Polk v. Douglass
Polk v. Douglass
Opinion of the Court
The lot in question was levied on and sold by virtue of an execution issued from the Federal Court for the District of West Tennessee, founded on a judgment against the complainants in that court. This bill is brought to redeem the lot, alleging, that a tender has
The only question is, whether, on a sale made by virtue of an execution founded on a judgment had in the Federal Court, the defendant in the execution has a right to redeem.
It is insisted, that by the act of Congress of 1828, further to regulate processes of the United States, the complainants have a right to redeem according to the provisions of the act of Assembly of 1820, ch. II. The lot was sold and the defendant purchased it, at the Marshal’s sale in January, 1827. If, at that time, there was no law authorizing its redemption, the defendant acquired by his purchase, a good and indefeasible title’to the property. No subsequent law could divest him of that title, or annex conditions to the tenure by which it was held. Were the act of Congress to have this operation, it would take away, without his consent, the property of the defendant and give it to the complainants, which cannot be done.
It is next to be considered whether the act of 1820, ch. 11, applies to cases of sales by virtue of process issuing from the Federal Court.
I think it cannot. Congress have an undoubted right to say what property shall be liable to the satisfaction of judgments rendered in the courts of the United States. It is a necessary incident to the judicial power, that the courts have the means of executing their judgments. The process act of Congress, of 1792, adopted the process in use in the States, as it existed in 1789, and rendered property liable to the satisfaction of the judgments of the Federal Courts, which ivas liable in the States respectively, to the satisfaction of judgments in the State courts. Lands were then liable here to unconditional sale by fi. fa. The law of Congress has not been changed until the act of 1828. As the act- of the
ff it be insisted that this law does not interfere with, or in any wise act upon, the process of the Federal Courts, or the sale of the Marshal, then it follows that the sale is made without condition, and the purchaser gets an indefeasible title. Of this title he cannot be deprived by any legislative enactment, and therefore there can be no obligation upon him to permit its redemption. The only ground upon which the purchaser under an execution from -the State courts, can be compelled to give up land purchased by him, and for which he has a deed, is, that this act of Assembly regulates the process of the State courts, and annexes an equitable condition to the sale, which before was absolute. But as it cannot interfere with the process of the Federal Courts, this act does not annex any such condition to the sales of the Marshal, and consequently, an absolute right is conveyed by his deed to the purchaser. Of this right he cannot be divested without his consent. 10 Wheaton’s Rep. 1—51.
I think the decree should be reversed.
I would not feel it incumbent on me to express my opinion in writing in this cause, had not the two sitting Judges with myself, differed in opinion on its hearing.
The object to be attained by the formation of the Federal Constitution was, to ordain and establish a Government, distinct’from, and independent of the State governments.. This was the fatal defect of the Confederation. The general laws of the whole Union are declared tobe the supreme law of the land, any thing in the State constitutions or laws to the contrary notwithstanding.
The Supreme Court of the United States held, in Wayman vs. Southard, (10 Wheaton, 22,) that the clause authorizing Congress to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution the granted powers, and all other powers vested by the Constitution in the government of the United States, or any department thereof, conferred power to make all laws for carrying into execution all'the judgments which the judicial department had power to pronounce; and that this seemed to be oné of those plain propositions which reasoning could not render plainer. The terms of the clause neither admitted or required elucidation, and the court would therefore only say, .-that no doubt whatever was entertained on the
By this adjudication we are bound, because, should we decide differently, the Supreme Court of the United States could in this case reverse our judgment, by virtue of the 25th section of the judiciary act.
The principal reliance in this cause on the part of the complainants, is placed on the 34th section of the judiciary act of 1789, ch. 20, which enacts, “That the laws of the several States, except where the Constitution, treaties, or statutes of the United Stales shall otherwise require or provide, shall be regarded as the rules of decision in trials at common law, in the courts of the United States, in cases where they apply.”
This section furnishes the rule of decision, not of executing the judgment. 10 Wheaton, 24—51.
The process act of 1792, ch. 137, is the law which regulated executions issuing from the courts of the United States in 1827, when the sale of the land sought to be redeemed, took place. It adopts the practice of the Supreme Court of the State, where the United States’ Court is holden, such, as the practice and the law governing it were in 1789, when the judiciary act was passed, as the rule to govern proceedings on executions, subject to such alterations as the courts of the United States may make, but not subject to any alterations which have taken place since 1789, in the State law and practice. 10 Wheaton, 31, 32.
The act of 1828, ch. 68, “further to regulate processes in the courts of the United States,” has no application to this case.
The decree will be reversed, and the bill dismissed.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissentiente.) If it be admitted that a purchaser at execution sale, under a judgment rendered in the Federal Courts, is placed upon a footing different from a purchaser under a sale emanating from a judgment
The Federal and State constitutions were framed with a view to secure to all alike, the enjoyment of life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness; on these are predicated our notions of a republican government. Our constitution when framed, was approved; and by the approval, we had guaranteed to us such a frame of government as should attain the ends contemplated, with uniform equality of rights among the citizens.
