State ex rel. Lockwood v. Kirkwood

Weight, J. Whether the Legislature had the power to resume this grant and confer it upon the company represented by the relators (so far as the rights' of the Iowa Central Air Line Railroad Company are concerned),is a question remotely suggested in the argument, but as we deem it immaterial, from the view taken of the merits of the cause, it is not now determined. And the same may be- said as to the question whether the Governor has such a discretion in the premises as that the judicial power cannot control its exercise. We also remark that we pass these questions for the reason that the determination of one of them at least (the latter) would (if determined adversely to appellants) leave unsettled the construction of the act of the Legislature under which they claim, and undecided a question important to the interest of the State as well as the company. And as to the first question, it involves issues vitally important to the “ Air Line Company,” not a party to this proceeding, and prudence as well as a due regard for the rights of the unrepresented corporation, would dictate that it should be ■ passed until (if ever) it legitimately arises. • Had the relators the right to demand- of the Governor the certificate claimed ? or, in other words, without complying with §§ 6 and 7 of the act of 1860, could the company rightfully demand the certificate claimed?. Or, still again, are these provisions (so far as the relators, or the rights of the company represented by them, are concerned) in conflict with the act of Congress ? And, in the first place, we dispose of a preliminary question, suggested by counsel, that relators have a right to demand a certificate that the two sections, of twenty miles each, have been completed, though they may not have the right to require a certificate for the lands to the railroad company. Or this proposition may be stated thus: that the State law contemplates the withholding of the title to the land, while the act of Congress relates to the proving — 167 — of a fact which exists independently of the land and all title thereto. We remark that the certificate of the Go ver-, ■nor was intended to accomplish a practical purpose, ánd that was to enable the State to sell, from time to time, a quantity of land not exceeding one hundred and twenty sections for the completion of each twenty miles of road. And the Governor could not be required to give any other certificate. He might, at his option, certify that any company hád completed and equipped twenty miles of railway. Thus he might certify that this company had completed so many miles on the forty-third or any other parallel, while the acts of Congress, and the legislature of this State, required that it should be constructed, as near as practicable, on the forty-second. But he could not be compelled to make this certificate. The courts of the State could only compel him to do an act which was contemplated by the law, and necessary to acquire the lands granted by the act of Congress. , If the company accepting the provisions of the act of the Legislature, have not complied with its terms, they have no right to demand a certificate that they have done anything else, upon which to base an order from the Secretary of Interior to sell a portion of the lands. But the inquiry still remains, were relators, or the company, entitled to this or any certificate from the Governor, without complying with §§ 6 and 7 of the act under which they claim? Assuming that the act of Congress vested the legal title in these lands in the State, in trust, for the purpose of aiding the construction of a railroad, subject to the right of reversion, and that they could not be applied to the construction of a road not contemplated by the act, or inconsistent with the terms of the grant, the argument, so for as the rights of the relators are concerned, would not be materially advanced. For .if the conditions imposed upon the State are subsequent, so that a failure to comply with them would defeat the title, so those in the act of the — 168 — legislature, as applied to the company, are precedent, and if not complied with, they fail to acquire a title, or a right to it. And truly is it said by appellants’ counsel,-that in the former case it is a question between the General and State Governments; and in the latter, between the State and the company. The Federal Government does not know or have anything to do with the railroad company as such, and all the rights of the company are derived from the State, under the State law. They had no special or vested right in these lands, or right to them, beyond any other company or individual. It was competent for the State to construct the road, and retain the lands for disposition to settlers or individuals, upon such terms and at such times as might be deemed advantageous. Or the State might' contract with any company or individual for the construction of the road", giving the lands as a bonus, or to aid in such construction. If, by such contract,' more was required of the company than was contemplated by the act of Congress, the State might thereby violate tbe trust reposed, but we are not aware of any principle upon wbieb tbe other contracting party (tbe comp’any) could claim an advantage therefrom, and insist that they were, as a consequence, •excused for the breach of their agreement. The company, by its president and secretary, under the seal of the corporation, filed, in the office of the Secretary of State, within the time required, its acceptance of the grant, upon the conditions named in the law. By this law it is expressly provided, that the company should build a road from Lyons to Clinton City, before the 1st of December, 1861. Another provision is, that a portion of the road should be constructed from Cedar Rapids to Marion. And tbe Governor is expressly prohibited from certifying any of tbe lands until eacb of these conditions' are complied with. Grant that tbe State had no power, in view of its duty to the general government, to annex these-conditions. Admit that the — 169 — grant was not made by Congress to aid in the construction of these side roads, or plugs, as they are called. Concede that the lands are to be applied exclusively to the construction of a road from “Lyons city, northwesterly, &c., as near as practicable, on the forty-second parallel.” We say, all these propositions admitted, and the relators are not benefited. Suppose the act of the Legislature had made the grant upon condition that the company should construct a road from Muscatine to Sioux city. Could the company accept the same, build the road on the forty-seeond parallel, and then claim the lands ? If they could, then they could make such claim, and have a right to the lands, by doing the work, as well without as with an act of the Legislature. And in this view, the grant to the State would amount to nothing, for the company first doing the work, on its own motion, and without any authority from the State, would be entitled to the lands. The correct position, however, is, that the lands belong to the State, that no company has the exclusive right to them or can acquire the same, without legislative sanction. After the Legislature has acted, and proposed the terms, it is entirely at the option of the company to accept the terms, or join in the contract, or let it alone. When they have joined, however, they are not at liberty to do something else than their contract provides for, and then claim that, as the State has departed from its duty, they áre thereby released from fulfilling theirs. The doctrine that a law may be void in part, and valid in other respects, has nothing to do with this case. The act of the Legislature and the acceptance of its terms by the company, constituted a contract between the parties. If the State had no power to make it, the company cannot enforce it, and least of all by failing to comply with its conditions. If the State had the power to make it, then the express conditions with which the Company were to comply, to entitle them to the certificate claimed, must have — 170 — been observed. It is admitted that these were not complied with, and the Governor, therefore, properly withheld the certificate; Affirmed.