Source: https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/310/563/
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 18:19:10+00:00

Document:
1. Land on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River was cut off by a sudden change of the river's course, in 1821, and became attached to the Tennessee side.
(1) That it subsequently became a part of Tennessee as the result of long and continuous exercise by that dominion and jurisdiction over it with the acquiescence of Arkansas. P. 310 U. S. 566.
(2) That an addition to this area, caused by gradual accretion from the river, was also subject to the Tennessee jurisdiction. P. 310 U. S. 572.
2. The principle of prescription and acquiescence is applicable in the determination of boundaries between States. P. 310 U. S. 569.
3. The rule of the thalweg rests upon equitable considerations, and is intended to safeguard to each State equality of access and right of navigation in the stream. The rule yields to the doctrine that a boundary is unaltered by an avulsion, and, in such case, in the absence of prescription, the boundary no longer follows the thalweg, but remains at the original line. P. 310 U. S. 571.
4. The doctrine as to the effect of an avulsion may become inapplicable when it is established that there has been acquiescence in a long continued and uninterrupted assertion of dominion and jurisdiction over the area affected. P. 310 U. S. 571.
5. The question whether a State has acquired political jurisdiction by prescription is not affected by the circumstance that the title to the area is in the United States, such title not being disputed. P. 310 U. S. 571.
Exceptions overruled; report confirmed, and decree ordered.
Upon exceptions to the report of a Special Master, appointed in an original boundary suit (301 U.S. 666) between the States of Arkansas and Tennessee.
The State pf Arkansas brought this suit against the State of Tennessee seeking a decree determining the true boundary between the States at certain points and confirming the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the State of Arkansas over the described territory.
The bill of complaint set forth two counts. The first count presented the contentions of Arkansas as to the boundary in relation to an area known as "Needham's Island," later as "Cutoff Island" or "Moss Island," and to a contiguous formation known as "Blue Grass Towhead." This is the only area which remains in controversy, as the parties have agreed by stipulation upon the boundary line to be fixed in relation to the land described in the second count.
Tennessee answered, contesting the claims of Arkansas and asserting by cross-bill its jurisdiction and sovereignty over the territory in question.
The issues were referred to Monte M. Lemann as Special Master. 301 U.S. 666. The Master has filed a careful and comprehensive report recommending a decree in favor of Tennessee as to the area described in count one, and in accordance with the stipulation as to that described in count two. The case has been heard upon that report and the exceptions filed by Arkansas.
occasioned by the water's cutting across the neck of this peninsula at a point where it had become only half a mile wide due to caving of the river banks. At the present time, the main channel of the Mississippi River flows to the west of the lands in controversy, and has so flowed for many years prior to the present. The original channel of the river is now, and has for many years been, filled up, so that the island originally created by the avulsion is now, and has for many years been, physically connected to, and a part of, the eastern shore of the river."
"(1) The Territory of Arkansas was organized by Act of March 2, 1819, 3 Stat. 493, being carved out of the Territory of Missouri, which was a part of the Louisiana Purchase, and the eastern boundary of the Territory was the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi River."
"(2) In 1819, the lands in controversy were on the west side of the main channel of the river and were part of the Territory of Arkansas."
"(3) The avulsion at Needham's Cutoff occurred in 1821."
"(4) The main channel of the river flowed through the cut-off prior to 1836."
"(5) Arkansas was admitted into the Union on June 15, 1836, 5 Stat. 50, and its eastern boundary was fixed at the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi River."
"(6) On June 15, 1836, when Arkansas was admitted into the Union, the lands in controversy were on the east side of the main channel of the Mississippi River."
"(7) The avulsion did not change the boundary line theretofore existing between Tennessee and the Territory of Arkansas. "
"(8) The Act of Congress of June 15, 1836, admitting Arkansas into the Union did not have the effect of excluding from the boundaries of the Arkansas lands which, immediately prior to the adoption of the Act, were within the Territory of Arkansas."
"(9) Tennessee was admitted into the Union on June 1, 1796, 1 Stat. 491, c. 47. Its western boundary was the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi River. The lands in controversy were, in 1796, on the west of the main channel of the river."
"(10) The Act of June 15, 1836, 5 Stat. 50, admitting Arkansas into the Union, did not have the effect of enlarging the boundaries of Tennessee."
"(11) From 1826 to the date of the filing of this suit, Tennessee has continuously exercised dominion and jurisdiction over the lands in controversy."
"(12) Arkansas has acquiesced in Tennessee's exercise of dominion and jurisdiction."
"(13) The lands described in Count One of the complaint are now within the boundaries of Tennessee as a result of prescription. Bluegrass Towhead, which has been formed by gradual processes and is attached to Moss Island, is likewise now within the boundaries of Tennessee."
original boundary of the Territory of Arkansas, and also the contention that the avulsion of 1821 did not change the boundary line theretofore existing between Tennessee and the Territory of Arkansas; and, further, the Master holds that the Act of 1836 admitting Arkansas into the Union did not operate to exclude from its boundaries the lands which, immediately before, were within the Territory of Arkansas, or to enlarge the boundaries of Tennessee.
in that case that, as far back as 1826, Tennessee assessed the lands on the cut-off island, collected the taxes on them, and served process there. The opinion of the Supreme Court of Tennessee in Moss v. Gibbs (1872) 10 Heisk. 283, 57 Tenn. 283, recites these facts as proven therein."
"the testimony taken before me and the other documentary evidence, consisting of certified copies of entries, surveys, and patents is, in my judgment, sufficient to prove Tennessee's long and uninterrupted exercise of dominion and jurisdiction over the lands in controversy."
