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Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Edition (1856)

DEBT, contracts. A sum of money due by certain and express agreement. 3 Bl.
Com. 154. In a less technical sense, as in the "act to regulate arbitrations
and proceedings in courts of justice" of Pennsylvania, passed the 21st of
March, 1806, s. 5, it means an claim for money. In a still more enlarged
sense, it denotes any kind of a just demand; as, the debts of a bankrupt. 4
S. & R. 506.
2. Debts arise or are proved by matter of record, as judgment debts; by
bonds or specialties; and by simple contracts, where the quantity is fixed
and specific, and does not depend upon any future valuation to settle it. 3
Bl. Com. 154; 2 Hill. R. 220.
3. According to the civilians, debts are divided into active and
passive. By the former is meant what is due to us, by the latter, what we
owe. By liquid debt, they understand one, the payment of which may be
immediately enforced, and not one which is due at a future time, or is
subject to a condition; by hypothecary debt is meant, one which is a lien
over an estate and a doubtful debt, is one the payment of which is
uncertain. Clef des Lois Rom. h.t.
4. Debts are discharged in various ways, but principally by payment.
See Accord and Satisfaction; Bankruptcy; Confusion Compensation; Delegation;
Defeasance; Discharge of a contract; Extinction; Extinguishment; Former
recovery; Lapse of time; Novation; Payment; Release; Rescission; Set off.
5. In payment of debts, some are to be paid before others, in cases of
insolvent estates first, in consequence of the character of the creditor, as
debts due to the United States are generally to be first paid; and secondly,
in consequence of the nature of the debt, as funeral expenses and servants'
wages, which are generally paid in preference to other debts. See
Preference; Privilege; Priority.


DEBT, remedies. The name of an action used for the recovery of a debt eo
nomine and in numero though damages are generally awarded for the detention
of the debt; these are, however, in most instances, merely nominal. 1 H. Bl.
550; Bull. N. P. 167 Cowp. 588.
2. The subject will be considered with reference, 1. To the kind of
claim or obligation on which this action may be maintained. 2. The form of
the declaration. 3. The plea. 4. The judgment.
3.-1. Debt is a more extensive remedy for the recovery of money than
assumpsit or covenant, for it lies to recover money due upon legal
liabilities, as, for money lent, paid, had and received, due on an account
stated; Com. Dig. Dett, A; for work and labor, or for the price of goods,
and a quantum valebant thereon; Com. Dig. Dett, B Holt, 206; or upon simple
contracts, express or implied, whether verbal or written, or upon contracts
under seal, or of record, or by a common informer, whenever the demand for a
sum is certain, or is capable of being reduced to certainty. Bull. N. P.
167. It also lies to recover money due on, any specialty or contract under
seal to pay money. Str. 1089; Com. Dig. Dett, A 4; 1 T. R. 40. This action
lies on a record, or upon a judgment of a court of record; Gilb. Debt, 891;
Salk. 109; 17 S. & R. 1; or upon a foreign judgment. 3 Shepl. 167; 3 Brev.
395. Debt is a frequent remedy on statutes, either at the suit of the party
grieved, or of a common informer. Com. Dig. Action on Statute, E; Bac. Ab.
Debt, A. See, generally, Bouv. Inst. Index, h.t.; Com. Dig. h.t.; Dane's
Ab. h.t.. Vin. Ab. h.t.; Chit. Pl. 100 to 109; Selw. N. P. 553 to 682;
Leigh's N. P. Index, h.t. Debt also lies, in the detinet, for goods; which
action differs from detinue, because it is not essential in this action, as
in detinue, that the property in any specific goods should be vested in the
plaintiff, at the time the action is brought; Dy. 24 b; and debt in the
debet and detinet may be maintained on an instrument by which the defendant
is bound to pay a sum of money lent, which might have been discharged, on or
before the day of payment, in articles of merchandise. 4 Yerg. R. 171; see,
Com. Dig. Dett, A 5; Bac. Ab. Debt, F; 3 Wood. 103, 4; 1 Dall. R. 458.
4.-2. When the action is on a simple contract, the declaration must
show the consideration of the contract, precisely as in assumpsit; and it
should state either a legal liability or an express agreement, though not a
promise to pay the debt. 2 T. R. 28, 30. When the action is founded on a
specialty or record, no consideration need be shown, unless the performance
of the consideration constitutes a condition precedent, when performance of
such consideration must be averred. When the action is founded on a deed, it
must be declared upon, except in the case of debt for rent. 1 New R. 104.
5.-3. The plea to an action of debt is either general or special. 1.
The plea of general issue to debt on simple contracts, or on statutes, or
when the deed is only matter of inducement, is nil debet. See Nil debet. In
general, when the action is on a specialty, the plea denying the existence
of the contract is non est factum; 2 Ld. Raym. 1500; to debt on record, nul
tiel record. 16 John. 55. Other matters must, in general, be pleaded
specially.
6.-4. For the form of the judgment, see Judgment in debt. Vide
Remedy.