Learn About the Law
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
THIS was an appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Middle Tennessee, sitting as a court of equity.
It is unnecessary to recite all the circumstances which led to the filing of the bill in equity, as it was dismissed for the want of jurisdiction in the Circuit Court. The facts in the case are summarily stated in the opinion of the court. It is proper, however, to exhibit the account to which the opinion of Mr. Justice Wayne refers:--
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. SEARCY'S EXECUTORS AND SECURITIES. DR. Robert Searcy, late District Paymaster, in account with the U.S. To amount of judgment, 21st June, 1827, $17,028 41 Amount overpaid, $ 1,895 06 [45 U.S. 286, 287] 1828, May 3, By payment to Tho. Fletcher $1,283.62 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 15 years, 4 months, 17 days, 1,184.00 " July 8, " payment to Tho. H. Fletcher 519.25 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 15 years, 2 months, 12 days, 473.33 " July 18, " payment to Tho. H. Fletcher, 1,940.68 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 15 years, 2 months, 2 days, 1,766.05 " July 24, " payment made to Tho. H. Fletcher, 498.33 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 15 years, 1 month, 26 days, 455.34 " Oct. 28, " payment made to Tho. H. Fletcher, 960.00 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 10 months, 22 days, 857.92 1829, Jan. 15, " payment made to Tho. Fletcher, 304.60 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 8 months, 5 days, 267.77 " Jan. 24, " payment made to Tho. Fletcher, 498.34 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 7 months, 26 days, 437.91 " Jan. 26, " payment made to Tho. Fletcher, 286.67 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 7 months, 24 days 251.39 " April 6, " payment made to Tho. Fletcher, 1,273.76 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 6 months, 14 days 1,110.48 " June 12, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 1,163.50 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 3 months, 8 days 995.92 " June 24, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 1,027.75 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 14 years, 2 months, 26 days 877.40 " Oct. 22, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 1,920.00 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 13 years, 10 months, 28 days, 1,602.56 1831, Oct. 28, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 200.00 " interest till 20th, Sept., 1843, 11 years, 10 months, 22 days, 142.73 1832, Jan., 1, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 500.00 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 11 years, 8 months, 20 days 351.67 " Sept. 3, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 1,669.49 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 11 years, and 17 days, 1,166.27 1833, Jan. 1, " payment made to Jas. Collinsworth, 2,104.60 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 10 years, 8 months, 20 days, 1,351.00 1834, Jan 1, " payment made to Collinsworth, 1,279.80 " interest till 20th Sept., 1843, 9 years, 8 months, 20 days 756.08 1833, Jan. 1, " payment made to Collinsworth, 861.00 " interest till 20th Sept., 1943, 10 years, 8 months, 20 days 553.91 Amounts carried forward $34,245.85 33,626.21
The case was argued by Mr. Mason (Attorney-General), for the appellant, and by Mr. Brinley and Mr. Eaton, for the defendant.
Mr. Justice McLEAN delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an appeal from the decree of the Circuit Court of the United States, for the District of Middle Tennessee. [45 U.S. 286, 288] The bill was filed by McLemore and Cantwell, surviving executor of Robert Searcy, deceased, and surviving executor of George M. Deoderick, deceased, representing that a judgment was obtained by the United States against the executors of Searcy, for the sum of seventeen thousand and twenty-eight dollars and forty-one cents. That various payments had been made on the judgment until the whole or nearly the whole had been paid. That the last execution on the judgment was issued the 10th of January, 1842, for a balance claimed on the judgment of two thousand eight hundred thirty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents. And they state that their payments were made to different persons named, who succeeded each other in the office of District Attorney of the United States for Middle Tennessee; and that by the absence and death of a part of them it is difficult to show the sums paid. That the money was principally collected by the district attorneys on notes handed them for collection, the proceeds of which, when received, were to be applied to the discharge of the judgment. That this arrangement was sanctioned by the treasury department. And the prayer of the bill is, that the judgment may be enjoined, &c.
The District Attorney of the United States answered the bill, and the matter of payments was referred to a master, who repected a balance against the United States, after paying the judgment. On this report, the district judge holding the Circuit Court decreed a perpetual injunction, and that the United States should pay the costs.
There was no jurisdiction of this case in the Circuit Court, as the government is not liable to be sued, except with its own consent, given by law. Nor can a decree or judgment be entered against the government for costs.
The Circuit Court, as a court of law, may direct credits to be given on the judgment, and having a right to order satisfaction to be entered on the judgment, consequently may examine the grounds on which such an entry is claimed, and may direct the execution to be stayed until such an investigation shall be made.
This bill is dismissed.
Mr. Justice WAYNE concurred in the decision of the case, but said it appeared in the record that a different mode of computing interest had been pursued from that which had been settled by this court. In Livingston v. Story, 13 Peters, 371, the court said:-'The correct rule, in general, is, that the creditor shall calculate interest whenever a payment is made. To this interest the payment is first to be applied; and if it exceed the interest due, the balance is to be applied to diminish the principal. If the payment fall short of the interest, the balance of interest is not to be added to the principal so as to produce interest. This rule is equally applicable, whether the debt be one which expressly draws [45 U.S. 286, 289] interest, or on which interest is given in the name of damages.' Nor is it to be considered, by any thing which the court has done upon the motion, that any sanction is given to any other mode of computing interest.
A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.
Citation: 45 U.S. 286
Decided: January 01, 1846
Court: United States Supreme Court
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)
Harness the power of our directory with your own profile. Select the button below to sign up.
Learn more about FindLaw’s newsletters, including our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get help with your legal needs
FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.
Search our directory by legal issue
Enter information in one or both fields (Required)