Starr v. Pease

| Conn. | Jul 15, 1831

Daggett, J.

The first great question, presented by the counsel, is, did the right of the possession of this land become vested in the plaintiff, upon the divorce, the husband being the guilty cause? The possession of the premises, upon the established principles of law, became vested in John L. Lewis, upon the death of George Starr, by virtue of his marriage with the plaintiff. They are liable to be taken in execution, in payment of his debts; or they might have been by him transferred. In either case, his right only would have become vested in the creditor or vendee. This right was commensurate with his title to the premises; and that was a right during the existence of the joint lives of husband and wife, or during the coverture. Upon the authority of adjudged cases, as well as for the soundest reasons, his estate could continue only during the continuance of the coverture. It commenced in John L. Lewis, by his being the husband of the plaintiff: it ceases when he ceases to be her husband. By marriage, the wife becomes sub potestate viri; is incapable of holding any personal property, or of having the use of any real estate; is incapable of contracting any debts; and he is liable for her support. When this relation is dissolved, by the death of the husband, she is restored to all those rights, which were lost by the coverture. When it is dissolved by divorce, (I speak here of divorce a vinculo matrimonii, for no other divorce is known in Connecticut,) the law is the same. Deplorable would be her condition, in many cases, were it otherwise; for his liability for her support ceases; and were he still permitted to enjoy her property, it would be rewarding the guilty party for his violation of the marriage vows, and depriving the innocent party of the means of support. I entertain no doubt that this has always been considered the law on this subject, in Connecticut; and such it is in Massachusetts. Legg v. Legg, 8 Mass. Rep. 99. Barber v. Root, 10 Mass. Rep. 260.

But it is urged, that this act of the legislature is retrospective and therefore, void. If I were to admit, that all ihe acts of the legislature, which divest rights already vested, were void,—and there is none less disposed to controvert such a principle,—still the enquiry arises, is the act in question of that character? Before such effect is given to this act, it must have been ascertained, that the defendants had vested rights to be affected, by the act. What right, then, had the defendants to the land in question? It has before been shewn, that they have the right, which John L. Lewis had before the levy of the execution, and no more; but this right was only by virtue of the coverture, and it terminated with the dissolution of the marriage contract. The defendants knew, when they took the land, that they could hold it only during the joint lives of husband and wife, and that upon the death of either, their interest in it must cease. They knew also,—for every man is presumed to know the law,—that if the coverture ceased, by the divorce, their rights dependent upon it, would also cease. As well might it be urged, that a law annexing the punishment of death to a crime, should it happen to be committed, by a tenant for life, was retrospective, and divested vested interests, because it deprived purchasers or creditors under such tenants for life, of their estates.

It is further insisted, by the counsel for the defendants, that this act of divorce is a law impairing the obligation of contracts, and therefore void, by the 10th section of the first article of the constitution of the United States. The learned Chancellor Kent, in his Commentaries, says: “The first enquiry is, how far has the legislature of a state the right, under the constitution of the United States, to interfere with the marriage contract, and allow of divorces between its own citizens, and within its own jurisdiction? The question has never been judicially raised and determined in the courts of the United States; and it has generally been considered, that the state governments have complete controul and discretion in the case.” 2 Kent's Comm. 89. In the case of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 4 Wheat. Rep. 518. this point was incidentally alluded to; and Chief Justice Marshall observed, that the constitution of the United States had never been understood to restrict the general right of the legislatures of the states to legislate on the subject of divorces; and the object of state laws of divorce was, to enable some tribunal, not to impair a marriage contract, but to liberate one of the parties, because it had been broken by the other. It would be in time to enquire into the constitutionality of these acts, when the state legislatures should undertake to annul all marriage contracts, or allow either party to annul it, without the consent of the other. Judge Story spoke to the same effect. He said, that a general law regulating divorces, was not necessarily a law impairing the obligation of such a contract. A law punishing a breach of contract, by imposing a forfeiture of the rights acquired under it, or dissolving it, because the mutual obligations were no longer observed, was not a law impairing the obligation of contracts. But he was not prepared to admit a power in the state legislatures to dissolve a contract without any cause or default, and against the wish of the parties, and without a judicial enquiry to ascertain the breach of the contract.

