Case Name: The American Insurance Company, and the Ocean Insurance Company, (of New-York,) Appellants, vs. 356 Bales of Cotton, David Canter Claimant and Appellee
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1828-01
Citations: 1 Pet. 511
Docket Number: 
Parties: The American Insurance Company, and the Ocean Insurance Company, (of New-York,) Appellants, vs. 356 Bales of Cotton, David Canter Claimant and Appellee.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 26
Pages: 511–546

Head Matter:
The American Insurance Company, and the Ocean Insurance Company, (of New-York,) Appellants, vs. 356 Bales of Cotton, David Canter Claimant and Appellee.
The Constitution of the United States confers, absolutely, onthegovernn nt of the Union, the power of making war, and of making .treaties. Consequently, that government possesses the power of acquiring territory, either by conquest or by treaty. {542}
The usage of the wtorld.is, if a nation be" not entirely.subdued, to consider the holding of conquered territory as a mere military occupation, until its fate shall b e deteripihed at the. treaty of peace. If it be ceded by treaty, the acquisition is confirmed, and the ceded territory becomes a part of the ■’nation to which it is annexed; e:;her on the terms stipulated in the-treaty-of cession, or on such as its new master shall impose. On such transfer of territory, it has never been held, that the relations of the inhabitants with each other undergo any change. Their relations .with their former sovereign are dissolved, and new relations are created between them’and the government which has acquired their territory. The same act Which trans- , fers theif country, transfers the allegiance óf those who remain in it, and the law, which maybe denominated political, is, necessarily, changed; although that which regulates the intercourse and general conduct of individuals, remains in force, until altered by the newly created power of the state. '{542}
The treaty with Spaip, by which Florida was ceded to the United States, is ' the law of the! land; and admits the inhabitants of Florida to the enjoyment of the privileges, rights, and immunities of the citizens of the United States. They do not however participate in'political power; they do not share in the.govérnment, until’Florida shall become a state. In the mean time Florida continues to be a territory of the United States, governed by virtue of that clauséin the Constitution, which empowers “ Congress to make all needful rules and regulations, respecting the territory, or other property belonging to the United States.” {542}
The powers of the territorial .legislature; 'Florida, extend to all rightful objects of legislation; subject, to the restriction, that their laws shall not be “inconsistent with the laws and Constitution of the United States.” {543} All the laws which were in force in Florida, while a province of Spain, those excepted which were political'in their character, which concerned the relations bej.ween.the people and their sovereign, remained in force until altered by tile government of the United States. Congress recognises this principle, by using the wdrds''“ Iaws of the territory now in force therein.” •■No-laws could, then, have been.in force but those enacted by the Spanish government. If among, them there existed a law on the subject of salvage, and it is scarcely possible there shouldnot have been such a law, jurisdiction over it, was conferred .by the Act of Congress relative to the territory of Florida, on the Superior Court; but that jurisdiction was not exclusive. A territorial Act, conferring jurisdiction over the same cases as an inferior Court, would.not have been inconsistent with the seventh section of the Act, vesting the whole judicial power of the territory in two Superior Courts, and in such inferior Courts, and Justices of the Peace, as the legis.-lative council of the territory may from time to time establish.” . {544}
The eleventh section of the Act declares “ that the laws of the United States ■ relating to the revenue and its collection, and all other public Acts not • inconsistent or repugnant to the Act, shall extend to and have full force and effect in the territory of Florida.” The laws which are extended to the territory by thissection.'Wfere either for the punishment of crimes, or for civil purposes. Jurisdiction is given in all criminal gases' by the seventh section, but in civil case?, that section gives jurisdiction only in those which arise under, and are-cognizable by the laws of the territory. Consequently, al! civil cases arising under the laws which are extended to the territory by the eleventh section, are cognizable in. the territorial Courts by virtue Of the eighth section': and in those eases, the Superior Courts may exercise the same jurisdiction as is exercised' by the Court for the Kentucky district. {544}
The Constitution and laws of the United States give jurisdiction to' the District Courts, over all cases.in admiralty; but jurisdiction over the case, does • not constitute the case itself. {545}.