The Federal judiciary was admitted in the States to exercise a limited power in those few cases, where it was supposed possible too great a bias in favor of a citizen of the State,, contending with a citizen elsewhere, might produce results to the prejudice of the latter. No one questions the jurisdiction or power of the Federal Courts. To try the cause, give judgment and award execution, are all conceded powers, powers granted, and in which the foreign creditor has a direct interest, and by means of which he is to get his demand.
But admitting all this, the question then arises upon the rights of others, no one of whom is a foreigner. It arises between citizens of our own State, upon a right given by our own statute. The Federal judiciary has nothing to do- with the question, which has arisen, subsequent to the last act of the process of her court. A question which grows out of our policy, and which policy is not at war with the rights or interests of the foreigi creditor, or with any provision of the Federal constitution. The
Confine the question therefore to the case made in the pleadings, and we find it between two of our own citizens, founded on the act which provides “That it shall and may be lawful for any debtor whose interest in any real estate may hereafter be sold under execution, at any time within two years after such sale, on payment or tender thereof to the purchaser, or to any one claiming under him, the principal money bid at such sale, with ten per cent, interest, with other lawful charges, if any, to redeem the interest; and upon payment or tender thereof, it shall be the duty of the then claimant to reconvey said interest to said debtor, but at the cost of such debtor.”
This is a general law, applicable alike to all persons, and to all executions; no matter from what court they may issue. It is intended to fix the right of purchaser and of debtor; it jeopardizes no right, impairs no obligation; nor does it supervene any process. At most, it creates an equity when the tender is made or the money paid; and for this equity, ample compensation is given in the ten per cent, and all costs and charges paid. The law makes known to all purchasers that such an equity exists on tender or payment; no one is circumvented, no one taken by surprise. .
We hear it frequently.announced from this seat, that laws which are partial in their operation are unconstitutional, and not the law of the land. Laws should, if possi
It is assumed, that because the property is subject to execution and sale by act of Congress, that it was made to protect the creditor, and therefore our law cannot reach such a case without conflicting with Federal power; and to sustain the argument, stay and replevin laws have been referred to. It seems to me, that any mind must at once perceive that there exists no analogy in the two cases. Stay and replevin laws directly affect the execution, and delay the right of the creditor. Not so in the case before us; no execution is stayed, no right delayed. The only question that can arise, is a question which may affect the title: if it is said the purchaser is substituted in the place of the creditor, Ihe obvious answer is, that by such substitution he may have his money, not the thiug purchased, so long as the other will redeem.
When it is insisted that the right passes without redemption, I would ask by what act of Congress? The furthest the acts of Congress go in sales and transfers of real estate by the Marshal, is, that the deeds be made in conformity with the law of the State, not in virtue of any express provision contained in any act of Congress. This is a courtesy due to the States. While it regards and secures the rights of creditors, it places purchasers upon a uniform footing; all the dissimilarity is in furnishing the officer to make the transfer, if that may be called dissimilarity, and at most, it is by construction, that gentle
But if all this is admitted, still, at every move the main question presents itself, is the right of redemption defeated? A matter, as before observed, with which the creditor has nothing to do. It is emphatically a question between others, a question which relates to the passing titles to lands in the State. It cannot be pretended that the mode of transfer cannot be fixed by our laws. Not only the mode, but the conditions and limitations under which it shall be done, are subjects belonging to the legislature to provide.
Rules of alienation may be deeply connected with policy, and that policy must be seen in legislation. If policy and legislation go hand and hand, and neither conflict with constitutional restriction, where is the objection? It must be whimsical to make it.
In all the cases cited against the complainants, they are such as did affect the rights of the creditor; they were cases growing out of laws which either defeated or delayed the right. But by the last act of Congress of 1828, even the subsequent laws of the State are let in to govern, although they may affect the right, provided they be such as the State tribunals approve. This gives strength to the argument I am advancing; for if a law is now let in to operate, which, before the act of 1828 could not, surely a principle not coming within any former decision, and with which the creditor has nothing to do, must be allowed; and this certainly in a case, where the Marshal can make no other or better title than the law of the place allows. The act of Congress does not purport to vest the right unconditionally. If the Marshal has no more power than the sheriff, how can he at any time make a better title?
The law is a wise one, because it contains within itself not only a provision which is just and humane, but is calculated to keep down that speculation which might otherwise, under the fluctuation of the currency of the country, throw into the hands of-capitalists the best estates amongst us, at greatly inadequate prices. Being consistent with the policy of the country, securing rights to the execution debtor, I will not overlook these rights, but am for enforcing them as the Chancellor did, by affirming the decree.
Decree reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.