§ 2. Nature and Purpose of Remedy - Specific performance may be defined as the actual accomplishment of a contract by the party bound to fulfill it(8), for a decree for specific performance is nothing more or less than a means of compelling a party to do precisely what he ought to have done without being coerced by a court(9).

...courts of law have no power to compel specific performance of any kind of contract(13).  The remedy at common law available to a party injured by breach of a contract is an action for damages.

...equity takes jurisdiction to require the specific performance of the contract in order to do more complete justice between the parties than can be had in an action at law(15)

Neither party has any right to refuse to perform the obligations imposed in absence of a reservation of the right to terminate the contract upon some contingency, unless because of circumstances subsequently arising there exists some valid legal excuse for nonperformance(18).  Thus while the right to refuse performance depends upon some justification recognized in the law, the power to violate the contract by refusal to perform, subject to liability in action for damages, exists when the circumstances are such that the courts will not decree the specific performance of the contract.(19).