THE UNITED STATES, APPELLANTS
v.
WILLIAM MILLS' HEIRS
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The United States appealed a lower court's confirmation of a land claim by William Mills' heirs based on a Spanish land grant conditioned upon performance within six months, which performance was never attempted either by Mills during his lifetime or by his representatives afterward. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decree, holding that because the conditions precedent to the grant were not fulfilled within the specified time and no sufficient cause excused the non-performance, the grant was null and void. This decision applied equitable principles to the interpretation of land grants made under the 1819 Treaty with Spain, establishing that conditional grants fail when their conditions are not satisfied.
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Mr." Justice Wayne delivered' the opinion of the Court:
This is an appeal from a decree of the superior court of East Florida, confirming a. land claim.
It differs only from the case of the United States v. Z. Kingsley, decided by the Court at this term; in this: that the conditions upon which the appellee was to have a property in the land petitioned for; was limited to performance within, six months from the date of the governor’s decree. Tt was not-performed. Nor was-any attempt made to perform it by the appellee in his life-time, or by his representatives after his death. No sufficient cause for non-performance is shown .within the time limited, nor afterwards; tó bring.it within those rules of justice and equity, which this Court has said, shall, be. applied in its construction of the 8th article of the treaty of February, 1819, with Spain; on its consideration of gránts made upon condition. For the reasons stated in the case of;Kings!ey, the Court is of opinion that the decree of the court below in this case, should be reversed, and it was ordered accordingly.
This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record from the superior court for the district of East Florida, and was argued by counsel. On consideration whereof, it is the opinion of this Court, that the petitioner has not fulfilled the condition of the grantj-and.lhat, therefore, the. grant or concession is null and void; and that' the petitioner has no right or title to the land. Whereupon, it is now here decreed and ordered by this Court,-that the decree of the said supérior court, in this cause, be', and the same is hereby reversed and annulled; and that this cause be, and the same is hereby remanded to the said superior court, with directions to enter a decree in conformity to the opinion of this Court.