Opinion
Argued September 6, 1871
Decided September 12, 1871
J.H. Reynolds, for appellant. J.D. Kernan, for respondent.
Bendetson v. French, decided at the present term of this court, covers all the material questions in this case, except the point as to the amount of the recovery. The plaintiff recovered at the trial for the amount of gold coin lost: $493.50, premium, 59 per cent, $291.16 and interest on both.
When this coin was lost, there were two currencies in the United States established by law as the court has held.
The plaintiff lost gold coin. Why should he recover in paper currency? Why should not this case be decided precisely as if the legal tender act, so called, had never been enacted by congress?
I can see no reason for calling this gold coin merchandise; and therefore, a recovery should be had for its value in currency. It is clearly one kind of money; and there is no reason for recovering for its loss in any other kind of money. It cannot be said that the value of gold coin changes more than the other kind of currency, which an act of congress has declared to be money. The truth is the other way. The fluctuation is in the congressional paper currency; not in the gold coin. True, paper is now worth nearly fifty per cent more than it was in 1863 when this money was lost. It might easily have been worth much less. The gold coin is worth substantially the same.
We have recently held, that a bill of exchange, payable here in gold dollars, drawn since the passage of the legal tender act is recoverable in gold, and that the judgment should be for gold dollars. ( Chrysler v. Renois, 4 Hand, 209.) Legal justice is done by a similar judgment in this case.
The court cannot regard the fact, that this coin will purchase much less paper currency now than it would in 1863. If it would purchase much more, the rule would be the same.
There is no reason for varying the judgment in this case, because the action is for what the law terms a tort. There is not the least distinction in principle. In Chrysler v. Renois there was a breach of an express contract payable in gold dollars.
Here, in reality, is a breach of an implied contract, on the part of the innkeeper, to keep the goods of his guest safely.
If it were a plain tort, accompanied with force, the principle is the same.
The recovery should be for what is lost, whether by breach of an implied or an express contract, or by a tort.
No sound distinction can be made in the cases. Hence, none is made in the judgment.
I have examined the other points raised at the trial, and do not think the court committed any error in their disposition.
The judgment is modified so as to make the recovery for the amount of the gold coin lost, with interest thereon to the time of entry of the judgment below, payable in coin, with costs of the court below, payable in currency, without costs of appeal to either party.
Of course the plaintiff is entitled to interest on his judgment, except as to costs payable in coin.
It is agreed by all the members of the court, that the plaintiff was entitled to recover in the action, and that no error appears in the record entitling the defendant to a reversal of the judgment.
A modification of the judgment by which the plaintiff will recover, in coin, the same number of dollars lost, instead of the market value thereof on the day of the loss is suggested, although no such question was made by the counsel for the appellant. An anomalous condition exists in the United States, resulting from the fact, that by act of congress there are two distinct currencies of different values made a legal tender in the payment of debts and obligations, payable in money generally, are solvable in either at the option of the debtor. The consequence is, that for all practical purposes in the internal traffic of the country, the inferior currency has become the standard of value, and by it the prices or value of breadstuff and merchandise are measured, and gold, which is the recognized standard of exchange in our dealings with other countries, has in fact, and in spite of all theories, and all the maxims of political economists, became an article of commerce, and is bought and sold daily in the market. While it may be said that the value of gold is permanent, and the price of greenbacks has fluctuated, this is but a form of speech, and conveys no practical idea under present circumstances. The latter are not the subjects of purchase and sale; but gold is sold at prices payable in greenbacks, and fluctuating as demand and supply vary, or other circumstances affect the market. Gold ceased to be the sole standard of value, when another and inferior currency was made by law an equivalent in the discharge of ordinary pecuniary obligations; and from that time contracts not made in terms, payable in coin, could legally be, and were, in fact, discharged by payment in the inferior currency. The law recognized the right of parties to contract for the better currency, and courts have given effect to such contracts by giving special judgments in actions brought upon them. The intent of the parties has, by a necessary change in the forms of procedure and judgment, been carried out. ( Chrysler v. Renois, 43 N.Y., 209.) It does not follow that the rules which have been adopted, to give effect to contracts made in reference to the anomalous condition of the laws of the United States, regulating and prescribing the character of legal tender, are applicable in actions of tort. In actions for wrongs, the plaintiff demands compensation in money for damages sustained, and in the ordinary or usual currency of the country; and it is not like the case of a contract, which the parties have made the law of the particular transaction, and have declared in which of two recognized currencies the contract shall be performed; and the courts simply import into the judgment the terms of the contract, by making it payable in that currency, which is a lawful tender and has been agreed upon by the parties. If a party loses bullion by the wrongful act of another, the rule and measure of damages in an action, is the same as for the loss of a horse, or a bushel of wheat, viz.: The value of the article at the time of the loss with interest, and the value is necessarily, as it is practically measured or estimated by the usual and ordinary standard of value; that is, its market value in the currency in ordinary use; that sum, which on the day of the loss would have replaced the property. At the time of the loss of the gold coin by the plaintiff, it had a known market value in the ordinary currency of the country; that currency recognized by the courts, and which was receivable in payment of all debts, as well by judgment as simple contract, and the plaintiff is entitled to recover as damages that sum, which at that time, would have replaced the gold coin lost, with interest on that sum. He is entitled to that which he then lost and nothing more. A return of the gold in specie may or may not indemnify him; but, be that as it may, there is no act or assent of the parties, that the judgment in this action be made an exception to the ordinary forms of judgments in other actions, or to measure the compensation to the plaintiff, by any other than the ordinary rules in such cases.
The coin lost was property daily quoted in the market, capable of valuation in the currency in general use, and which was payable in satisfaction of all judgments not special in form, and all ordinary contracts; and it will add to the complexities and difficulties growing out of the fact, that two recognized species of legal tender money exist by law, to extend the rule which, from necessity to give effect to the intent of parties, has been applied to special contracts calling for coin.
I am for an affirmance of the judgment.
For affirmance, Ch. J. and ALLEN.
For modification of judgment in accordance with opinion of PECKHAM, J. PECKHAM, FOLGER, GROVER, and RAPALLO, JJ.
Judgment modified accordingly.