United States v. Irving, 42 U.S. 250 (1843)

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Irving, 42 U.S. 1 How. 250 250 (1843) United States v. Irving

42 U.S. (1 How.) 250

ON CERTIFICATE OF DIVISION IN OPINION BETWEEN THE JUDGES

OF THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Syllabus

When a collector is continued in office for more than one term, but gives different sureties, the liability of the sureties is to be estimated just as if a new person had been appointed to fill the second term.

When the accounts of a collector are returned to the Treasury quarterly, and the date of the commencement and expiration of his term of office is on some intermediate day between the beginning and end of the quarter, a restatement and Treasury transcript of his account up to the end of his term is legal evidence in a suit against the sureties.

Such a restatement does not falsify the general accounts, but arranges the items of debits and credits so as to exhibit the transactions of the collector during the four years for which the sureties were responsible.

The amount charged to the collector at the commencement of his second term is only prima facie evidence against the sureties.

But payments into the Treasury of moneys accruing and received in the second term should not be applied to the extinguishment of a balance apparently due at the end of the first term. Payments made in the subsequent term, of moneys received on duty bonds, or otherwise, which remained charged to the collector as of the preceding official term, should be so applied.

The settlement of quarterly accounts at the Treasury, running on in a continued series, is not conclusive. The officers of the Treasury cannot, by any exercise of their discretion, enlarge or restrict the obligation of the collector's bond. Much less can they, by the mere fact of keeping an account current in which debits and credits are entered as they occur, and without any express appropriation of payments, affect the rights of sureties.

Page 42 U. S. 251

This case came up from the circuit court for the Southern District of New York under a certificate of division in opinion between the judges of that court upon the two following points:

1. Whether the transcript from the books and proceedings of the Treasury, given in evidence on the part of the United States to show the indebtedness of Swartwout on 28 March, 1834, on which day the second term of office of said Swartwout expired, was in this case competent and legal evidence for that purpose.

2. Whether the payments made by said Samuel Swartwout subsequently to the said 28 March, 1834, should be applied to the discharge of his indebtedness existing on said 28 March, 1834, or accruing during his second term of office, or whether such payments should be applied to the discharge of his indebtedness accruing after that time.

The facts in the case were as follows:

Swartwout was appointed collector at the port of New York on 1 May, 1829; but his proceedings during this, his first term, have nothing to do with the present case.

On 29 March, 1830, his second term commenced, and he was appointed for four years.

On 22 June, 1830, he gave a bond for the faithful performance of his duties in the mode prescribed by law, with several sureties, one of whom was Henry Eckford, whose executors are parties to this suit. The penalty of the bond was $150,000, and the condition ran thus:

"Now therefore if the said Samuel Swartwout hath truly and faithfully executed and discharged and shall continue truly and faithfully to execute and discharge all the duties of the said office according to law, then the above obligation to be void and of none effect; otherwise it shall abide and remain in full force and virtue."

Quarterly accounts were rendered to the Treasury Department according to law, but they continued to be made out, as they had been during his temporary appointment, running from 1 January to 31 March, from 1 April to 30 June, and so on. In these quarterly accounts were stated the various sums received by him on account of the government and also the payments which he had made on behalf of the United States, although it often happened that the covering warrants

Page 42 U. S. 252

from the Treasury, the final vouchers for such payments, were not received in time to be returned with said quarterly accounts, in which case they were thrown into the next quarter, when the proper credits were given.

Swartwout's third term of office commenced on 29 March, 1834, and the bond which he gave contained a condition similar to the one which has been recited, but Henry Eckford was not one of his sureties. The time, therefore, covered by Eckford was from 28 March, 1830, to 28 March, 1834, inclusive of the latter day.

In his accounts for 1834, Swartwout continued to make them up for the quarters of the year, as he had done, and his account for the first quarter was brought up to, and ends on, 31 March. No account was filed by him ending on 28 March. The one ending on the 31st shows a large balance of "cash on hand."

In adjusting this account, the auditor began with charging Swartwout with the balance as it stood against him in the preceding account, then charged him with all the moneys which he had received in that quarter. Having given him credit for various sums paid into the Treasury and paid to individuals under proper authority, he strikes a balance in favor of the United States, which is stated to consist of bonds uncollected, not due, bonds in suit, general bonds for spirits, wines &c., and cash on hand.

In adjusting the account for the ensuing quarter, ending on 30 June, 1834, the auditor brought forward the entire balance standing against Swartwout in the last account, and then proceeded to charge and credit him as before.

