The defendant has obtained a rule to shew cause why the plaintiff’s writ should not be quashed, with costs, because he, the defendant, being a freeholder, was privileged from arrest. The question arises on the act of 20th March 1724-5. The plaintiff has shewn, that previous to the issuing the writ of capias, he gave written notice to the defendant, to enter special bail, in an action on the case, which was not done.
If we were now called upon for the first time to construe this act of assembly, I think it ought to receive a strict construction. Though well adapted to the industrious and economical habit of the times, when it was made, it is not so suitable to the manners of the present day. In the infancy of the country, there was a stability in property, which afforded a presumption, that he who was a freeholder at the beginning of a suit, would continue so to the end of it. But not so now, when from the vast increase of luxury, the risks of commerce, and the unrestrained spirit of speculation, we see freehold estates pass in rapid circulation from owner to owner*
*283The first section of the act directs, that freeholders shall not be arrested by writ of capias in civil suits, “ unless “ they be such freeholders as by this act are made liable to “ be arrested.” The second section contains a proviso pointing out various cases in which freeholders shall be liable to arrest, one of which is, “ where the defendant hath upon de- “ mand, neglected or refused without process to appear, “ and put in special bail to the plaintiff’s action, for the “ debt, or cause for which he complains.” The latter part of this section declares, that in all the preceding cases, ivrits of arrest shall be granted, and the defendant held to special bail, if the case requires it. The plaintiff has brought his case within the words of the act. The defendant has neglected to enter special bail, on demand, to the plaintiff’s action, for the cause for which he complains. It is argued for the defendant, that the intention of the act was confined to cases of debt or contract. I cannot think so; because there are many cases besides debt or contract, where special bail ought to be given. But then, says the defendant, under this construction, freeholders are in a worse situation than other persons, because they may be compelled, at the risk of losing their privilege, to enter special bail in cases where it is not lawfully demandable; as in the present instance, where the cause of action is understood to be slander. This is not the case. For when a freeholder receives notice to enter bail, he may cite the plaintiff to shew his cause of bail, and if the judge is of opinion, that the defendant ought not to be held to bail, he may order that his appearance be accepted; or perhaps he may forbid the issuing of a capias, although as to that I give no opinion. Now it seems to be a sufficient protection to freeholders, that in no case can they be arrested without notice, and without failing to do something which they ought to do. If the action requires special bail, they may put in bail, and thus prevent the issuing of the capias; and if it does not require bail, they may by resorting to a judge, procure an order, which will render the arrest merely a form, without real injury or inconvenience.
I have said that the case has been brought within the words of the act, which if now to be first construed, ought to receive a strict construction. But it appears to have long *284ag° received the construction contended for by the plaintiff, not indeed by any decision of this court, but by uniform un- , JJ opposed practice.
The oldest gentlemen of the bar declare, that writs of capias have issued in all cases without exception, against freeholders, who neglected to enter special bail after demand.
We have received positive evidence of this practice as far back as the year 1767, and there is no tradition of any thing to the contrary. I will not say, that even long practice sub silentio, should prevail against the clear meaning of an act of assembly. But if the meaning of the act should appear doubtful, I should be decided by the practice. I think the most that can be said in this case, is, that the act is not quite clear. I have therefore no hesitation in construing it according to the practice. Whether the defendant should be held to bail is another question. I understand however, that it will be unnecessary to enter into it, as the plaintiff’s attorney asks only an appearance without bail.
I am of opinion that the rule should be discharged.
The question in this case is, can an action of slander be originated against a freeholder, by a notice served upon him to enter special bail in the prothonotary’s office within a given period; and on his neglecting or refusing so to do, can a capias legally issue against him?
By the act “ to regulate the practice upon writs of sum- “ mens and arrest” passed 20th March 1724-5, 1 Dali. St. Laws 223., the proceedings against freeholders are directed to be in a certain specified form by summons; and thej are not to be arrested and held to special bail, unless in particular enumerated cases. Amongst these, it appears by the 2d section, that a capias may issue against a freeholder, “ where “ he has refused or neglected upon demand to give either “ real or personal security for the debt; or refused, without “ process, to appear and put in special bail to the plaintiff’s “ action for the debt or cause for which he complains.” Cause of action are most general and comprehensive words, and certainly include in their legal signification suits for slander.
