MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, after stating the facts, delivered the opinion of the court.
It does not seem incumbent upon this court to determine some of the questions, however important or interesting as abstract propositions, which counsel have pressed upon its attention. The case, as presented by the record, is within a very narrow compass, as is evident from the statement, already made, of the history and nature of the litigation out of which the present appeal arises.
The action of the court below is assailed by the State upon numerous grounds, separately stated in the assignment of errors. They are, however, all comprehended in the general proposition that the court erred in denying and dismissing the State's petition, filed June 3, 1879, thereby, it is claimed, adjudging that the sheriff could not, pending the possession and control by the receivers of the property, rightfully proceed with the executions for taxes; and in decreeing that the State is not entitled to penalties on its taxes for the years named in the final decree of foreclosure.
Touching the first of these propositions, it may be observed that if it was not a matter wholly within the discretion of the Circuit Court to permit the State to become a party to the foreclosure suit, it is clear that the State did not ask to become, nor was it in any form made, a party to that suit. It is equally clear that it could not have been made a party without its consent. While questioning with great distinctness of language the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court to take possession, by its receivers, of the property previously levied on in satisfaction of the several executions for taxes, the State avowed its unwillingness to submit its rights, in the matter of taxes, to the adjudication of any court of the United States. It, therefore, assumed such a position with reference to the foreclosure suit, that, while asking an order to be entered discharging the receivers
In reference to that part of the final decree of foreclosure, declaring, as between the parties before the court, that the State was not entitled to penalties or interest on its taxes, we remark, that if the State, not being a party to the suit, could have appealed therefrom, it has not done so. The petition of Aug. 22, 1879, plainly imports that the appeal prayed for was only from the order of June 6, 1879, denying and dismissing the petition of June 3, 1879. It is, therefore, not competent for this court, upon the present appeal, to review that portion of the final decree relating to penalties and interest on taxes. Whether the State is concluded by any action subsequently taken by it under that decree, or whether the State was, or is, entitled to penalties and interest on its taxes, are questions which do not arise upon this appeal, and are not intended to be decided.
For these reasons the decree must, on this appeal, be
Affirmed.
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