In April, 1839, these accounts were restated by order of the first comptroller so as to make the first account end on 28 March, 1834, instead of the 31st. The restatement begins on 28 March, 1830, and runs through the whole four years of Eckford's suretyship, ending on 28 March, 1834, and shows a balance of cash due to the United States, of $486,455.24. A certified copy of this paper is the transcript mentioned in the certificate of division of opinion in the court below.

Page 42 U. S. 257

MR. JUSTICE McLEAN delivered the opinion of the Court.

This action was commenced in the Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York, against the sureties of Swartwout, late collector of the customs at that city.

Swartwout was appointed collector by the President, 1 May, 1829, and continued to serve under such appointment until 28 March ensuing. On 29 March, 1830, his nomination was sanctioned by the Senate, and he continued to serve in the office of collector four years. On 29 March, 1834, he was again appointed by the President and Senate for the term of four years.

Under each of the above appointments he gave bond and security, which, after reciting his appointment of collector &c., provided:

"Now therefore, if the said Samuel Swartwout, hath truly and faithfully executed and discharged, and shall continue truly and faithfully to discharge, all the duties of the said office according to law, then"

&c.

The bond on which this suit was brought is dated 22 June, 1830.

A transcript of the accounts of Swartwout from the commencement to the termination of his service as collector was given in evidence, and also a transcript which purports to state the responsibilities arising under the second term of his service.

At the commencement of his second term, a large balance was charged against him arising under the previous term, and at the commencement of the third term, a balance was charged as arising under the second term.

In the course of the trial the two following points were raised on which the judges were opposed in opinion, and the questions were certified to this Court.

"1. Whether the said transcript from the books and proceedings of the Treasury, given in evidence, on the part of the United

Page 42 U. S. 258

States, to show the indebtment of said Swartwout on 28 March, 1834, on which day the second term of office of said Swartwout expired, was in this case competent and legal evidence for that purpose."

"2. Whether the payments made by said Samuel Swartwout subsequently to the said 28 March, 1834, should be applied to the discharge of his indebtment existing on the said 28 March, 1834, or accruing during his said second term of office, or whether such payments should be applied to the discharge of his indebtment accruing after that time."

By the Act of 2 March, 1799, collectors of the customs are required

"once in every three months, or oftener if directed, to transmit their accounts for settlement to the officer or officers whose duty it shall be to make such settlement."

From the transcripts in this case and the deposition of the late comptroller it appears that until after 1838, the accounts of collectors of the customs were kept at the Treasury in one continued series of debits and credits, without regard to the terms of the appointments or the different sureties involved.

By the Act of May 15, 1820, the term of appointment of collectors of the customs and other officers named was limited to four years. Prior to that act, such appointments were made without any limitation as to time except the pleasure of the President.

The 2d section of the Act of 3 March, 1797, provides that

"In every case of delinquency where suit has been or shall be instituted, a transcript from the books and proceedings of the Treasury, certified by the register and authenticated under the seal of the department, shall be admitted as evidence,"

&c. By the 11th section of the Act of 3 March, 1817, the auditors of the War and Navy departments were authorized to certify accounts the same as the register.

Before the points certified are examined, we will consider the principles involved in the case.

Under the act of 1820, collectors can only be appointed for four years. At the end of this term, the office becomes vacant, and must be filled by a new appointment. And each collector is required to give bond and security on entering upon the duties of his appointment in such sum as shall be designated.

Page 42 U. S. 259

That the collector is responsible for all moneys received by him and not accounted for, without reference to the official terms he may have served or to any bonds he may have executed, is undoubted. But this is not the case with his sureties. They are responsible only for the faithful performance of his duties, for the term of his appointment. The condition of the bond is that he hath performed his duties faithfully and that he shall continue to perform them. But this condition does not extend to his delinquencies under any other appointment.

The bond in question is dated 22 June, 1830, and relates to 29 March preceding, at which time the term of the collector commenced, and its obligation extends to 29 March, 1834. That the sureties are not bound beyond this period is too clear for controversy. As regards their liability, it is the same as if Swartwout had served only the term covered by their bond. For the faithful performance of his duties under the executive appointment, which preceded the above term, Swartwout gave bond and security, and also, under the new appointment for four years, which he served from 29 March, 1834. So far as the sureties are concerned, these terms are as separate and distinct as if a different individual had filled each one of them.