*285But it has been objected, that the intention of the legislature was, to give this mode of procedure only in cases of debt or contract, or where the cause of action was of a bailable nature; and that a different construction of the law would subject freeholders to many hardships and inconveniences. To this it is answered, that there is no ambiguity in the expressions made use of; but if they were really dubious, the sense affixed to them for many years, would be a good rule to go by in their exposition. Faugh. 169. Bail is not deman* dable of course, in actions of slander. In England, the practice is to obtain a judge’s order in such cases, founded on affidavits stating special damage, or peculiarly aggravated circumstances, &c. But no such practice has obtained in the courts of justice of this state. If a defendant is held to bail in an action, wherein no bail is required by law, he obtains redress by citing the plaintiff to appear before a judge of the court in vacation, or the court when sitting, to shew his cause of action, who make the proper orders therein on a hearing.
The same remedy is open to the party, on whom notice is served to enter special bail without just grounds; and I can see no hardship or inconvenience in the latter' case, which may not occur in the former. Where a party is maliciously held to bail, the policy of the law gives him another mode of redress, by his action for damages.
I cannot consider the practice which has subsisted in this state, either as bad in itself, injurious in its operation, or as militating against the law which has been cited. Abunclant proof has been given of it, by the different gentlemen, who have been called upon during the argument. It is most probably coeval with the act .itself. It was in full operation in 1761 within my own knowledge. The maxim that “ contemporánea expositio estfortissima in lege,” has always prevailed. 2 Inst. 11, 136. And so far has this principle been extended, that in Stuart v. Laird, 1 Cran. 299., in the Supreme Court of the United States, Patterson, justice, in delivering the opinion of the court, expresses himself thus: “ Practice, and “ acquiescence under it for a period of several years, com- “ mencingwith the organization of the judicial system, fixes *286“ the construction of the constitution of the United States. “ ^ is a contemporary interpretation of the most forcible “ nature. This practical exposition is too strong and obsti- “ nate to be shaken or controlled. Of course the question “ is at rest, and ought not now to be disturbed.”
I am therefore of opinion, that the rule to shew cause why the proceedings in the present case should not be quashed, be discharged.
The construction put upon the act of assembly by the practice which would seem to have prevailed in this and some other districts, will warrant what has been done in the present case, though it is not the construction that I had put upon it in my practice; and it would seem to me to reduce the freeholder’s privilege intended by the act to very little, if in any case, he is liable to an arrest, where on demand made, he refuses to appear, and put in special bail. I had applied this to the preceding excepted cases of having signified an intention to remove, or of being incumbered ike., and had thought that the or was to be construed, and if in such cases he refused to appear and put in special bail. But I will admit that the act is ambiguous, and that it is difficult to ascertain the meaning beyond a doubt; and it would seem to require the explanation of the legislature, by a declaratory act on this head. Were it a new case, independent of construction put upon it by usage, I should think myself justifiable in giving the construction that i take to be most in favour of the freeholder. It is an inconvenience, when no intention has been manifested of evading payment by removing, when no incumbrance lies upon the estate, and no danger of losing the debt appears, to be nevertheless liable to he called upon, not only to appear, but to put in special bail, or to submit to an arrest. For though the capias may be indorsed, “ the defendant's appearance accepted,” yet this supposes a previous arrest, and the laying on of the hands of the officer; and he could not return “ cepi corpus” and the defendant’s appearance accepted, without it. On the construction however, which seems to have been put upon this act for such a length of time, of which evidence has been given, I cannot undertake to say that the process which has *287issued with an indorsement bf appearance accepted, is illegal, and that we can quash the writ with costs, as in the case of process unquestionably illegal, and without ground to support it.
Rule discharged.