11 Fla. 100 | Fla. | 1865
delivered the opinion of the court.
On the 17th February, 1864, the Congress of the Confederate States passed “ an act to organize forces to serve during the war,” the first section of which reads as follows, to wit: “ Thai from and after the passage of this act, all white men, residents oí the Confederate States, between the ages of seventeen and fifty, shall be in the military service of the Confederate States for the war.”
On the 29th December, 1864, the writ of habeas corpus having been returned with the body of the petitioner, the Circuit Judge heard the evidence of the witnesses and the arguments of counsel and refused to discharge the petitioner, and his case was thereupon brought before us by writ of error.
Whether the Circuit Judge did or did not err in the ruling as above stated, is the sole question before us, and must depend entirely upon the evidence in the record. Upon looking into the records, we find that the petitioner has resided in this State since the year 1857, but we are unable to find any testimony whatever to show that be has ever been at any time in the “ actual and regular practice of his profession” as a physician.
Our statute of February 10,1831, is very explicit in pointing out the three “ methods,” one or the other of -which every physician must “ pursue” in order to be “ enabled” to engage in the “ actual and regular practice of his profession.” Section first of said a«t reads as follows, to wit:
“ Sec. 1. Any individual desirous of practising medicine or surgery in the State of Florida, shall be enabled to do so by pursuing one of the following methods: first, he shall file in the office of the Circuit Court of the county in which be may intend to reside, a diploma from some Medical College ; secondly, or he shall file in the office aforesaid, a certificate, signed by at least two practising physicians residing
There is no evidence in the record tending to show that the relator ever complied with either of these provisions, and hence, we say there is no testimony to show he ever was “ in the actual and regular practice of his profession.”
If it be suggested that the section we have just read is not prohibitory, but only directory, and that a physician may therefore legally engage “ in the actual and regular practice of his profession” without a compliance with its provisions, we answer that evén if that be so, it matters not, since the second section of said act comes in and makes it a violation of law, punishable by indictment and fine, for any one to “ attempt” to practice medicine or surgery without having first complied with the provisions of said first section. Said 2d section reads as follows, to wit:
“Sec. 2. Any individual failing to comply with the before recited provisions, and attempting to practice medicine or surgery, shall, on conviction thereof, be fined in a sum not less than fifty dollars or more than two hundred dollars, at the discretion of the jury.” Duval’s Dig. 36S ; Thomp. Dig. 503.
Since then, under the second section, a physician commits a penal offence every time he “ attempts”*to practice medicine or surgery without having complied with the provisions of the first section of said act, it can hardly be said be is in the regular practice of his profession while doing so. To say that a man is regular in his practice of violating the laws of the State, and that because of such regularity he is entitled to the extraordinary protection of ⅛ Confederate law, would be absurd.
In the case of Toler vs. Armstrong, 4 Washington’s Circuit Court Repts., 299, Washington, J., said: “ I understand the rule, as now clearly settled, to be, that when the contract grows immediately out of, and is connected with, an illegal or immoral act, a court of justice will not lend its aid to enforce it.” (See also 17 Verm. 105 ; 11 Whet. 258 ; 17 Mass. 258 ; 5 Massa. 395 ; 4 Holast. 352 ; 4 Dall. 298.)
It is clear from these authorities that if the relator had gone before the court to collect a bill, he would not have been recognized as a physician in the actual and regular practice of his profession unless he had shown a compliance with our statute, and on that ground the court would have refused him its aid. ITow, then, without showing such compliance, could he obtain the recognition and aid of the court when he went before it to procure a discharge from the service of the country.” Tie was found on the soil of Florida, where he had resided for many years, subject to her laws. He alleged that he was a physician in the actual and regular practice of his profession for seven years. The conscript officer denied this allegation. The issue was distinctly made, and the burthen of proof was upon the petitioner. The proof in the record does not sustain his allegation.
Let the judgment be affirmed with costs.