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John A. Rowan and John L. Harris, Copartners in Trade under the Name and Style of Rowan and Harris, Plaintiffs in Error, v. Hiram G. Runnels, Defendant in Error U.S. 134 (1847)

handle is hein.slavery/ussccases0302 and id is 1 raw text is: 134                SUPREME COURT.
Rowan et al. v. Runnels.
proceedings at law ; that the bill and amended bill of the com-
plainants were not exceptionable for multifariousness ; that the
decree of the Circuit Court dismissing those bills for either of the
causes assiijed for the demurrer is erroneous.   The decree is
therefore reversed, and this cause is remanded to the Circuit Court,
with directions to be there proceeded in, conformably with the prin-
ciples here established.
Order.
This cause came on to be heard on the transcript of the record
from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern Dis-
trict of Alabama, and was argued by counjel. On consideration
whereof, it is ordered and decreed by this court that the decree of
the said Circuit Court in this cause be and the. same is hereby re-
versed, with costs' and that this cause be and the same is hereby
remanded to the said Circuit Court, with directions to proceed
therein conformably to the opinion of this court.
XOHN A. RowAN AND JOHN L. EMIs, COPATNERS IN TRADE UNDER
THE NAIE AND STYLE OF RowAN AND HARRIS, PLAINTIFFS IN ERROR,
v. HIRAMi G, RUNNELS, DEFENDANT IN ERROR.
SADIEv. SAME.
In the case of Groves v. Slaughter (15 Peters, 449) this court decided that the con-
stitution of Mississippi did not, of itself, and without any legislative enaciment,
prohibit the introductioh of slaves as merchandise and for sale.
This constitution went into operation on the 1st of M'Jay, 1833, and on the 13th of
May, 1837, a law was passed to provide for the case.
This court adheres to the construction of the constitution which was given in the
case of Groves v. Slaughter, and enforces contracts made between the two days
above mentioned, although the courts of the State of Mississippi have, since the
decision in the case of Groves v. Slaughter, declared such contracts to be void.
THESE cases were brought up, by writ of error, from the Circuit
Court of the United States for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Rowan and Harris were citizens of Virginia, and Runnels was a
citizen of Mississippi.'
Both cases depended upon the same principle, and differed only
in this, that, in one, Runnels executed to Rowan & Harris his own
note, and, in the other, indorsed over to them a promissory note
executed by George W. Adams. Both notes were due on the
1st of March, 1840, one being fbr $ 2,950.70, and the other for
$8,671.33. At maturity the notes were protestd for notipay-
ment, and suits brought upon them.
At the -trial, the defendant offered in evidence a transcript of the
record of a suit pending in the Supreine Court of Chancery of the

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