The opinions of these eminent jurists are not authoritative; but so far as they bear on the point under discussion, they are in accordance with my views. They go only to this extent; that when a state legislature shall pass a law annulling all marriage contracts, without any cause or default, and against the wishes of the parties, it will be then time to decide on the validity of such an act. No one will assert, that the act in question is, in any respect, of the character of those alluded to. It affirmed the contract of marriage; and declared, that the acts proved were such as ought to dissolve it, and resolved accordingly.

It is said, however, that if a state legislature were authorized to make a law giving power to some tribunal to grant divorces, still they cannot, by a sovereign act, dissolve this contract. This, I apprehend, applies only to the fitness of the exercise of the power in question, and not to the constitutional right. It will be exceedingly difficult to establish that act to be a violation of the constitution of the United States, when done by the legislature itself, which would not be so, if done by a court, in obedience to law. In the case of Calder & ux. v. Bull & ux. 3 Dall. 386. the supreme court of the United States decided, that a resolution or law of the legislature of Connecticut establishing a will, was not a violation of the constitution of the United States.

A further objection is urged against this act, viz. that by the new constitution of 1818, there is an entire separation of the legislative and judicial departments, and that the legislature can now pass no act or resolution, not clearly warranted, by that constitution; that the constitution is a grant of power, and not a limitation of powers already possessed; and, in short, that there is no reserved power in the legislature since the adoption of this constitution. Precisely the opposite of this, is true. From the settlement of the state there have been certain fundamental rules, by which power has been exercised. These rules were embodied in an instrument, called, by some, a constitution,—by others, a charter. All agree, that it was the first constitution ever made in Connecticut, and made too, by the people themselves. It gave very extensive powers to the legislature, and left too much (for it left every thing almost) to their will. The constitution of 1818 professed to, and in fact did, limit that will. It adopted certain general principles, by a preamble, called a declaration of rights; provided for the election and appointment of certain organs of the government, such as the legislative, executive and judicial departments; and imposed upon them certain restraints. It found the state sovereign and independent, with a legislative power capable of making all laws necessary for the good of the people, not forbidden by the constitution of the United States, nor opposed to the sound maxims of legislation; and it left them in the same condition, except so far as limitations were provided.

There is now, and has been, a law in force, on the subject of divorces. This law was passed one hundred and thirty years ago. It provides for divorces a vinculo matrimonii, in four cases, viz, adultery, fraudulent contract, wilful desertion and seven years absence, unheard of. The law has remained in substance the same as it was, when enacted, in 1667. During all this period, the legislature has interfered, like the parliament of Great Britain, and passed special acts of divorce a vinculo matrimonii; and, at almost every session since the constitution of the United States went into operation, now forty-two years, and for the thirteen years of the existence of the constitution of Connecticut, such acts have been, in multiplied cases, passed, and sanctioned, by the constituted authorities of our state.

We are not at liberty to enquire into the wisdom of our existing law, on this subject; nor into the expediency of such frequent interference, by the legislature. We can only enquire into the constitutionality of the act under consideration. The power is not prohibited, either by the constitution of the United States, or by that of this state. In view of the appalling consequences of declaring the general law of the state, or the repeated acts of our legislature, unconstitutional and void,—consequences easily conceived, but not easily expressed,—such as bastardizing the issue and subjecting the parties to punishment for adultery,—the Court should come to the result only on a solemn conviction, that their oaths of office and these constitutions imperiously demand it. Feeling myself no such conviction, I cannot pronounce the act void.

Another question was reserved, that is, shall damages be recovered to the date of the writ, or to the rendition of the judgment? It is understood, that different rules have prevailed on this point. I think it most consonant to, principle, that damages should be given only to the date of the writ.

I would, therefore, advise the superior court, that judgment be entered up for the plaintiff, with damages to the date of the writ.

Hosmer, Ch. J. and Bissell, J. were of the same opinion. Peters, J.

said he could not give an unqualified concurrence. f Upon general principles, he had no doubt, that the act of divorce, in this case, was repugnant to the constitution of the United Stales, as impairing the obligation of a contract; and that it was void, under the constitution of this state, as an assumption of judicial power, by the legislature. But in view of the decisions in analogous cases and of the appalling consequences of nullifying all legislative acts of divorce, he should acquiesce in the opinion of the Court. On the point of damages, he concurred without hesitation.

Williams, J,, having been retained as counsel for Lewis, on the plaintiff’s application for the act of divorce, declined giving any opinion as to the validity of that act. He concurred as to the damages.

Judgment to be given for the plaintiff.