The Constitution (leclares that “the judicial power shall extend to all cases . in law and equity arising under it — the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made under tlieir authority; — to a{l cases affecting ambassadors, other'puhlic ministers and consuls; to. all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.” •' The, Constitution certainly contefn-plates these as three distinct classes of cases¡ and if they are distinct, the grant of jurisdiction over pne of them, does not confei; jurisdiction over . either of the. other two. The discrimination made between them is con-- ' elusive against their identity. {545}
A case in admiralty does not, in fact, arise under the Constitution or laws of the United States. These cases are as pid as navigation its,elf; and the law admiralty and maritime, as it existed for ages, is applied by our Courts to the cases as they arise. It is not then to the,eighth section of the teiVito-' rial Act, that we are to look for the grant of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction in the territorial Courts of Florida. ' Consequently, if that jurisdiction is exclusive, it is not made so by the reference in the Act of Congress to the District Court of Kentucky. ■ {545} . .
The Judges of the Superior Courts of Florida hold their offices for four years. ■ These Courts, theivqre not Constitutional Courts, in.which-^e judicial powers conferred by the Constitution- on the general govérnmeiít can be. ■ deposited. They are incapable of receiving it. They are legislative Courts, created in virtue of the general-right of sovereignty, .which exists in the government; or in virtue of that clause which enables Congress to make ■laws regulating the territories belonging to. the United States). The jurisdiction with which they.are invested,.is not a part of that judicialpower, which is defined in the third article offthe Constitution,'but'is conforred.by TCohgress in the exercise of its powers over the territories of- the United • States. {546}
Although admiralty-jurisdiction can be exercised in the states, in those Courts only which are established in pursuance of the third article of the Consti-' tution, the same limitation dops not extend to the territories.. In. legislating for them, Congress exercises the combined powers of the general and state governments. {546},
The Act of the territorial legislature.of Florida,ierectihg a Court which proceeded under the provisions of the law to decree, for salvage, the sale of a cargo of a vessel which had. been stranded, and whiph cargo had been brought within the territorial limits, is not inconsistent with thd laws and Constitution of the United States, and is valid; and consequently a sale of the-property made ih pursuance of it changed the property.' {546}
APPEAL from the Circuit Court of the United States, for the District of South Carolina.
The libel filed in this cause in’ the District Court of South Carolina, on the 18th April, 1825, alleged that five hundred and eighty-four bales of cotton, insured by the libellants, were shipped on board the ship Point a Petre, on . voyage from New-Orleans to Havre de Grace in France, and was in February, 1825, wrecked on the coast of Florida; from which it was salved, and carried .into Key West, in the territory óf Florida, where it was sold, without any previous adjudication by a Court of competent jurisdiction, for the ostensible purpose of satisfying a claim for salvage, amounting to seventy-six per cent, of the property saved. That the cotton thus insured, was abandoned' to the underwriters, the libellants, and'the abandonment was accepted by them on the 10th March, 1825. — That part of the cargo, amounting to one hundred and forty bale's, subsequently arrived in the port of New-Yorh, and was there -proceeded against by the libellants, as their property under the abandonment. ■ That another part of the cargo, amounting to between, three hundred and three hundred-arid.fifty-six bales, had arrived in the port of Charleston, within the jurisdiction of the Court, in the possession of one David Canter, and' was fraudulently sold in Charleston, at auction, on the 13th of April, 1825. Restitution of this last mentioned part was therefore prayed by the libellants, and process was issued ¿gainst the said Canter- in ■personam.
The marshal returned to the warrant that he had taken one hundred and sixty bales of cotton, and the person of Canter. Fifty-four bales of the cotton, specifically brought into Court, were; ordered to be sold and the proceeds paid into the Registry; and the supposed value of the remainder in dispute, to be secured by stipulation.
