land located contrary to the provisions of this section, shall be considered as null and void.” The time for making locations and surveys was farther extended, by subsequent acts containing the same proviso. The defendant contends that this proviso comprehends the land previously surveyed by the Surveyor General of the United States. We do not concur in this opinion, for several reasons. The words refer to the whole military reserve, and seem intended to apply to surveys which might be made throughout that entire tract of country, not to the land surveyed in townships, sections, and parts of sections, by the United States, west of Ludlow's line. There were such surveys. The records of this Court show, that many controversies were produced in that country, by the mode of locating and surveying military lands, which had been adopted under the laws of Virginia; and it is not unreasonable to suppose, that Congress, when giving farther time to make locations and surveys, might be disposed to cure the defects in titles already acquired, and to prevent second locations on lands already located. The words of the proviso too are adapted to the saving of private rights. It has great influence, we think, on this question, that if the proviso be construed to comprehend the surveys made by the United States, it would amount to the establishment of Ludlow's line; for those surveys were made up to that line, and would indirectly curtail the Virginia military 1824. Doddridge V. Thompson. 1824. Doddridge V. reserve. This was obviously not, at that time, the intention of the government. Subsequent to this period, in 1812, commissioners were apThompson. pointed for the purpose of agreeing with those of Virginia on the true line, and marking it; who were directed "to note the intersections, if any, of said line with any surveys heretofore authorized by the United States." Congress was induced to give farther time for making these locations and surveys, by a just sense of the real difficulties attending the completion of titles in that country, and an equitable regard for the rights of the claimants. There can be no reason to suppose that it was intended to withdraw one part of the country from these claims more than another. If this intention had existed, it would have been manifested in more intelligible and direct words. Instead of the ambiguous language used in this proviso, all locations would have been restrained beyond Ludlow's fine; Congress would have avowed its intention in plain terms, and would have effected its object by direct means. But the course of legislation which has been pursued on this subject, the scrupulous regard which the government has shown to the conditions on which the cession of Virginia was made, the liberal and fair offers of the United States, for adjusting the real extent of the reserve, forbid a construction which would indirectly abridge that reserve. But were it to be admitted that the proviso does comprehend the lands between the lines surveyed by Roberts and Ludlow, that admission could not affect this cause. The words of the proviso are, "that no locations shall be made on tracts of land. for which patents had been previously issued, or which had been previously surveyed." The prohibition respects future locations, not future surveys; and the case does not show when this location was made. It might have been made previous to the passage of the act of 1807; and the presumption of law is, that it was made before that time, since the patent is presumed to be valid, until the contrary is shown. On both points, the Court is of opinion that the law upon this case is for the plaintiff, and that the judgment of the Circuit Court, in favour of the defendants, must be reversed, and judgment entered for the plaintiff. Judgment reversed. 1824. Rigge V. Tayloe. [EVIDENCE.] RIGGS V. TAYLOE. li a party intend to use a written instrument in evidence, he must Where a writing has been voluntarily destroyed, for fraudulent pur- 1824. Riggs V. Tayloe. Feb. 26th. March 16th. dence of its contents is not admissible. But where the destruction or loss (although voluntary) happens through mistake or accident, such evidence will be admitted. ERROR to the Circuit Court for the District of Columbia. This cause was argued by Mr. Key,, for the plaintiff, and by Mr. Hay, for the defendant. Mr. Justice TODD delivered the opinion of the Court. This was an action on the case brought by the plaintiff against the defendant in the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, upon a contract in writing, entered into between the plaintiff and defendant, for the sale of bank stock of the Central Bank of Georgetown. At the time that this contract was entered into, each party had a counterpart of the contract, and the plaintiff alleging the loss of his, he gave notice to the defendant to produce, upon the trial, the one which he, the defendant, had; but the defendant declined producing it, stating that he had lost his also. In consequence of these losses, the plaintiff, upon the trial of the cause, offered to prove, by a person who was a witness to the contract, and had subscribed it as such, the contents of the contract, and to entitle himself to give this testimony, made the following affidavit: "The plaintiff in this cause makes oath, in relation to the memorandum a. He cited 2 M'Nally on Evid. 344. 1 Phill. on Evid. 167. 3 T. R. 51. 3 Dall. 415. Riggs V. Tayloe. of agreement between the defendant and himself, 1824. relative to the stock in the declanation mentioned, that his impression is, that he tore up the same. after the transfer of the stock, believing that the statements upon which the contract had been made were correct, and that he would have no further use for the paper. He is not certain that he did tear it up, and does not recollect doing so, but such is his impression. If he did not tear it up, it has become lost or mislaid; and that he has searched for it among his papers repeatedly, and cannot find it." The defendant objected to this testimony, and insisted that no evidence ought to be given of the contents of the said contract. The Court sustained the objection; whereupon a verdict and judgment was given for the defendant. The plaintiff filed a bill of exceptions to the opinion of the Court, excluding the evidence aforesaid from going to the jury, and the cause is brought up to this Court by a writ of error. The only question to be decided by this Court is, whether the Circuit Court erred in rejecting the said evidence.. Whether the plaintiff in the cause was a competent witness to prove the loss or destruction of the written agreement, referred to in the bill of exceptions, need not be inquired into, as it was not objected to in the Court below, and the question was waived by the defendant's counsel in this Court. The admissibility of evidence of the loss of a deed or other written instrument, is addressed to the Court, and not to the jury. |