9 Ala. 713 | Ala. | 1846
Without reciting in detail, the act passed in Janury, 1842, to prevent the sacrifice of real estate, it is sufficient to remark, that it provides for the redemption of the interest of the debtor, in any real estate which should thereafter be sold. The period within which the redemption may be made, is fixed at two years, and the right of redemption is given to the debtor, and to any bona -fide creditor — to the former upon offering 10 per cent, per annum to the purchaser, and to the latter, in addition to this, the offer to credit the debtor with a further sum of ten per cent, upon the amount of the purchaser’s bid. A clause in the act extends its operation to all sales under mortgages, deeds of trust, and decrees in equity. [Clay’s Dig. 602.]
We are unable to see how this act is violative of the con
It is however contended, the statute should be restricted to such judgments as Are obtained after its enactment. There is no room to give this restriction, without departing from the very letter, which directs that all sales “hereafter made,” shall be governed by it. In New York, these statutes are considered remedial, and as such entitled to be construed in the most liberal manner, to advance the remedy. [Van Renselear v. Sheriff of Albany, 1 Cowan, 501.] With us, statutes giving a new remedy have frequently been construed to apply to suits then existing. [Bartlett v. Lang, 2 Ala. Rep. 404.] And such is believed to be the general construction with respect to such statutes, unless the .intention is apparent
Upon the whole, our conclusion is, that the act in question is constitutional, and applies to all sales made after its passage. Whether the defendants being the assignees of one of the judgments, by virtue of which the lands in question were sold, are entitled to be consinered as bona fide creditors, is a matter not decided by the Chancellor, and therefore need not be now determined by us. Such seems to have been the opinion in Van Rensalear v. Sheriff of Onondaga, 1 Cowan, 443, but we decline to decide this point until directly presented. As an account is necessary, as well as other proceedings, the cause will be remanded.
Decree reversed and remanded.