Washington v. Planters' Bank
Washington v. Planters' Bank
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court..
This action was instituted by the defendants in error against plaintiff in error, on a-promissory note, payable and negotiable at the United States Bank at Natchez. The plaintiff demurred to the declaration and assigned causes of demurrer, which were overruled, and judgment by default entered. It is assigned as error, that the court overruled the demurrer. This general allegation, will necessarily cover all the causes of demurrer, the first of which is, that the declaration should have contained an averment of the. presentation of the note at the place where it was made payable. If a demand was necessary at the place appointed for payment, the declaration should have contained an allegation of presentment there. The necessity of such presentment is, therefore, the prominent point in' the case.
There are many English authorities in high repute, that hold a presentment necessary, when a place of payment is specified, but even in that country, there is great contrariety of opinion. Considering the place of payment as a condition in the contract, it would be reasonable to require a demand, and on this ground, the decisions are predicated. But in the authorities of this country, there is but one opinion, so far as I have been able to ascertain, and that is, that a demand is not necessary, inasmuch as the place
The maker was not only bound himself to pay, but the payment was to have been made at the Bank of the United States in Natchez; and it was, therefore, part of his contract, that he should be ready at the time and place, and the consequences of a breach of the contract must follow unless he could show that he was then ready to pay. No demand was necessary, and, of course it was not necessary to aver it in the declaration.'
It is argued that the interest calculated in the judgment, is greater than the bank can recover. By the supplement to the charter of 1831, the bank is authorised to discount on personal security for loans made at seven per centum per annum. By the amendment of 1833, the mode of discounting is regulated as follows; to wit, “ on notes, bills or bonds, having no more than twelve months to run, at the rate of seven per cent, per annum; on such having more than twelve months to run, and not exceeding twenty-four months to run, at the rate of eight per cent, per annum, and may also at their discretion engage to make loans renewable for one, two, or more years, at the rate of nine per cent, per annum.”
There is nothing in the record, to show that this debt was contracted for a loan made to the plaintiff in error, or how it was
The judgment must be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Washington v. The Planters' Bank
- Status
- Published