The extent of the obligation of the sureties being stated, we are brought to the inquiry

"whether the transcript, given in evidence on the part of the United States to show the indebtment of Swartwout, on 28 March, 1834, was legal evidence."

The transcript is certified in the form required by the act of Congress. In the argument, no objection was stated as to the mode of its authentication. But the restatement of the account by the Treasury officers, showing the liabilities incurred by the collector during the term for which the defendants are bound as sureties, is objected to.

The collector is also a disbursing officer. He is charged with the bonds taken for duties, and is credited for sums paid into the Treasury and also for drawbacks and other disbursements incident to his office or which have been made under the order of the Treasury Department. But from the continuous mode of keeping his accounts, without regard to the terms he may have served, the defalcation within anyone term does not appear.

Page 42 U. S. 260

At the commencement of each term, an amount is charged against the collector, but it may be composed of bonds in suit, not due, and deposited specially, as is found by the items first charged in the general transcript, amounting to more than eleven millions of dollars. The balance charged, therefore, at the commencement of any quarter or term does not show that the collector is in default. He may, indeed, stand charged with money actually paid into the Treasury by him, but for which he has received no credit, as what is called a covering warrant has not been issued. Until this shall be done, the credit cannot, by the usage of the department, be given.

To meet the necessary disbursements, a sufficient sum of money should always be under the control of the collector. And it is understood to be the usage of the collector, under the sanction of the department, to retain such sum.

From this it appears that the general transcript affords no sufficient data on which to charge the sureties for any term of office where, as in the present case, the same person has served as collector several terms.

It is contended that the duties of the Treasury officers charged with the settlement of these accounts are in their nature judicial, and that when an account is once settled, it is conclusive on the government, and can only be opened for correction by a suit in court. That in the present case, as credits were given in the account current, which more than paid the moneys received within the four years under examination, the sureties must stand discharged of all liability. And that although these payments were in part made from moneys received after the expiration of the above term, the credit must stand as entered.

If this be a sound argument, by the mode of keeping these accounts in the Treasury Department, all sureties of collectors, except those for the last term, are discharged. And it is supposed that this construction would impose no hardship or injustice on the last securities; that, as the bond binds them for the past as well as the future conduct of the collector, they must inquire what amount is charged against him at the commencement of the term for which they are bound.

Now the retrospective obligation of the bond is as much limited by the term of the new appointment as the prospective. And in

Page 42 U. S. 261

this view it would be as logical and just to hold that the sureties are liable for defalcations after the expiration of the term as for those which occurred before its commencement. There is no such condition in the instrument. It recites the new appointment, and, by consequence, limits the obligation to the term of office fixed by law.

The rule as to the appropriation of payments by debtor or creditor in the ordinary transactions of business is earnestly relied on as applicable to the present case. And all the leading authorities on this subject are referred to. In the case of Devaynes v. Noble, 1 Mer. 606, the doctrine which governs the application of payments was elaborately considered. But the applicability of this doctrine is not admitted. We think the rule established by this Court in the case of United States v. January & Patterson, 7 Cranch 572, is the true one. In that case the Court said:

"The debtor has the option, if he think fit to exercise it, and may direct the application of any particular payment at the time of making it. If he neglects to make the application, the creditor may make it; if he also neglects to apply the payment, the law will make the application."

But the Court adds

"A majority of the Court is of opinion that the rule adopted in ordinary cases is not applicable to a case where different sureties under distinct obligations are interested."

The Treasury officers are the agents of the law. It regulates their duties, as it does the duties and rights of the collector and his sureties. The officers of the Treasury cannot, by any exercise of their discretion, enlarge or restrict the obligation of the collector's bond. Much less can they, by the mere fact of keeping an account current in which debits and credits are entered as they occur and without any express appropriation of payments, affect the rights of sureties. The collector is a mere agent or trustee of the government. He holds the money he receives in trust, and is bound to pay it over to the government as the law requires. And in the faithful performance of this trust the sureties have a direct interest, and their rights cannot be disregarded. It is true, as argued, if the collector shall misapply the public funds, his sureties are responsible. But that is not the question under consideration. The collector does not misapply the funds in his hands, but pays them over to the government, without any special

Page 42 U. S. 262

direction as to their application. Can the Treasury officers say, under such circumstances, that the funds currently received and paid over shall be appropriated in discharge of a defalcation which occurred long before the sureties were bound for the collector, and by such appropriation hold the sureties liable for the amount? The statement of the case is the best refutation of the argument. It is so unjust to the sureties, and so directly in conflict with the law and its policy, that it requires but little consideration.

