Nathan Clifford, Savage v. United States — Opinion of the Court
“ Courts cannot make contracts for parties; and if parties understandingly contract to adjust a controversy between them in a particular way, and actally execute the contract, they are both bound to regard the controversy as at an end.Taken as a whole, the findings of the court below show beyond all doubt that the decedent, voluntarily and with a full knowledge of all the circumstances, elected to accept payment of the treasury-notes in the manner proposed by the secretary, and that the surrender of the same to the United States was absolute and unconditional. ”
