4 Mo. 235 | Mo. | 1835
Lead Opinion
Opinion of the court delivered by
This was originally a suit commenced before a justice of the peace by Shultz v. the Clarks, in -which Shultz got +the, °larks Walfd to circuit court, wnere on atrial de novo, Shultz again got judgment, from which the Clark’s have appealed to this court. — It appears from the bill of exceptions in the cause, that the appellee sold by verbal contract to the appellants, an improvement which he had made on the public lands of the United States, for three hundred bushels of corn. Shultz gave the. Clarks possession of the improvement and took
In New York, under precisely such a statute as our own, it has been settled that an improvement on the public land, is not such an interest in or concerning the land, as to make it necessaiy to reduce the sale or contract for the transfer ofit to writing. — 5 J. R. 272-11 J. R. 145. In looking to the condition of our country, in which most of the land belongs still to the United States, — to the settlements in various quarters of the state which are ex-ténding much more rapidly than the surveys and sales of the public lands can be conveniently made, and to the fact' that much labor and expense.is of necessity employed- on the public lands, in providing food, accommodation and comfort for the hardy and enterprising pioneer; _ we feel the more inclined to follow the New York decisions,' and to leave the settlers free to dispose of their improvements as of their horses and cattle. In truth the very offer, to sell the improvement and give up. the accommodation and comfort which the squatter has obtained for himself by his labor on the public lands, excludes altogether the-idea that he intends by the sale to pass away any title or interest in the soil. These improvements are often of much value to the new settler, and the person making the improvement, in building the cabin, and cleai’-ing the field; is regarded by the government as entitled to remuneration therefor, rather than as a trespasser; and
Concurrence Opinion
I concur in this opinion, but for other reasons than those given by a majority of the court. The settler on public lands, although a trespasser, so far as the United States are concerned, has the right of possession against all the rest of the world. When he sells his improvement, he does no more than agree that he will quit his cabin and field for, and in consideration of a sum of money &cv paid, or to be paid to him by the purchaser, wishing perhaps to get into the possession of the same. The consideration of the promise to pay a sum of money to such settler, Would be the inconvenience to which he submits in changing his place at the request of the person promising to pay; but if we regard the sale in this case, as a sale of.an interest in land, still it is covered by the case of Bean, Oden & Rector, v. Valle &c., 2 vol. Mo. decisions p. 126. Shultz has secured himself by taking a promise in writing. If the other party neglected to secure themselves, he is not to suffer by it.