In Planters' Bank v. Union Bank (1872) 83 U.S. 483, it was held that though an illegal contract will not be enforced by courts, yet it is the doctrine of that court that where such a contract had been executed by the parties themselves and the illegal object accomplished, the money or thing which was the price of it would be a legal consideration between the parties for a promise expressed or implied, but that the court will not unravel the transaction to discover its origin. This doctrine is applied to the case of money received for the sale of confederate bonds. In the course of its opinion the court said: "But when the illegal transaction has been consummated; when no court has been called upon to give aid to it; when the proceeds of the sale have been actually received, and received in that which the law recognizes as having had value; and when they have been carried to the credit of the plaintiffs, the case is different. The court is there not asked to enforce an illegal contract. The plaintiffs do not require the aid of any illegal transaction to establish their case. It is enough that the defendants have in hand a thing of value that belongs to them." The Supreme Court said: "Such a contract would have been illegal. But when the illegal transaction has been consummated; when no court has been called upon to give aid to it; when the proceeds of the sale have been actually received, and received in that which the law recognizes as having had value; and when they have been carried to the credit of the plaintiffs, the case is different. The court is there not asked to enforce an illegal contract. The plaintiffs do not require the aid of any illegal transaction to establish their case. It is enough that the defendants have in hand a thing of value that belongs to them. Some of the authorities show that, though an illegal contract will not be executed, yet, when it has been executed by the parties themselves, and the illegal object of it has been accomplished, the money or thing which was the price of it may be a legal consideration between the parties for a promise, express or implied, and the court will not unravel the transaction to discover its origin."