If the collector be in default for a preceding term, it is the duty of the Treasury Department to require payment from him and his sureties for that term. To pay such defalcation out of accruing receipts during a subsequent term, even with the assent of the collector, would be a fraud upon the sureties for such term. The money in the hands of the collector is not his money. Without a violation of his duty, he cannot appropriate it as such. He pays it over in the performance of his duty -- the duty which the sureties have undertaken that he shall faithfully perform. And shall the sureties not be exonerated? The collector has done all that they stipulated he should do. How then can they be made responsible? It is contended that their responsibility arises not from the default of the collector, but from the appropriation of his payments by the Treasury. This, at least, is the fair result of the doctrine advanced. For if such appropriation is properly made by the Treasury in payment of a defalcation of the collector before the commencement of the current term, it must follow that the sureties for such term are responsible for the amount thus paid.

The government must show the amount of the defalcation of the collector during the term for which the defendants were sureties, to charge them, and this is not done on the face of the general transcript. It is necessary, therefore, to have a restatement of the account for this purpose. This restatement does not falsify the general account, but arranges the items of debits and credits so as to exhibit the transactions of the collector during the four years in question. Whether this be done by depositions or in the form of a transcript may not be material.

We think that the transcript or restatement of the account, as explained by the depositions, was competent evidence to the jury.

Page 42 U. S. 263

This statement, as appears from the deposition of Tarbutt, is defective in not giving all the credits to which the collector was entitled; but as it relates to the matter in controversy, it is evidence. The jury will determine what effect is shall have.

The amount charged to the collector at the commencement of the term is only prima facie evidence against the sureties. If they can show by circumstances or otherwise that the balance charged in whole or in part had been misapplied by the collector prior to the new appointment, they are not liable for the sum so misapplied. If the sum charged consists of duty bonds, the defendants may show that the bonds were never paid. These remarks apply to the sureties under every new appointment of the collector, and to the balance charged against him.

On 29 March, 1834, a new official term of Swartwout commenced, and new securities were given. On that day a large apparent balance was due to the government by him. Now the inquiry should be of what did that balance consist? Did it arise from a misapplication of the public money during the preceding term? If so, the sureties of the preceding term are liable for the amount thus misapplied. But if there was no misapplication of the public money by the collector, and he paid over to the government or its order all the moneys he received during the official term for which the defendants were his sureties, however such payments may have been appropriated by the Treasury, the sureties are discharged.

In answer to the question "whether the payments made by the collector subsequently to 28 March, 1834, should be appropriated in discharge of his indebtment on that day" we say that so far as such payments were made of moneys accruing and received in the subsequent term, they should not be so applied. But so far as payments were made in the subsequent term of moneys received on duty bonds or otherwise, which remained charged to the collector, as of the preceding official term, such payments should be appropriated in discharge of the indebtment of the collector for that term. The sureties are only responsible for a misapplication of the public money during the four years preceding 29 March, 1834. And of course the extent of this responsibility must be shown by the government. As before remarked, the Court considers the official terms as distinct and

Page 42 U. S. 264

separate, in regard to the sureties, as if different persons had served in the three terms specified; that the legal responsibilities of the sureties are not and cannot be affected by any action of the Treasury Department. If liable, the sureties are made so by their contract, and the government, being a party to that contract, cannot, without the consent of the defendants, change its legal or equitable effect.

Order

This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York, and on the points and questions on which the judges of the said circuit court were opposed in opinion, and which were certified to this Court for its opinion, agreeably to the act of Congress in such case made and provided, and was argued by counsel. On consideration whereof it is the opinion of this Court,

1st, that the transcript from the books and proceedings of the Treasury, given in evidence on the part of the United States, to show the indebtedness of Samuel Swartwout on 28 March, 1834, on which day the second term of office of said Swartwout expired, was in this case competent and legal evidence.

2d, that the payments made by said Samuel Swartwout subsequently to the said 28 March, 1834, should be appropriated in discharge of his indebtedness on that day, so far as said payments were made, in the subsequent term, of moneys received on duty bonds or otherwise, which remained charged to the collector as of the preceding official term, but not where such payments were made of moneys accruing and received in the subsequent term.

Whereupon it is now here ordered and adjudged by this Court, that it be so certified to the said circuit court.