"There is no showing that Arkansas ever asserted any claim to the land in controversy prior to the institution of this suit. The lands were never surveyed or granted by Arkansas. In 1848, the United States Surveyor of Public Lands in Arkansas wrote to the General Land Office in Washington that he had been called upon to survey the lands on the cut-off island. He received a reply authorizing him to proceed with the survey of the island 'more especially if it is not claimed by the Tennessee.' But no survey was ever made. On October 10th, 1935, application was filed with the Commissioner of State Lands of Arkansas for the purchase of Blue Grass Towhead, but no action was taken thereon. The opinion of the Supreme Court of Tennessee in Moss v. Gibbs, 10 Heisk. 283, 57 Tenn. 283, was published in the year 1872, and made the claims of Tennessee a matter of public notoriety."
with respect to the exercise of dominion and jurisdiction by Tennessee and as to the acquiescence therein of Arkansas are fully supported by the record, and we must determine the cause upon that basis.
"No human transactions are unaffected by time. Its influence is seen on all things subject to change. And this is peculiarly the case in regard to matters which rest in memory, and which consequently fade with the lapse of time, and fall with the lives of individuals. For the security of rights, whether of states or individuals, long possession under a claim of title is protected. And there is no controversy in which this great principle may be involved with greater justice and propriety than in a case of disputed boundary."
"It is a principle of public law, universally recognized, that long acquiescence in the possession of territory, and in the exercise of dominion and sovereignty over it, is conclusive of the nation's title and rightful authority."
"The question is one of boundary, and this court has many times held that, as between the states of the Union, long acquiescence in the assertion of a particular boundary and the exercise of dominion and sovereignty over the territory within it should be accepted as conclusive, whatever the international rule might be in respect of the acquisition by prescription of large tracts of country claimed by both."
148 U. S. 523; Maryland v. West Virginia, 217 U. S. 1, 217 U. S. 41-44; Vermont v. New Hampshire, 289 U. S. 593, 289 U. S. 613.
"That rights of the character here claimed may be acquired, on the one hand, and lost, on the other, by open, long continued, and uninterrupted possession of territory is a doctrine not confined to individuals, but applicable to sovereign nations as well, Direct United States Cable Co. v. Anglo-American Telegraph Co.,  L.R. 2 A.C. 394, 421; Wheaton, International Law (5th Eng.Ed.) 268, 269; 1 Moore, International Law Digest, 294 et seq.; and, a fortiori, to the quasi-sovereign states of the Union."
"the acquisition of sovereignty over a territory through continuous and undisturbed exercise of sovereignty over it during such a period as is necessary to create under the influence of historical development the general conviction that the present condition of things is in conformity with international order."
And thus he finds that prescription in international law "has the same rational basis as prescription in municipal law -- namely, the creation of stability of order." Oppenheim, International Law, 5th Ed., pp. 455, 456. See also Hall, International Law, 8th Ed., pp. 143, 144; Hyde, International Law, Sec. 116.
of acts of dominion and jurisdiction as are shown on the part of Tennessee in the instant case.
On behalf of Arkansas, it is argued that the rule of the thalweg is of such dominating character that it meets and overthrows the defense of prescription and acquiescence. That position is untenable. The rule of the thalweg rests upon equitable considerations, and is intended to safeguard to each State equality of access and right of navigation in the stream. Iowa v. Illinois, 147 U. S. 1, 147 U. S. 7-8; Minnesota v. Wisconsin, 252 U. S. 273, 252 U. S. 281-282; Wisconsin v. Michigan, 295 U. S. 455, 295 U. S. 461; New Jersey v. Delaware, 291 U. S. 361, 291 U. S. 380. The rule yields to the doctrine that a boundary is unaltered by an avulsion, and, in such case, in the absence of prescription, the boundary no longer follows the thalweg, but remains at the original line, although now on dry land because the old channel has filled up. Nebraska v. Iowa, 143 U. S. 359, 143 U. S. 367; Missouri v. Nebraska, 196 U. S. 23, 196 U. S. 36; Arkansas v. Tennessee, supra, pp. 246 U. S. 173-174. And, in turn, the doctrine as to the effect of an avulsion may become inapplicable when it is established that there has been acquiescence in a long continued and uninterrupted assertion of dominion and jurisdiction over a given area. Here, that fact has been established, and the original rule of the thalweg no longer applies.
United States to lands within the boundaries of either State is here in question or is here determined. The ruling of the Master in overruling this contention is sustained.
"Blue Grass Towhead is a formation adjoining Moss Island (the cut-off island) on the west thereof, which has been formed since the year 1916 by the gradual processes of the river and is now attached physically to the eastern shore of the river. Insofar as this formation is in controversy in the present litigation, I am of the opinion that it also is subject to the jurisdiction of Tennessee, as it was formed by gradual processes and is attached to Moss Island; see Arkansas v. Tennessee, 246 U. S. 158, 246 U. S. 173."
It seems clear that, as Moss Island, by prescription and acquiescence, must be deemed to be part of the territory subject to the jurisdiction of Tennessee, this addition by gradual processes should be treated as part of Moss Island, and as subject to the same jurisdiction.
(1) That the claims of Arkansas to the lands described in count one be rejected, and the claims of Tennessee thereto be maintained, and that the boundary line between the States at the point to which count one refers be fixed at the middle of the main channel of navigation in the Mississippi River as it existed at the date of the filing of the bill of complaint herein.
line and a fourth one on sufficiently high ground to be used in locating the other three in the event that they should be covered by water, moved, or destroyed.
(3) That costs be equally divided between the States.
Decree may be settled on notice.

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