...Endlich on Interpretation of Statutes, § 80. In the case of Ham v. McClaws, 1 Bay, 93, the court said: "In the present instance we have an act before us,...which, were the strict letter of it applied to the ease of the present claimants, would be evidently against common reason. * » * \yg are therefore bound...

...principles of common right, and common reason, are absolutely null and void as far as they are calculated to operate against those principles. In the present...say that it was their intention to make a forfeiture ot property brought in here as this was. We are, therefore, bound to give such construction to this...

...sanction of a former law, and without knowledge on the part of the importer of the new one. The court "would not do the legislature who passed this act so much injustice as to . . . say that it was their intention to make a forfeiture of property brought in here as this was."...

...Endlich on Interpretation of Statutes, § 80. In the case of Ham v. MeClaws, 1 Bay, 93, the court said: "In the present Instance we have an act before us,...claimants, would be evidently against common reason. » » * \ye are therefore bound to give such construction to this enacting clause of the act of 1788...

...plain and obvious principles of common right, and common reason, are absolutely null and void. . . . [W]e would not do the legislature who passed this...their intention to make a forfeiture of property. . . . We are, therefore, bound to give such a construction to this [act] as will be consistent with...