Wheeling & Belmont Bridge Co. v. Wheeling Bridge Co.

Syllabus

<p>When the highest court of a State holds a judgment of an inferior court of that State to be final, this court can hardly consider it in any other light in exercising its appellate jurisdiction.</p> <p>A ferry connecting Wheeling with'Wheeling Island was licensed at an early day in Virginia. Subsequently a general law of that State prohibited the courts of the different counties from licensing a ferry within a half a mile in a direct line from an established ferry. In 1847 the defendant-purchased the ferry and its rights. Held,</p> <p>(1) That the general law of Virginia had in it nothing in the nature of a contract;</p> <p>(2) That the transfer of the existing rights from the vendor to the vendee added nothing to them.</p> <p>An alleged surrender or suspension of a power of government respecting any matter of public concern must be shown by clear and unequivocal language; it cannot be inferred from any inhibitions upon particular officers, or special tribunals, or from any doubtful or uncertain expressions.</p>