Hilliard v. Doe ex dem. Connelly, 7 Ga. 172

7 Ga. 172 | Ga. | 1849

By the Court. —

Nisbet, J.

delivering the opinion.

[1.] The consent rule, in our practice, is considered as filed, whether it is in fact filed or not. By this rule the defendant confesses, at the trial, the lease, entry and ouster. The issue is on the title, and the plaintiff is not compelled to prove lease, entry and ouster. , Cumming and others vs. Butler, 6 Ga. Reps. 88.

[2.] We see no good reason for abandoning the fictitious form of pleading in ejectment. However absurd it may seem to be, and however unnecessary in fact, yet both the Legislature and the Courts have acquiesced in it since the organization of the Government, and it is familiar to the profession. The Legislature have authorized a departure from it, but have not made it obligatory. Acts of 1847, Pamphlet, p. 203. See, also, a decision of this Court as to the form of an action in trover, 6 Ga. Rep. 213.

[3.] The Act of 1837, so far as it affects the rights of third persons, is, we think, unconstitutional. That corrections may be made of errors which have occurred, connected with the issuing of grants in the different offices at Milledgeville, under that Act, as between the State and the grantee, we do not doubt. Nor do we doubt that errors in the grant itself, may also be corrected where there is no conflict of interest or title. But when such corrections affect, as here, the interest of third persons, as, for example, the identity of the rightful grantee, and therein the title to the land, the corrections involve judicial functions, and if made are nullities.

We have more than once said, that we will not declare an Act of the Legislature void for unconstitutionality, unless it is plainly, palpably so. This law, to the extent indicated, is plainly, palpably unconstitutional. The departments of the Government are made separate and distinct by the State Constitution. The Legislature, except in the cases enumerated, are prohibited from the exercise of judicial powers. This case falls within none of the exceptions. They cannot exercise judicial powers, through agents or appointees. The Executive can exercise no judicial functions whatever. To prove the wisdom of the law-making, law-adminislering and executive powers being separate and independent, would be a work of supererogation.

The Act of 1837 authorizes and requires the Governor, Secretary of State, Surveyor General and Comptroller General, to correct any errors in their respective offices, which may have occurred in transcribing the name or names of fortunate' drawers, or in any other matter or thing connected with the issuing of grants. It farther requires them to correct any errors which thereafter might occur in the issuing of grants to lands embraced in the Lottery Acts, upon application being made by the fortunate drawers at their respective offices. And upon the correction of the errors complained of, if the original grant is not produced, the Governor is required to cause an alias grant to issue, conforming to the correction made; such alias grant to enure and take effect from the date of the issuing of the original grant. The Act farther declares, that such alias grant shall be taken and held by the Courts of Law, in lieu of and as a substitute for the original.

It proceeds to require the Governor to give six months’ notice of an application for an alias grant. Again, it empowers the Governor, when it is made to appear to him, that through mistake or oversight in any of the offices, two grants have been or shall be issued to different individuals for the same land, to have the error corrected, and to set aside the grant improperly issued, and to correct such other errors as he may deem expedient where grants have been improperly issued. Hotchkiss, 396.

This Act confers very general and very great powers on the Governor — the power of correcting all errors in grants, and of issuing an alias grant. Now the power goes the extent of determining upon the number and quantity of the lot of land — upon the identity of the drawer, and, therefore, upon the title. The Legislature have attempted, in this Act, to clothe the Governor and Secretaries with the power to revoke the State’s grant after it has issued, and to determine the rights of parties litigating under it, and to issue a new grant in conformity with any alterations he may make. It is a power over titles — it is jurisdiction over lands. By the nature of the Government, and by express constitutional enactment, the Legislature can bestow, and the Governor exercise, no such powers.

The case made by the record illustrates, with singular aptness, the truth of what I have stated, as to the extent and effect of this power. Here is an action brought for the recovery of land. The defendant claims under a grant to Laurance Connelly’s illegitimates, and the plaintiff claims under a corrected grant to Laurana Connelly’s illegitimates. Now, here is a contest about title to land. One party claims to be> the rightful drawer, being an illegitimate, and holds the first grant. The other party claims to be the rightful drawer, as the illegitimate children of Laurana Connelly, and they hold the alias or corrected grant. The Governor, under the Act of 1837, has annulled the first grant, determined upon the conflict' of title under it, and issued a new grant to the prevailing party. Now, if the Act of 1837 is allowed to prevail, what is the effect 1 It is this, to wit: the very question before the Court — the ownership of the land — has been adjudged by the Executive, and the Court is concluded by that judgment. The Court is thus divested of its appropriate, and, indeed, exclusive function — the trial of the right of property in lands. Some points are argued when stated. This is one. So long as this correcting power does not come in conflict with the rights of others than the State and the original grantee, it is harmless; but when it does, the Courts must consider it as a mere nullity, because the exercise of judicial functions. The Constitution establishes certain Courts, and provides for such other Courts as the Legislature may, from time to time, ordain and establish. It may be said, that under this grant, the Legislature may and have created a Court for the especial purposes of the Act of 1837. To which idea there are two replies. First, it is by virtue of the constitutional separation of Executive and Judicial powers, impossible that the Governor shall become, in any form, a Judge to determine the rights of the citizen. Second, the Constitution has given to the Superior Courts exclusive jurisdiction over titles to lands. It cannot be vested any where else. Prince, 909, 910.

