— Levy atid Clark stand bound, in equal degree to the Bank, that Gomez should accept and pay the bill of the former. The discount, being solely for the benefit of Levy, as between him and Clark, he was the principal debtor. Gomez, by his acceptance, became a principal debtor as to Clark and tiie Bank; but his acceptance being for the accommodation of Levy, as between Levy and himself, he was only a surety. These facts were all known to Clark, at the time of his endorsement, with the further information, that Gomez accepted, or would accept, in confidence that Levy would consign property to him before the maturity of the bill, to meet the acceptance; and that he, Gomez, transacted business as a Commission Merchant in New-York, to whom Levy was in the habit of making large consignments.— By a bond and mortgage, a fund is provided for the indemnity of Clark, at the time of his endorsement. The whole of Levy’s property is afterwards bonaJide, and upon full consideration, conveyed to La»arus and McRae, with notice of the mortgage to Clark. The mortgage has not been registered. In the deed to Laaarus and McRae, there is this clause: “And whereas John Clark *218bath a lien on part of the property herein conveyed, for his endorsement made for the said Jocob Levy, it is further understood, agreed, covenanted and granted, and the said Trustees are hereby directed, in order to extinguish said claim, first fully to pay and satisfy, out of the proceeds of the sale or sales aforesaid, so much of the debt of the said Jacob with the Banks aforesaid, (meaning among others the Bank of Cape-Fear,) as may be endorsed by the said John Clark." After one or more re-drawings by Levy on Gome», endorsed by Clark, and after tiic execution of the deed from Levy to Lazarus and McRae, Levy, with Gome» and Clark as his sureties, gave a joint note to the Bank of Cape-Fear, the holder of the bill, or which is the same thing, a similar one drawn in renewal of it, including interest and damages. Levy and Clark being insolvent, Gome» lias paid the whole of this note. In the mortgage to Clark, the mortgaged property is declared to be liable to any future, or other endorsement, which Clark may make (or Levy, and for any endorsement which he may make for their renewals, according to the practice of Banks. Gome», by this bill, seeks the benefit of the fund created for Clark’s indemnity, and has obtained an assignment from him, and also one from the Bank of Cape-Fear, of all their interest in the trust premises, for and on account of the hill or note abovementioned.
There is no agreement made between Clark and Gomez to change the order of their liability, appearing upon the face of the transaction. Upon it, Gomez stands prior in obligation to Clark, for Clark’s liability was to arise only upon his default. Standing in this relation, he cannot call upon Clark to contribute as a co-surety. In order the better to understand tiie claim of Gomez to the fund provided for the indemnity of Clark, we will consider it as created by a stranger, and not by Levy, the principal debtor. Gomez could not reach it on the ground of equality between Clark and himself, for lie *219stands, as we have seen, prior in obligation to Clark. Neither can lie claim this fund upon being subrogated to the rights of the cr editor, the Bank of Cape-Fear, for the Bank, upon receiving payment from him, is bound to assign all its obligations and facilities for enforcing payment from those who stand prior and equal in obligation to him, not from those who stand posterior to him; and, I would say, not from those who stand in equal or prior degree, unless the fund came from the principal debtor. For I think, in that case, it is purely personal, and cannot be communicated. But as this fund came from Levy, the principal debtor, it is very justly thought to be more accessible to his sureties, and if it still remained the property of the principal debtor, this Court would lend its aid to reach it, and would remove all obstructions out of the way, and place it within the power of the suffering surety. I am almost prepared to say, that where the principal debtor creates a fund for the indemnity of a primary surety, one not a bare certificator, as he is called in the civil law, (such I think Clark to be) any surety who stands in equal or posterior degree, may pursue the fund in the bands of any person, who comes to it with notice. For the principal debtor is bound to provide equally for all his sureties; with him there is no prior or posterior; and when he communicates a benefit to one, his relationship makes it common to all standing in equal degree. Commune pcriculum, una salus.
The co surety who attempts, at the time, or after the obligation is created, privately to provide for himself, from the funds of the common principal, acts contrary to good faith, as he thereby diminishes the funds, on which they all rely for their common safety.— And besides, it would tend to weaken his exertions to the end in which all have an interest. But to extend this to a prior against a posterior surety, is connecting together those whose situations are different, and inferring similar rights from dissimilar obligations. It is *220restricting too much that right of seif-preference or self-security,which ail human Jaws permit, if wedo not infringe upon those of others; and it is not considered an in-fi'ingemcnt of them, to procure for ourselves a satisfaction or security for our debts, although we may leave our debtor without the means of satisfying his other creditors, whose debts may be as meritorious as our own. Subjecting this fund (I speak of it as provided for Clark’s indemnity, and not for the payment of the debt, which I shall notice presently,) to the claim of Gome would be saying, in effect, that the bare act of becoming surety creates a lien in behalf of the surety, upon the property of the principal debtor. It cannot be reached through the medium of Clark, for it was to be used by him, only in the reverse of the facts which have happened, to wit, the failure of Gomez to pay; whereby Clark’s guarantee to the Bank would be violated. Nor can it be reached through the medium of the Bank, for similar reasons. The Bank could not call on Clark, and consequently could not call for the fund provided for him, but in the like event, the failure of Gomez. The fund, therefore, remained the property of Levy, and subject to be transferred to any person, liable however, in the hands of an assignee, to indemnify Clark, or any person who had recourse against him, for any damage which they might sustain from the default of Gomea. I have viewed this case as it stood to the fund, when the trust deed was executed to Laxarus and McEae. After which Levy’s dominion over the property entirely ceased, and with it the efficacy of that part of the original mortgage to Clark, to secure him against future endorsements ; for it rested in agreement, and grew out of his dominion over his property. The loss,of dominion did not affect endorsements made afterwards, for prior debts. Considering this, therefore, as a fund set apart for the indemnity of Clark, Gomez can have no claim to it.
