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54 Barb. 209

Brookman v. Hamill

New York Supreme Court

Decided June 7, 1869

New York Supreme Court · decided 1869-06-07

THE first of the above entitled actions was brought against the obligors on a bond, given pursuant to a statute of this State since declared unconstitutional. In October, 1865, the plaintiffs and Henry E. Hamill (the latter being the owner of the steamship King Philip) made an agreement by which Hamill was to use certain wharves belonging to the plaintiffs for his vessels, for which use he was to pay. them, half the usual wharfage rates.

Relies on Rich v. Penfield

Decided 1869-06-07

¶1By the Court,

Clerke, P. J.

¶2These cases come within the scope of the decision óf the óourt of Appeals mentioned in my opinion in Ferran v. Hosford (ante, p. 200,) heard also during this present term. The only point taken by the plaintiffs’ counsel on the argument, not taken in Ferran v. Hosford, is, that the objection to the unconstitutionality of the act of 1862 was not taken on the trial.- This point undoubtedly would be tenable, if the objection, had it been raised on the trial, was capable of being obviated; as where it was possible that new or additional evidence could have been supplied. (Rich v. Penfield, 1 Wend. 380. Lawrence v. Barker, 5 id. 301.) But an objection to the unconstitutionality of an act of the legislature could not have been obviated by any action of the plaintiffs. hTo effort on their part could make a law constitutional which, at the time of the trial and at all times since its enactment, was unconstitutional; although the competent authority had not declared it to be unconstitutional, until some time afterwards.

¶3The judgments should be reversed, with costs.

¶4Clerke, Cardozo and Geo. G. Barnard, Justices.]

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