Fisk v. Briggs

| Me. | Jun 15, 1835

Weston C. J.

By the terms and conditions of the act, by which Massachusetts gave her consent to the separation of Maine, and which are made a part of our constitution, it is provided that the rights of that Commonwealth to their lands here, and the remedies for their recovery shall continue the same within this state and the courts thereof, as they before were within the Commonwealth and the courts thereof. The fulfilment of these terms is required by the constitution, which is the paramount law, and by the obligations of good faith to Massachusetts. It is contended that they cannot be literally carried into effect; that for instance, certain remedies, which might be suitable and proper for her, while in the actual exercise of the sovereign power here, are not adapted to the relation, in which she now stands to the new state. It is not necessary to discuss this question, as the remedy sought by the demandants is one which is open to all, who have a right to litigate in our courts.

It has been holden, as the established law of both states, that the State or Commonwealth may convey lands, notwithstanding they may be in the possession of others, who have intruded thereon without right. And this upon the ground of prerogative; which may be necessary, whether a king or representative bodies are charged with the duty of upholding and preserving the rights of the public. In Hill v. Dyer, 3 Greenl. 441, this right is considered as resulting from the principle, that the commonwealth or sovereign power could not be disseised ; which was also a prerogative of the king in England. 3 Bl. Com. 257. And in Ward v. Bartholomew, 6 Pick. 409, the court lay it down as a rule, which they state they have always understood, that the principle that a person out of possession cannot convey a title, does not apply to the government. And we are clearly of opinion, that the right to convey, unimpaired by the intrusion of others, which before existed in the Commonwealth, is under the protection of the act of separation. The free right of alienation, when purchasers present, is of great value. The lands of Massachusetts are from time to time in the market for sale. They constitute an important portion of their fiscal resources. That the party has a right to convey, is a covenant deemed necessary for the security of the purchaser, in the usual formularies of conveyance. It is one of the covenants in the deeds of the agents of the Commonwealth, from which the demandants deduce title. If it was a right which existed before the separation, not liable to be defeated by the possession of others, of which we entertain no doubt, the deeds of the agents of the commonwealth operated to convey their title to all the lands therein described, notwithstanding the intrusion of the tenant.

The equitable claim of the tenant to be reimbursed the value of his improvements, is of a different character. The protection of interests of this kind have not, for nearly thirty years in Massachusetts, been regarded as inconsistent with the just rights of the proprietor. A law of that Commonwealth, which passed as early as 1808, lends its aid to vindicate his title, and to restore to him his possession; but upon the condition that he pay for the additional value, derived from the labor and expense of those, who may have held the land for the period of six years or more. The proprietor may, at his option, claim to receive the full value of the land, if unimproved ; or if he choose to retain it, he is not to enrich himself at the expense of tljc occupant, but is held to pay for its increased value, arising from the improvements. This law, which has been re-enacted here since the separation, has become a rule of distributive justice, which has commended itself to the favor of the public, for the equity of its provisions, and has received a liberal construction, in the highest courts of both States. It relaxes the rigor of extreme right; and is intended generally to extend some indulgence to those who penetrate the wilderness, subdue the soil and render it productive, and who usually have families, depending upon the fruits of their labor. It has not accorded with the moral sense and enlightened justice of either State, to suffer a proprietor to strip the occupant of these fruits, so far as they had given additional value to his land, without compensation. This increased value is not considered as of right belonging to him. If, therefore, in this suit we award it to the tenant, as our laws and their laws require in ordinary cases, we do not impair the rights of Massachusetts, either according to our sense of right and justice or their own. It is not to be presumed that the value of these improvements constituted any part of the price, which they received. Their existence was probably unknown.

It may be contended, that the act for the equitable settlement of certain claims, arising in real actions, in Massachusetts, does not bind the Commonwealth, and that the corresponding act here does not bind the State, because not named in either act. It is among the prerogatives of the king in England, for the preservation of his political power, that he is not bound by an act of parliament, unless expressly named, which may tend to restrain or diminish any of his rights or interests. 1 Bl. Com. 262. Yet this position is there qualified by the same author, who says that an act of parliament, for the preservation of rights and the suppression of wongs, is holden to be binding upon the king, if it does not interfere with the established rights of the crown. And this doctrine is sustained by the case of the Master and Fellows of Magdalen College, 11 Rep. 66. In Willion v. Berkley, 1 Plowden, 223, it was holden, that the king was bound by the statute de donis, 13 Edw. 1, c. 1, although not expressly named in it. If the act under consideration is extended to Massachusetts, it impairs no rights, which can be asserted consistently with justice, as she requires it to be administered between suitors in her courts.

The law, under which the tenant claims equitable relief, binds the demandants, unless it impairs the rights of Massachusetts, under the act of separation. And we are of opinion that it does not have this effect. The tenant is therefore to be allowed for his improvements, and the estimates are to be made in conformity with his offer made and accepted, and judgment is to be rendered accordingly^