, that if the grant to the justices rvas valid, yet the deed of the trustees of the Union academy, did not pass the title to their grantees, Wilkinson, Jones and ToAvles, for want of a deed from the justices to the trustees. These questions depend upon the statutes, made from time to time, authorizing the appropriations of land, for the uses of Seminaries of leárn-
The first act is entitled, “An act for the endowment of certain Seminaries of learning, and for other purposes;” approved February 10th, 1798. (2 Litt. Ed. laws, vol. 2, chap. lx. p. 107.) By this act, six thousand acres of land are given to each of certain academies therein named. The trustees of the said academies are therein authorized and empowered, by themselves or agents, within ten months from the passage of the act, to cause to be surveyed, the quantity of land allowed to the academies respectively, “on any vacant and unappropriated land within this State, on the south side of Green river, each quantity, to be laid off 'in. not more than twelve suryeys, and no survey to be more than twice as long as wide; and shall, moreover, cause a plat and certificate of cfech survey to be returned to the surveyor’s office of the county in which such survey may be, to be recorded, and the same shall be returned to the Register’s office of this State, and the Register, without any fee or reward, shall issue grants as in other cases. And the lands so patented, shall be vested in the trustees of each
By the third section, six thousand acres are given to trustees, for the use of certain other constituted Seminaries of learning, to. be surveyed, patented and vested in the .trustees of the Seminaries respectively and their successors, “in the manner directed in the cases of the other academies in this act mentioned, and the trustees and their successors forever, ,shall be vested with similar powers over the same.”
By the 5th section it is declared “lawful for the trustees of either of the said academies or seminaries, to sell one third of the lands hereby granted to the said academies or seminaries, and no more, without the future consent of the legislature, for the purpose of erecting their public buildings, purchasing a library, and philosophical apparatus.”
By the sixth section, (with a preamble worthy to be held up in letters of sun shine, to be read by the whole human family,) all the lands within the Commonwealth, south of the Cumberland river, and below 0bey’s river, then vacant and unappropriated, were reserved, to be appropriated, from time to time, by the legislature, to the use of seminaries of learning throughout the different parts of the Commonwealth, and all future appropriations for private purposes, were prohibited withjn the reserved boundary.
The next is entitled, “an act to establish and endow certain academies;” approved 22d December, 1798. (Littell’slaws, vol. 2 chap. 172, p. 240.) By this act various academies are established, the trustees appointed and incorporated, with power, to have a common seal, nil vacancies m the board oí trustees; and are severally invested with all the powers and privileges that are enjoyed by the trustees of any academy or college within this Commonwealth, not herein otherwise limited and directed.”
By the second section there is granted to the said “trustees and their successors, for the use of the said academies, six thousand acres each, of vacant lands,
The third section enacts, “that the several county courts for the several counties within this Commonwealth, in which seminaries have not been established by this or any former act, shall be and arc hereby authorized to have located, surveyed and patented, within the bounds herein before prescribed, six thousand acres of any waste and unappropriated land, for the use of such schools, as may hereafter be established within either of the said counties, under the like rules and regulations as trustees are by this act governed; provided that the several grants and appropriations herein made, shall be subject to the future order of the legislature,” &c.
The next, entitled, “an act to amend the act entitled, an act for the endowment of certain seminaries of learning, and for other purposes,” approved December 20th, 1800, (2 Litt. laws, chap. 310, p. 419,) declares that “the trustees of the respective academies or seminaries of learning now established, or which may hereafter be established, under the act entitled, ‘an act for the endowment of certain seminaries of learning, and for other purposes,’ as also the trustees of such other academies as have heretofore been established by any former law of this Commonwealth, shall be, and they are hereby authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of any part of said lands, not exceeding one eighth part of the quantity granted by the above recited acts, for the purpose of locating and surveying the same, or to reimburse those who have heretofore expended any
The second section authorizes the trustees to sell or otherwise dispose of one other eighth part of the remainder of those lands, and to apply the proceeds to such other purposes as they may deem most beneficial for the support and carrying into effect the said institutions.
By the third section it is enacted, “that the several county courts who may have, or shall hereafter locate lands agreeably to the before recited act, shall be entitled to the same privileges and be authorized to dispose of the same proportion of their iands as the trustees of the several academies are by this act.”
The fourth section gives the farther time of two years to “the trustees aforesaid, to locate and return the plats and certificates of surveys, made on .such locations, to the Register’s office, for all lands granted to the said academies by the before recited acts.”
The act of 27th January, 1808, entitled “an act to amend an act entitled, £an act to establish and endow certain academies,” (3 Litt. laws, chap. 432, p. 440,) declares that a seminary of learning shall be, and is hereby established within each county within this Commonwealth, except those counties in which seminaries are now established by law.”
The second section declares that the several county courts “for the respective counties, in which ser minaries have not been established as aforesaid, shall be, and they are hereby authorized to haye located, surveyed and patented, withm the boundaries heretofore prescribed by law, or within the county where such seminary may be established by this act, six hundred acres of waste and unappropriated land, for the use of the seminary of their said county.”
