only  inflicts  a  penalty  upon  the  offender.^  Obedience  to  the
laws  is  enforced  by  declaring  illegal  contracts  void ;  by  refus-
ino-  to  aid  either  party  in  the  enforcement  of  them.^  When
a  statute  is  for  revenue  purposes,  or  is  a  regulation  of  a  traffic
or  business,  and  not  to  prohibit  it  altogether,  whether  a  con-
tract which  violates  the  statute  shall  be  treated  as  wholly
void  will  depend  on  the  intention  expressed  in  the  particular
statute.  Unless  the  contrary  intention  is  manifest  the  con-
tract will  be  valid.-^  All  cases  to  which  a  statute  cannot  con-
stitutionally apply  will  be  excepted  by  necessary  impHcation,
however  absolute  and  express  the  provision  may  be.*  A
necessary  implication  means  not  natural  necessity,  but  so
strong  a  probability  of  an  intention  that  one  contrary  to  that


1  O'Brien  v.  DiUon,  supra;  Grif-
fith V.  Wells,  3  Denio,  226 ;  Bach  v.
Smith,  2  Wash.  Ty.  145 ;  Bancroft  v.
Dmnas,  21  Vt.  450 ;  BoutweU  v.  Fos-
ter, 24  Vt.  485;  Hook  v.  Gray,  6
Barb.  398 ;  Gray  v.  Hook,  4  N.  Y.
449;  Tylee  v.  Yates,  3  Barb.  222;
Barton  v.  Port  J.  etc.  Plk.  R  Co.  17
Barb.  397 ;  Pennington  v.  Townsend,
7  Wend.  276 ;  Nellis  v.  Clark,  4  HiU,
424;  De  Begnis  v.  Armistead,  10
Biag.  107 ;  Cope  v.  Rowlands,  2  M.  &
W.  149;  Springfield  Bank  v.  Mer-
rick, 14  Mass.  322 ;  HaUett  v.  Novion,
14  John.  273 ;  Seidenbender  v.  Charles,
4  S.  &  R.  159.
2  ArmsU-ong  v.  Toler,  11  Wheat  258 ;
Bloom  V.  Richards,  2  Oliio  St.  387 ;
Steers  v.  Lasliley,  6  T.  R.  61 ;  Cannan
V.  Bryce,  3  B.  &  Aid.  179 ;  Aubert  v.
Maze,  2  B.  &  P.  371 ;  ^tna  Ins.  Co.