*221et apart not only for identifie Clark, hut that it is| specifically appropriated ament of this debt. If ¿0, most certainly he who debt has, in this Court, a right to be reimburs-Í >c fund. For the principal debtor substituted if, and lie who can claim remuneration from ¿ . -i, is it from the fund. They are as it were after much reflection, and some doubts upon tie s ct, I think that the fund was provided and set apart for the indemnity of Clark only, and not for the payment of the debt, otherwise than as a mean of saving Clark harmless from his endorsement, because from the recitals in the deed providing it, it appears that it is substituted for the unregistered mortgage and bond to Clark, which provided for his personal indemnity only, and not for the payment of the debt. And the words, “ extinguish such claim,” and “ fully to pay so much of the debt of said Jacob Levy with said Banks, as may be endorsed by the said Clark,” must be understood as directed in reference to that object, to-wit, the payment of that debt, should Clark be compelled to pay it, and not simply the payment of the debt, without regard to that object. This construction is much strengthened from the fact, that personal indemnity, and not the payment of the debts generally of Levy, was the object of the deed. From the operation of it, it is therefore fair to strike out (or rather not to include within it) such debts as the person intended to be secured, should not be compelled to pay. As to the ground, that it was intended to protect Come» as well as Clark, and that it was left out of the deed by inadvertence or mistake,the evidence does notsup-port the charge. It does not appear that the parties intended any thing but what they have done.
— If Gomez and Clark had agreed to become sureties for Levy, and with that view, Clark had endorsed, and Gomez had accepted the bill of ex*222change, when they afterwjpps give in© liSffB recovery was had agaijnst ,§ nen, in New-YoiJKE tlmiiT they should .be considered as sureties for the wbt, which that note was given to discharge, arid consequently that any indemnity which had been taken by Clark, tii.secur© him against loss, should extend to Gomez.
But if Gomen, without any agreement or understanding with Clark to become Levy’s surety, accepted the bill of exchange, he thereby became debtor to lie Bank, and Clark was only bound as endorser. It folrawcd that if Gomen had paid the debt, Clark was discharged, for he was only bound to pay, if Gomen did not.
Afterwards, when Clark and Gomen signed the note of Levy as sureties, Gomen was thereby released from his liability as acceptor, and stood as a co-surety with Clark, and as the latter had secured himself against loss, by the mortgage which Levy had made to him, Gomen had a right to be indemnified from the same security. This would be the case, if the rights of other persons did not interfere.
When Clark stood as endorser on the last bill of exchange, the deed of trust was executed to McRae and La-ñaras, for the same property which Levy had mortgaged to Clark; so that Clark could only expect to be indemnified for such endorsements, as he had made for Levy, but not for any liabilities, which he might incur after i that time. I have no idea that it was intended, nor do ; I think that the terms of the deed justify the belief, that ! the parties to it, intended to secure the payment of the [debtdue upon the bill of exchange, on which Clark was endorser, but only intended to secure Clark against his endorsement. If there had been a new bill of exchange drawn, perhaps the liability of the parties would not be altered. But when the note was given, tiiey were so far altered, that Clark became a principal to the Bank with Gomen, and the liability of Gomen as acceptor, was discharged. In this respect, Clark acted upon his own *223resjjonsih; ^ ant^ °f course cl)!ii!w mt expect to be re-numerate been co Levy’s mortgage tu nm, in case he had Pus- 'o discharge that note. His lien upon "( i* future endorsements, was terminated > McRae & Lamms; of course he could 'assignment of the mortgage to Gomen, con-rght which he himself did not possess.
it does not appear that Clark and GomeX me lit or understanding between them, stood s for Levy on the bills of exchange ; that mortgage from Levy to Clark secured the awy endorsements he had made, or liabilities incurred for Levy, before the date of the deed of trust to McRae and Lazarus, it became inoperative, after the creation of that trust, as to any endorsements, made by Clark after its date. This deed was executed with Clark’s knowledge; it was after its existence, that he executed the note with Gomen, as co-surety for Levy. For so doing, he eannotbe indemnified by the mortgage, and of course can communicate to Gomen no right arising from the same instrument. For these reasons, I think the bill should be dismissed.
— Let the bill be dismissed with costs.