On the subject of voluntary subscriptions for charitable purposes there is much confu sion among the authorities. 6 Metc. 310.
The subscriptions to a common object are not usually mutual or really concurrent, and can only be held binding on grounds of pub lic policy. See 4 N. H. 533. 6 id. 164; 7 id. 435 ; 5 Pick. Mass. 506 ; 2 Vt 48 ; 9 id. 289 ; 5 Ohio, 58.
The subscription, to be binding, should be a promise to some particular person or com mittee; and there should be an agreement on the part of such person or committee to do something on their part: as, to provide mate rials or erect a building. 11 Mass. 114 ; 2 Pick. Mass. 579 ; 24 Vt. 189 ; 9 Barb. N. Y. 202 ; 10 id. 309 ; 9 Gratt. Va. 633 ; 42 Am. Jur. 281-283 ; 4 Me. 382 ; 2 Den. N. Y. 403 ; 1 N. Y. 581; 2 Cart. Ind. 555 ; 12 Pick. Mass. 541.
If advances were fairly authorized, and have been made on the strength of the sub scriptions, it will be deemed sufficient to make them obligatory. 12 Mass. 190 ; 14 id. 172 1 Metc. Mass. 570 ; 5 Pick. Mass. 228 ; 19 id. 73 ; 4 Ill. 198 ; 2 Humphr. Tenn. 335 ; 2 Vt. 48 ; 5 Ohio, 58; 9 Barb. N. Y. 202.
11. Illegal considerations can be no found ation for a contract. Violations of morality, decency, and policy are in contravention of common law : as, contracts to commit, conceal, or compound a crime. So, a contract for future illicit intercourse, or in fraud of a third party, will not be enforced. Ex tuipi contractu non oritur actio. The illegality created by statute exists when the statute either expressly prohibits a particular thing,. or affixes a penalty which implies prohibi tion, or implies such prohibition from its ob ject and nature. 3 Burr. 1568 ; 3 Ves. Ch. 370 ; 5 id. 286 ; 7 id. 470 ; 11 id. 535 ; 2 Atk. Ch. 333 ; 1 Vern. Ch. 483 ; 1 Ball & B. Ch. Jr. 360 ; 3 Madd. Ch. 110; Chanc. Pract. 114; 1 Taunt. 136 ; 10 Ad. & E. 815 ; 10 Bingh. 107 ; 2 Mees. & W. Exch. 149 5 2 Wile. 347; 2 Eng. L. & Eq. 113. 10 id. 424; 6 Dan. Ky. 91 ; 3 Bibb, Ky. 500 ; 9 Vt. 23511 id. 592: 17 id. 105; 21 id. 184; 11 Wheat. 258 ; 22 Me. 488 ; 14 id. 404; 4 Pick. Mass. 314; 2 Miss. 18; 2 Ind. 392; 14 Mass. 322; 15 id. 39 ; 17 id. 2585 4 Serg. & R. Penn. 159 ; 1 Watts & S. Penn. 181; 1 Binn. Penn. 118; 5 Penn. St. 452 ; 4 Hoist. N. J. 352; 2 Sandf. N. Y. 186 ; 4 Humphr. Tenn. 199; 3 McLean, C. C. 214i 14N. H. 294, 435 ; 23 id. 128 ; 29 id. 264 ; 5 Rich. So. C. 47 ; 3 Brev. So. C. 54. If any part of the consideration is void as against the law, it is void in Coto. 11 Vt. 592.
12. A contract founded upon an impossi ble consideration is void. Lex neminem cogit cttl vana cut impossibilia. 5 Viner, Abr. 110, 111, Condition (C) a, (D) a; 1 Rolle, Abr. 419; Coke, Litt. 206 a; 2 Blackstone, Comm. 341 ; Sheppard, Touchst. 164) 3 Term, 17 2 Barnew. & C. 474. But this impossibility
must be a natural or physical impossibility. Platt, Coy. 569 ; 3 Chitty, Corn. Law, 101 ; 3 Bos. & P. 293, n. ; 6 Term, 718 ; 7 Ad. & E. 798; 1 Pot. C. C. 91, 221 ; 5 Taunt. 249 ; 2 Moore & S. 89 ; 9 Bingh. 68.
A consideration which appeared to be valu able, but has turned out to be a mere nullity, —that is, has totally failed,—will not support a contract. An agreement to do what one is already obliged to do is of this kind. 2 Burr. 1012 ; 4 Ad. & E. 605; 7 Carr. & P. 108 ; 1 Barnew. & Ad404 ; 2 C. B. 548 ; 1 Cumpb. 640, n. ; 4 East, 455 ; 3 Johns. N. Y. 458; 11 id. 50; 7 N. Y. 369 ; 2 Den. N. Y. 139; 1 Vt. 166; 7 Mass. 14; 8 id. 46; 10 id. 34 ; 13 id. 216 ; 1 Mete. Mass. 21; 23 Ala. N. s. 320 ; 1 Cons. So. C. 467 ; 2 Day, Conn. 437 ; 2 Root, Conn. 258; 4 Conn. 428 ; 1 Nott & M'C. So. C. 210; 2 id. 63 ; 1 Ov. Tenn. 438; 3 Call, Va. 373 ; 26 Me. 217 ; 5 Tenn. 337, 496; 3 Pick. Mass. 83 ; 6 Cranch, 53 ; 4 Dev. & B. No. C. 212; 15 N. H. 114; 3 Ind. 289; 7 id. 529 ; Dudl. Ga. 161; Pothier, Obi. pt. 1, c. 1, art. 3, 6.
Sometimes, when the consideration par tially fails, the appropriate part of the agree ment may be apportioned to what remains, if the contract is capable of being severed. 4 Ad. & E. 605; 11 id. 10, 27; 7 Carr. & P. 108 ; 1 Mann. & R. 218; 3 Taunt. 53 ; 3 Bingh. N. C. 746; 5 id. 341 ; 8 Mees. & W. Exch. 870; 2 Crompt. & M. Exch. 48, 214; 3 Tyrwh. 907; 14 Pick. Mass. 198; 6 Cush. Mass. 508; 28 N. H. 290; 2 Watts & S. Penn. 235.
13. An executed consideration will not generally be sufficient to support a contract. It is something done before the obligor makes his promise, and, therefore, cannot be a found ation for that promise, unless it has been executed at the request (express or implied) of the promisor. Such a request plainly im plies a promise of fair and reasonable com pensation. 3 Bingh. N. c. 10; 6 Mann. & G. 153; 8 id. 538; 2 Barnew. & C. 833 ; 6. id. 439; 8 Term, 308 ; 2 Ili. 113; 14 Johns. N. Y. 478 ; 22 Pick. Mass. 393 ; 2 Mete. Mass. 180 ; 3 id. 155 ; 4 Mass. 574 ; 12 id. 328; 9 N. H. 195 ; 21 id. 544 ; 7 Me. 76, 118; 20 id. 275 ; 24 id. 349, 374; 27 id. 106; 1 Caines, 5E41; 7 Johns. N. Y. 87; 7 CJw. N. Y. 358 ; 2 Conn. 404.
As to time, considerations may be of the past, present, or future. Those which are present or future will support a contract not void for other reasons. Story, Contr. 71. When the consideration is to do a thing here after, and the promise has been accepted, and a promise in return founded upon it, the latter promise rests upon sufficient founda tion, and is obligatory. 3 Md. 67 ; 17 Me. 303 ; 24 Wend. N. Y. 285 ; 17 Pick. Mass. 407 ; 1 Speers, So. C. 368. See, in general, the text-books which have been cited supra.