I have said that the power conferred by this Act is very large. It is difficult to prescribe limits to it. It extends to the correction of all such errors as the Governor may deem expedient when grants have improperly issued ; and where two grants have been issued by mistake or oversight, to set aside the grant improperly issued. It involves the power to revoke the State’s grant issued by authority of the Legislature. The correct view of this whole matter is this: the State, who is the grantor, by Act of the Legislature, and through the Governor and the Secretaries, after its grant has issued, assumes the power to revoke it; to judge of the regularity of its issue, of the rightful investiture of the grantee, and to pass upon antagonist claims of citizens under it. Although the power is claimed to he the correction of merely clerical errors, yet the effect of the exercise of that power is what I have stated. If so, very vital and practically important principles are involved. When the State issues her grant, under her great seal, she cannot recall it. It is the irrevocable testimony that she has divested herself of the thing granted. Grants do not exist as title against the State during her pleasure. If the Government can recall its grant for one cause, why not for all causes? If it can at all, it is a pure despotism. The grant, when it has issued, is a contract. One party to a contract cannot set it aside, although that party be a sovereign State. If conflicting claims or rights or interests spring up under that contract, by reason of mistake, error, fraud, or any other cause, the Courts of Justice are open for their adjustment. See Terrett and others vs. Taylor and others, 9 Cranch’s S. C. R. 43 to 45. Fletcher vs. Peck, 6 Cranch’s S. C. R. 87 to 148. Duncan vs. Beard, 2 Nott & McCord, 400. Town of Paulett vs. Clark et al. 9 Cranch, 292. Polk’s Lessees vs. Wendell, 5 Wheat. 293.

I apprehend it is well settled that it is competent for the Courts of Justice to impeach patents or grants for land; and if so, all the benefits of the Act of 1837 are secured. In Patterson vs. Wynn, the Supreme Court of the United States say, “We may therefore assume, as the settled doctrine of this Court, that if a patent is absolutely void upon its face; or the issuing thereof was without authority; or was prohibited by Statute; or the State had no title, it may be impeached collaterally in a Court of Law, in an action of ejectment.” But in general, other objections and defects complained of, must be put in issue, in a regular course of pleadings, in a direct proceeding, to avoid the patent. 11 Wheat. 380. 5 Wheat. 293. In England, letters patent, as a general rule, can only be avoided by scire facias, sued out on the part of the Government, or some individual in its name. Where there are two patents for the same thing, it seems that either patentee may sue out the writ. 4 Prest. 88. Dyer, 197, b. Hunt vs. Coffin, Dyer, 198, a. Jenk. Cont. 126, case 56. The King vs. Butler, 3 Lev. 220. The King vs. Amery, 2 Term Rep. 515.

A Court of Chancery will set aside a patent for fraud, irregularity, or mistake. The Attorney General vs. Vernon, 1 Ver. 277, 370. 1 H. & M. 23, 92, 165. 2 H. & M. 201, 244. 1 Ibid, 187, 190. 1 Munf. 134. Jackson ex dem. Marcius vs. Lawton, 10 John. Rep. 22.

Formerly, under our head-right laws, an appeal lay upon a caveat to the issuing of a grant, to the Governor. Afterwards, and, I have no doubt, because of the unconstitutionality of such appeal, this law was repealed, and an appeal authorized to the Superior Courts. Prince, 522, 523, 529, 540.

The imperfectness of the tribunal created by the Act of 1837, is manifest to all. It is without the forms, the rules of evidence, and the necessary aids and helps of a Judicial tribunal. Notice of an application for an alias grant, is required to be given; but who may defend, or how, or to what extent, is not prescribed. Again, no Jury is provided. No man can be divested of any right of property which he claims, but by judgment of his peers,

Again, the Act is unconstitutional, because the Constitution requires that cases involving titles to lands, shall be tried in the connty where the land lies; and. they cannot he, therefore, tried at Milledgeville, unless the land in question lies in the county of Baldwin.

It is no reply to this reasoning, that the State may prescribe terms to the issuing of her grant. That is not denied. All the questions which are made, or can be made, under the Act of 1837, originate after a grant has issued. All such questions, so far as third persons are concerned, in our judgment, belong to the Courts.

Let the judgment be reversed.