David Canter filed his answer claiming three hundred- and fifty-six bales' of cotton, as a bona.fide purchaser, under a sale at public auction at Key West, by virtue of the decree of a certain Court, consisting of-a Notary and five Jurors, proceeding under an Act of the Governor arid Legislative Council of Florida, passed the 4th of July, 1823, which decree^awarded-to the sal-vors severity-six per cent, on the nett proceeds of sale.
, The testimony of witnesses was taken, and other evidence produced,, relating to the title of the libellants under the. insurances and abandonments thereon, and to the proceedings in. the Court at Key' West.
■The District Juige pronounced the proceedings in the Court at Key West a nullity; but decreed restitution to the libellants of thirty-nine bales of the cotton only, (deducting a salvage of fifty per cent.;) considering the evidence of-the identity of the residue, as insufficient to establish their proprietary interest.
The libellants and claimant both' appealed from this decree to the Circuit Court.
Further testimony was taken in the Circuit Court; and. at the hearing, the. decree-of the'District. Court was reversed, and the entire cotton decreed .to the claimant-with costs ; upon- the ground that the proceedings of the Court at Key TVest-v/.eve legal, and transferred the property to the alleged purchaser under them.
From this decree the libellants appealed to tliis Court..
The"'documents, exhibited and evidence-taken in the case)showed that three hundred and thirty-three bales of the cotton, on board the'Point aPetre, were insured by the American, and three hundred-and fifty-one by the Ocean office. The whole cargo of the ship consisted of eight hundred and ninety-one bales, but to whom the other three hundred-and seventeen bales belonged, did not'appear. The ship sailed on the voyage insured on the 17th February 1825, and was- wrecked- on Carysforth Reef, on the east coast of West Florida, about eight miles from the shore.- She.filled with water, and was abandoned by the captain and crew.
In the depositions taken in the cause, it was stated, that when the vessel was first seen, .she was filled wifh water, abandoned, bilged, and lying on her broad side. 1 The cotton was taken out of her, hove into the sea, rafts made of it, towed inside of the reef, and then put on board-of vessels'. Thé captain of the ship was picked .up on the shore with his men, about fourteen miles from the wreck, and he went with the-salvors to-Key West, where the property saved was carried ; and the proceedings for salvage were at Key West, carried on, as was alleged, with the co-operation .and concurrence of the master of the ship.
■ The danger in saving the property was said to have been very great,- the weather to have been- stormy, some of the men were injured, and. the saving was done during, the night as well as the day; most of the cotton was much injured.
After the sale, the agent of the appellants, Mr. Ogden,-came on from New York to Key West, for the purpose of attending the sale, and he expressed his willingness to .pay to-the purchasers of the cotton, a considerable sum, beyond what had-been paid-for it at the sale.
It was also, in evidence, that the marks on the- cotton were defaced,'and that the-efforts to ascertain the particular marks on that imported into Charleston by the-appellee, were, to a great extent,, without success. ■ A large portion of the cotton' brought.to Charleston by the claimant, was sold at auction as. damaged cotton. An .agreement between the two insurance companies, the appellants, was made previous to the institution .of the suit, that the same should b.e for their joint benefit. David Canter, the' appellee, claimed three hündred and fifty-six bales of the cotton, as a bona fide purchaser under the decree of the Court of'Key West, instituted by, and proceeding under á law of the Legislative Council of Florida, passed 4th July 1828; which decree awarded seventy-six per cent, to the salvors, of the net proceeds.of the sale.
The appellants filed the following “reasons of appeal.”
That the decision of the' Circuit Court is erroneous, inasmuch as the said tribunal at Key West was not legally organized, nor of competent jurisdiction in the premises.
. 1st. Because the Constitution and laws of the . United States are of full force.and effect within the territory of Florida.
2d. Becáuse jurisdiction of salvage was not a rightful subject of legislation; .with the Floridian government; 'and the wrecking law enacted by the same, is, in various respects, inconsistent with the said Constitution and laws.
■ ,3d. Because the Superior Courts of the said territory aré vested with plenary and exclusive jurisdiction over all-admiralty and máritime cases; and this was a cáse of that description.
