UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

UNITED STATES V. GRATIOT, 39 U. S. 526 (1840)

39 U. S. 526

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Gratiot, 39 U.S. 14 Pet. 526 526 (1840)

United States v. Gratiot

39 U.S. (14 Pet.) 526

Syllabus

The United States instituted an action on a bond given by the defendants, conditioned that certain of the obligors who had taken from the agent of the United States, under the authority of the President of the United States, a license for smelting lead ore, bearing date September 1, 1834, should fully execute and comply with the terms and conditions of a license for purchasing and smelting lead ore at the United States' lead mines on the Upper Mississippi River in the State of Illinois for the period of one year. The defendants demurred to the declaration, and the question was presented to the circuit court of Illinois whether the President of the United States had power, under the Act of Congress of 3 March, 1807, to make a contract for purchasing and smelting lead ore at the lead mines of the United States on the Upper Mississippi. This question was certified from the circuit to the Supreme Court of the United States. Held that the President of the United States has power, under the Act of Congress of 3 March, 1807, to make the contract on which this suit was instituted.

The power over the public lands is vested in Congress by the Constitution without limitation, and has been considered the foundation on which the territorial governments rest.

The cases of,McCulloch v. State of Maryland, 4 Wheat. 422, and American Insurance Company v. Canter, 1 Pet. 542, cited.

The words "dispose of" the public lands, used in the Constitution of the United States, cannot, under the decisions of the Supreme Court, receive any other construction than that Congress has the power, in its discretion, to authorize the leasing of the lead mines on the public lands in the territories of the United States. There can be no apprehensions of any encroachments upon state rights by the creation of a numerous tenantry within the borders of the states from the adoption of such measures.

The authority given to the President of the United States to lease the lead mines is limited to a term not exceeding five years. This limitation, however, is not to be construed as a prohibition to renew the leases from time to time if he thinks proper so to do. The authority is limited to a short period, so as not to interfere with the power of Congress to make other dispositions of the mines should they think the same necessary.

The legal understanding of a lease for years, is a contract for the possession and profits of land for a determinate period, with the recompense of rent. It is not necessary that the rent should be in money. If reserved in kind, it is rent in contemplation of law.

The law of 1807, authorizing the leasing of the lead mines, was passed before Illinois was organized as a state. She cannot now complain of any disposition or regulation of the lead mines previously made by Congress. She surely cannot claim a right to the public lands within her limits.

On the first day of September, 1834, the defendants entered into the following bond to the United States, having executed the same under their respective hands and seals:

"Know all men by these presents, that we, J. P. B. Gratiot, Robert Burton, D. B. Moorehouse and Charles S. Hempstead, are holden, and stand firmly bound unto the United States of America or their certain attorney in the penal sum of ten thousand dollars, current money of the United States, well and truly to be paid unto their Treasury, for which payment, well and truly to be made, we, the said J. P. B. Gratiot, Robert Burton, D. B. Moorehouse, and Charles

Page 39 U. S. 527

S. Hempstead do hereby jointly and severally bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators, and each and every of them, jointly, severally, and firmly, by these presents. Signed with our hands, and sealed with our seals, this first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four."

"The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the said J. P. B. Gratiot and Robert Burton have obtained from the agent of the United States a license, bearing date the first day of September, 1834, containing stipulations therein more particularly described, to smelt lead ore. Now if the said J. P. B. Gratiot and Robert Burton shall faithfully and fully execute and comply with the terms and conditions set forth in said license, then and in that case this obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue."

At the same time, a paper called a "License for Smelting," which was executed by Thomas C. Legate, major of the United States army, superintendent of the lead mines, J. P. B. Gratiot, and Robert Burton, under their hands and seals, was delivered to J. P. B. Gratiot and Robert Burton by Major Legate.

"This indenture, made and entered into this first day of September, 1834, between Major T. C. Legate, superintending the United States lead mines, acting under the direction of the Secretary of War, of the first part, and J. P. B. Gratiot and Robert Burton, of the second part, witnesseth: "

"That the said party of the second part is hereby permitted, by and with the approbation of the President of the United States, to purchase and smelt lead ore at the United States' lead mines, on the Upper Mississippi for the period of one year from and after the date hereof upon the following conditions, viz.: "

"1. All purchases or other acquisitions of ore, ashes, zinc, or lead to be from persons authorized to work the mines either as lessees, smelters, or diggers, and from no others, and no ore to be purchased from the leased premises of any person without his permission."

"2. To commence smelting as soon as one hundred thousand pounds of ore are obtained, and to continue it so long as any is on hand; to weigh a charge of ore for the log furnace, and the lead produced from it, when required to do it by the said first party or his assistant."

"3. To keep a book containing an accurate account of all ore, ashes, or zinc, purchased or otherwise acquired, and of all lead manufactured, which book shall at all times be open to inspection of the said first party or his assistant; and to furnish a transcript or return at the end of every month, agreeably to a form furnished by the said first party, which book and returns to be verified on oath if required."

"4. The said second party hereby agrees to pay the first party, for the use of the United States, six pounds of every hundred pounds of all the lead smelted by him under this indenture, to be

Page 39 U. S. 528

paid monthly in clear, pure lead at the wareroom on Fever River or at such other place near the mines as the said first party shall direct and free of expense to the United States. And the said second party is not to sell or remove from the places of smelting, in any manner whatever, any lead until the rent be paid as aforesaid. This condition is subject to the revocation of the government upon giving three months' previous notice, at which time it will be optional with the licentiate to accept or refuse the new terms. Upon his refusal to accept, then this license shall cease and determine."

"5. The second party is allowed to have as much fuel as will suffice without waste for the purpose of this indenture, and to cultivate as much land as will suffice to furnish his teams, &c., with provender."

"6. It is understood and agreed between the aforesaid parties that the said second party shall not employ in any manner any smelter, lessee, or miner who has forfeited his license, lease or permit to mine, nor any other person who is at the mines without the authority of the said first party, and the said second party agrees not to employ or harbor the laborers of workmen of another smelter. Sixty days are allowed after the expiration of this license to close all business under it, but it is understood that no purchase or hauling of ore is to take place after the license is expired. The bond given for the faithful performance of the contract is to be in full force and virtue until a written settlement is made."

"It is distinctly understood by the said parties that upon proof's being afforded to the first party that either of the foregoing stipulations have been violated or not complied with, he may declare this indenture null and void and reenter and take possession of all the premises as if no such agreement existed."

In the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Illinois, the United States instituted an action of debt to December term, 1836, against the defendants on this bond. The declaration sets forth the bond and condition and recites the license or contract therein mentioned, and avers that the lessees had, by virtue of the lease, smelted twenty-four hundred thousand pounds of lead, but had failed to execute the conditions stipulated on their part by altogether refusing to pay to the superintendent, for the use of the United States, the six pounds for every hundred pounds so smelted.

The defendants demurred to the declaration after oyer of the bond and license for smelting, and on the argument of the demurrer the following question arose upon which the judges of the circuit court were divided in opinion and directed it to be certified to this Court: "Whether the President had power, under the Act of 3 March, 1807, 2 Story's Laws, 1065, 1068, to make the contract set forth in the declaration." clubjuris

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