The third section authorizes the county courts aforesaid, to appoint seven trustees for the seminar ries of their counties, who shall fill the vacancies which may happen by death, resignation or otherr wise; “and the said trustees shall be, and ar,e herer by invested with all the powers and privileges that,
The fourth section declares “that where any county court have proceeded to enter or survey, in part, or the whole cpiantity of six thousand acres of waste land, agreeably to the rules and regulations heretofore prescribed for the government of the ■ trustees of seminaries, such entries or surveys shall be deemed as good and as effectual in Jaw, as if such ■ county ¡courts had been specially named by any particular act of Assembly,” with a proviso that no location shall be made on airy lands ceded to the United States by the treaty of Tellico, or any entry or sur» vey upon military warrants.
Sec. 5 enacts, “that the justices of .the county courts of the several counties, shall have power to sell and convey any part of the lands granted to them by this or any former law, not exceeding one half thereof to enable them to clear out their donation-lands; and so soon as the said county courts shall have perfected their titles to the said lands, they shall deliver over .to the trustees, all the title papers which may be in their hands,” .&c. the farther time of two years from .the passage of this act, is allowed “ to the justices, to cause their entries, and surveys to be made and registered, and no longer; but shall not be restricted to any number of surveys.”
By the act, “entitled an act for the division of Henderson county,” approved, January 15th, 1811, (4 Litt. laws, chap.-220, p. 213) the county of Union was made and established..
By the actentitled, “anactauthorizingthelocation of certain seminary lands, and for other purposes;” approved 4th Feb. 1812, the further time of two years for locating, surveying and registering their donation seminary lands is allowed to “the trustees or county courts, of all those counties” who have not completed them: “subject to the rules, restrictions and regulations, heretofore established by the laws in relation to such claims.”
The second section enacts — “that the justices of those counties which have been erected since the passage of the act authorizing each county court in this Commonwealth to locate and survey six thousand- acres for the use of seminaries of learning, shall be entitled to locate and survey the same quantity of vacant and unappropriated lands under the Samé regulations and: restrictions as provided in the said recited act.”
The fourth section enacts — “that no entry or survey, shall lie made, or patent issue for any less quantity of seminary lands, than one hundred acres in. one survey; nor shall any grant be issued to any other person or persons other- than to the trustees.”
Under the expressions of the second section of this last act, “shall be entitled to locate andsurvey;” it is supposed m argument for the appellee, that tlie justices of the county court of Union had no authority to sue out a patent to themselves; that they should have halted after procuring the surveys; and that by the 4th section of this act the patent should have issued to the trustees to be appointed by the county court of Union; that the-patent having issued to the justices of Union, conveys no title and is void. The expressions “shall be entitled to locate and survey,” must be taken in connexion with the previous and subsequent parts of the same sentence. The justices of counties erected since the passage of “the act authorizing each county court to locate and Survey six thousand acres of land, for the use of seminanies Of learning, shall be entitled to locate• and survey the same quantity” — “under the same regulations and restrictions as provided in the said recited act.” The regulations and restrictions provided in the act referred to, must therefore be looked to as composing a part of this second section of the act of 1812. The act thus referred to, is that of the 22d Dec. 1798, the third section of which authorized the county courts for the several counties in which seminaries had not been established by any former law, to have “ located survyeed and patented,” six thousand acres “for the use of such schools as may hereafter be established within their counties, under
An attentive penisaf of the acts upon this subject, will convince the mind, that the act of 10th February, 1798, is the foundation; the subsequent acts are the parts of the superstructure built upon it; it will be perceived, that all the subsequent acts embrace two descriptions of seminaries of learning: first, such as are organized and existing, and have their
it is seen in the provisions of the former acts that the justices of the county courts, had been authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of certain portions of their lands, (by the act of 27th January, 1808) “not exceeding one half thei’eof, to enable them .to clear out their donation lands.” The prohibition of the 4th section of the act of 1812, means nothing more than to prohibit grants to issue to the vendees or assignees of these seminary claims: so as to hold a check upon the quantity to be granted to each seminary, and a check upon the dispositions to be made, so as that they should not exceed the proportions fixed by law. Trustees in this section is contrasted with the purchasers from or under the trustees. It would be an unreasonable construction of the stat
The justices of Union held the titles to the use of such seminary of learning as should be established in the county, the act establishing the Union academy gave to the trustees of the Union academy full power and authority to convey; and the conveyance by the trustees was made in pursuance of, and in compliance with a contract made by the justices for procuring the locations and surveys of their lands. The derivation of title by Buck under the deeds made by the trustees to Wilkinson, Towles and Jones, is regular, and requires no comment.
For the' tract of fifty acres, recited in the con-. tract, as so much to be conveyed by Latham to Taylor, under the decree in the suit between them, Buck has produced no title. But this docs not seem to have been any inducement to the purchase made by the complainant, of the other tract of 787 acres; it lias no defined boundaries, so far as appears in this record. The quantity is too small, to be cause for rescinding the contract because of a want of title.
And it is further decreed and ordered that the appellee pay to the appellants, their costs in this behalf expended,
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.