De senatus consulto Macedoniano
(Concerning the Macedonian Decree of the Senate.)
1Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXIX. The words of the Macedonian Decree of the Senate are as follows: “Whereas, among the other causes of crime which nature bestowed upon him, Macedo also added indebtedness, and as he who lends money on doubtful security (without saying any more) often furnishes material for wrong-doing to parties who are evilly disposed; it is hereby decreed that no action or claim shall be granted to anyone who has lent money to a son under paternal control, even after the death of the parent to whose authority he was subject, so that those who, by lending money at interest, set an extremely bad example, may learn that the obligation of no son under paternal control can become a valid claim by waiting for the death of his father.” 1If the question as to whether the son is under parental control is in abeyance, for instance, because his father is in the hands of the enemy, the question as to whether the Decree of the Senate has been violated is itself in abeyance; for if he should again come under parental control, the Decree of the Senate will become operative, but if he does not, it will not apply; and therefore in the meantime an action should be refused. 2It is certain that if a party who has been arrogated borrows money and afterwards obtains restitution, so that he can be emancipated, the Decree of the Senate will be available, for he was a son under paternal control. 3Ad Dig. 14,6,1,3Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 373, Note 6.Any office held by a son under paternal control will not cause the Macedonian Decree of the Senate to become inoperative; for even though he be Consul, or hold any other office, the Decree of the Senate applies, unless he should have castrense peculium, for in this instance the Decree of the Senate will not be applicable.
2Ad Dig. 14,6,2Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 373, Note 6.The Same, On the Edict, Book LXIV. To the extent that this has reference to the castrense peculium, since sons under paternal control perform the functions of heads of families, so far as the castrense peculium is concerned.
3The Same, On the Edict, Book XXIX. Where anyone believed an individual to be the head of a family, not having been deceived by vain folly or ignorance of law, but because he was publicly considered by most persons to be such, and acted, made contracts, and performed the duties of offices as the head of a household, the Decree of the Senate will not be applicable. 1Wherefore, Julianus states in the Twelfth Book of the Digest that the Decree of the Senate will not apply in the case of a party who was accustomed to farm out the public revenues, and this has been frequently decided by the Emperor. 2Hence, where a person could not know whether another was a son under paternal control or not, Julianus says, in the Twelfth Book, that the Decree of the Senate will not be applicable; as, for instance, in the case of a ward or a minor under twenty-five years of age. But so far as the minor is concerned, relief should be granted by the Prætor after investigation, but in the case of the ward, he should say that the Decree of the Senate was not operative for another reason, that is, because the money which the ward pays without the authority of his guardian does not become a loan; just as Julianus himself states in the Twelfth Book of the Digest, that if a son under paternal control makes a loan the Decree of the Senate is not applicable, since the money does not become a loan even if he had the unrestricted management of the peculium. For the father, when he granted him the management of the peculium, did not give him permission to waste it, and therefore he says the right to bring suit for the recovery of the money remains with the father. 3Ad Dig. 14,6,3,3Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 370, Note 11.Only he, however, violates the Decree of the Senate who lent money to a son under paternal control, not one who contracted otherwise, for example, one who has sold, leased, or entered into a contract of another kind, for it was the giving of money which was held to be dangerous to their parents. And therefore, even though I have become the creditor of a son under paternal control, either because of purchase, or on account of some other contract in which I have not paid down any money, but in which I made a stipulation; although the transaction has become a loan, still, as the payment of money did not take place, the Decree of the Senate will not be applicable. This, however, can only be said where no fraud on the Decree of the Senate is intended; so that the party who could not lend money preferred to sell to him, in order that he might have the price of the property instead of a loan. 4If I entered into a stipulation with a son under paternal control, and lent him money after he became the head of the household, whether his change of civil status had occurred through the death of his father, or he had become his own master in some other way without affecting his civil rights; it should be held that the Decree of the Senate is not operative, because the loan was made to one who was already the head of a family;
6Scævola, Questions, Book II. On the other hand, it is very properly stated that, if you have entered into a stipulation with the head of a family, and afterwards lend the money to him when he has become a son under paternal control, the power of the Decree of the Senate should be exercised, because the substantial part of the obligation was completed by the payment of the money.
7Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXIX. Also, if a son subject to paternal control becomes a surety, Neratius states in the First and Second Book of Opinions that the Decree of the Senate is not applicable. Celsus says the same thing in the Fourth Book, but Julianus adds that if a pretext is sought, in order that a son under paternal control, who was about to receive a loan, may become a surety, another party appearing as the principal debtor; the fraud committed against the Decree of the Senate causes prejudice, and that an exception should be granted to the son under paternal control as well as to the principal debtor, since relief is granted also to the surety of a son. 1He also says that if I accept two debtors, a son under paternal control and Titius, when the money was to come into the hands of the former, but I accept Titius as the principal debtor, in order that, as surety, he might not take advantage of the Decree of the Senate; an exception based upon this fraudulent act should be granted. 2Moreover, if a son under paternal control when his father had been exiled or was absent for a long time, promised a dowry for his daughter, and gave property of his father in pledge; the Decree of the Senate will not apply, and the property of the father will not be liable. It is evident that if the son becomes the heir of his father, and brings an action to recover the pledge, he will be barred by an exception on the ground of fraud. 3It should be considered whether we ought to hold that a loan is not only the payment of money, but, in fact, the delivery of everything which can be lent. The words, however, seem to me to refer to money paid, for the Decree of the Senate says, “Has lent money.” But if a fraud has been committed on the Decree of the Senate, for example, where grain, wine, or oil is lent, so that, these things having been sold, the money obtained from them may be used, relief should be granted to a son under paternal control. 4Where the son was under the control of one party when the loan was made, and is now under that of another, the intention of the Decree of the Senate remains, and an exception will therefore be granted. 5But if it was not the death of the father, but something else which happened to him, through which his civil status was changed, it must be said that the Decree of the Senate will be operative. 6The action should be denied not only to the party who lent the money, but also to his successors. 7Hence, if one person paid the money and another made the stipulation, the exception would be granted against the latter, even though he did not make the payment. But if one or the other of them was not aware that he was under the control of his father, the severe rule that the rights of both are prejudiced, is applicable. This is also the case where two debtors enter into the stipulation. 8Moreover, if I accepted two sons under paternal control as debtors, but thought that one of them was the head of a family; it will make a difference which of them got the money, so that, if I was aware that the one to whom the money went was a son under paternal control, I shall be barred by an exception; but if I did not know into whose hands it came, I will not be barred. 9The Decree of the Senate will apply whether the money was lent at interest, or without it. 10Although the Senate does not state to whom it grants the exception, still, it must be remembered that the heir of a son under paternal control, if he dies the head of a family, and his father, if he dies under paternal control, can make use of the exception. 11Sometimes, however, even though there is ground for the Decree of the Senate, still, an action will be granted against a third party; as, for instance, if a son under paternal control, who is a business manager, borrowed money; for Julianus states in the Twelfth Book that the business manager himself can make use of the exception based on the Decree of the Senate, if suit is brought against him; but the Institorian Action will lie against the party who appointed him. He further says that if the father himself had appointed him to carry on his business, or he was permitted to manage his own peculium the Decree of the Senate would not be available, since he would be held to have contracted with the consent of the father; for if the latter knew that he was transacting business, he may be held to have permitted this also, if he did not expressly forbid it. 12Thus, if he has borrowed money and employed it in his father’s business, the Decree of the Senate will not apply, for he borrowed it for his father and not for himself. But if in the beginning he did not borrow it for this purpose, but afterwards employed it in the business of his father, Julianus says in the Twelfth Book of the Digest that the Decree of the Senate does not apply, and that he must be understood to have received it in the first place with the intention of employing it in his father’s business. He will not, however, be held to have employed it in this manner if he pays to his father, for the settlement of his own debt, money which he has borrowed; and therefore, if his father was not aware of it, the Decree of the Senate will still be operative. 13Where it is stated that the Decree of the Senate does not apply in the case of a person who, being absent for the purpose of prosecuting his studies, borrowed money; it will be applicable if he, when borrowing the money, did not exceed a moderate limit, or, at all events, the amount with which his father was accustomed to provide him. 14Ad Dig. 14,6,7,14Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 373, Note 11.If a son has borrowed money in order to satisfy someone who, if he should bring suit could not be barred by an exception, an exception based on the Decree of the Senate will not be available. 15Again, the Decree of the Senate will not apply if the father begins to pay what the son has borrowed, just as if he ratified the act. 16Ad Dig. 14,6,7,16Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 373, Note 17.If, after he has become the head of a family, he pays part of the debt, the Decree of the Senate will not apply, and he cannot recover what he paid.
8Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXX. If, however, payment has been made through ignorance by a curator, the amount can be recovered.
9Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXIX. Ad Dig. 14,6,9 pr.Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 373, Note 17.But if, when he has become the head of a family, he gives property by way of pledge, it must be said that the exception based on the Decree of the Senate should be refused him, to the extent of the value of the pledge. 1Ad Dig. 14,6,9,1Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 373, Note 16.Where the son pays the creditor money which has been given to him, can a father claim said money as belonging to him, or can he recover it by a personal action? Julianus says that if, in fact, the money was given to him on the condition that he should pay it to the creditor, it must be held to have passed immediately from the donor to the creditor, and to have become the property of him who received it, but if it was merely given to him, the son had no right to dispose of the money, and therefore, if he paid it, an action for its recovery will lie in behalf of the father, in any event. 2This Decree of the Senate has reference also to daughters under paternal control, nor does it signify if they are said to have obtained ornaments with the money; for an action is refused by a Decree of the most eminent Order of the State to a party who has lent money to a son under paternal control; and it makes no difference whether the coins have been consumed, or still exist as part of the peculium. Much more, therefore, should a party who has lent money to a daughter under paternal control have his contract disapproved by the severity of the Decree of the Senate. 3Ad Dig. 14,6,9,3Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 477, Note 9.Relief is not only granted to a son under paternal control and to his father, but also to his surety, and to the party under whose direction he acted, and who themselves may have recourse to the action on mandate, unless they have intervened with the intention of making a gift; for then, as they have no recourse to him, the Decree of the Senate will not be applicable. If, however, the parties intervened, not with the intention of making a gift, but at the wish of the father, the entire contract will be held to have been approved by the latter. 4Those also have intervened in behalf of a son under paternal control without the consent of the father, cannot recover after they have made payment; for this was decreed also by the Divine Hadrian, and it may be said that they will not recover their money. Still, however, they are protected by a perpetual exception, and so is the son himself, but he does not recover, for the reason that those only cannot regain what they have paid who are released from an action by way of penalty on the creditors, and not because the law intended that they should be absolutely discharged from liability. 5Although they cannot recover after having paid,
10Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXX. because the natural obligation remains;
11Ulpianus, On the Edict, Book XXIX. Still, if not having pleaded an exception, they have judgment rendered against them, they can make use of the exception based on the Decree of the Senate. Julianus stated this in the case of a son who was himself under paternal control, just as in the case of a woman who becomes a surety.
12Ad Dig. 14,6,12Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 307, Note 3.Paulus, On the Edict, Book XXX. Where money is lent to a son with the mere knowledge of his father, it must be said that the Decree of the Senate is not applicable. But if the father directed the loan to be made to the son, and afterwards changed his mind without the creditor being aware of the fact, there will be no ground for the Decree of the Senate, as the beginning of the contract should be considered.
13Gaius, On the Provincial Edict, Book IX. If we enter into a stipulation with a son under paternal control, for the payment of a loan made to a third party for the purpose of renewal, Julianus says that the Decree of the Senate will be no impediment.
14Julianus, Digest, Book XII. I have a son, and a grandson by him; a loan was made to my grandson under the direction of his father, the question arose whether this was done in violation of the Decree of the Senate? I stated that even though sons are included in the terms of the Decree of the Senate, still, the same rule should be observed also in the case of a grandson; but the direction of his father will not prevent the loan of the money from being considered as made in violation of the Decree of the Senate, as he himself is in such a position that he cannot borrow money if his father is unwilling.
15Marcianus, Institutes, Book XIV. It makes no difference who has made a loan to a son under paternal control, whether it is a private individual or a city; for the Divine Severus and Antoninus stated in Rescript that the Decree of the Senate is also operative in the case of a city.
16Paulus, Opinions, Book IV. If a son under paternal control during the absence of his father, borrows money as having received a mandate from his father, and enters into an obligation, and sends letters to his father to pay the money in a province; his father, if he disapproves of the act of his son, should immediately send a statement of his wish to the contrary.
18Venuleius, Stipulations, Book II. Julianus states that the creditor of a son under paternal control cannot receive a surety after the death of the latter, because no civil or natural obligation with which the surety is connected survives; but it is evident that a surety can be properly received from the father on account of the action on the peculium which may be brought against him.
19Pomponius, Various Passages, Book VII. Julianus states that an exception based on the Macedonian Decree of the Senate offers no hindrance to anyone except to a party who knew, or could have known, that he to whom he made the loan was a son under paternal control.
20Ad Dig. 14,6,20Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 288, Note 11.The Same, On the Decrees of the Senate, Book V. If a person to whom money was lent while he was under the control of his father, after he himself becomes the head of the family, through ignorance makes a promise of the money in such a way that a new obligation is created, and suit is brought on the stipulation, an exception founded on the facts should be filed.