. 4th. Because; even if the jurisdiction of the said Courts were . confined to “cases arising under the Constitution and laws of the United States,’’^-rthis was a case of that class.
5th. Becausethe said Superior Courts were vested with original cognizance in all cases, where the amount in issue exceeded the value of one hundred dollars.
David Canter claimed all the cotton except thirty-nine bales on the ground:
First, That he was in the possession of it, not tortiously, but as a bona fide purchaser, and)that that possession; thus acquir ed, is good against all but. the person who proves a better title to this identical cotton.'
Second. — That the salvors had a rightful lien, upon thec&rgo saved; that the captain of the Point a Petre was agent for the underwriters, and had authority to settle the amount of that claim, either by agreement, or an award of third persons; that. be applied to these third persons,, and agreed to their proceedings^ and to the sale; that the sale was afterwards ratified by-Ogden, the special agent of the underwriters.-
Tkifd.~He claims the whole three hundred and fiftjAsix bales, on the ground óf a sale by a Court of the territory of Florida.
H N. Cruger, for libellants. King and Gadsden, for claimant
• Fourth. — That was’ a. foreign Court, acting under a municipal law, and having the property within its reach; its jurisdiction cannot be inquired into.
■ Fifth. — -li the jurisdiction of that Courtxan be inquired into,
■ they contend .that jurisdiction was conferred upon it:
Sixth.* — With the 8th section of the Act of Congress of the 3d March 1823, which is-in these words: “That each of the said Superior Courts shall moreover have- and exercise the same jurisdiction within its limits, in all cases arising under the laws and Constitution of the United States, which by an Act to establish'the Judicial Courts of the United States, approved the 27th September 1789, and an Act in addition to said Act, ap-. proved the 2d of March 1793, was vested in the Court of Kentucky District. ”
■The case was argued by Mr. Ogden for the appellants,-and-by Mr. Whipple and'Mr. Webster for-the claimants:
. Mr. Ogden—
The great question in this case is the validity of the proceedings oí the territorial Court; and upon the -threshold of this inquiry it is asked, how far it is competent for this Court to examine the constitutionality of the Court at.Key West, and'the legality of its proceedings.
The libel filed'in the District Court, sought the restoration' pf the cotton, subject to a reasonable salvage. The claimant asserts his right to it under a sale, and the inquiry is, whether the property was changed by the proceedings directing the sale. The decision upon this- inquiry, rests upon the right of the Court to take jurisdiction of the subject matter.
The common law rule is, that when a Court acts within-its powers, its acts are binding on all the world; but if beyond them, they are entirely void. It is therefore necessary to look into the constitution of the Court. Jibbot on Ship. 11 ed. 16 n. StarMe 215. .-9 Mass. 462. 3 Wheat. 234.
The next inquiry is into the nature of the case, of which the Court took cognizance; and then,, whether it was within its jurisdiction ?
- It was a case of salvage, and salvage is of admiralty jurisdiction; 1 Wheat. SS5~Sergeant’s Constitutional Law, 206. — In England there was a great contest upon this question, but it .was finally settled in favour of the'jurisdiction of the admiralty, by the .statute pf Rich. 3d. Jibbot on Ship. 433.
It'is,now to be inquired, could, the Court at Key West, lawfully .exercise admiralty jurisdiction ?
The.Constituti'on was made for the whole people of the United States, without reference to their being within the original thirteen- states. — The 3d-article 2d secüon-definesj “ the judicial powers,” and declares “ it shall extend to all cases of admiralty and maritimé jurisdiction. ”
The treaty with Great Britain of 1783, ceded a large tract of country to the United States, A great portion of which, if not the whole, was within the limits of the thirteen states, and was Claimed by several of the states, but was afterwards ceded' to the United States.
Thus the United States became possessed of all these territories by cession, all of which, except that ceded by Georgia, having been acquired under the confederation,- the people upon those territories became citizens of the United States by those ■cessions, and were entitled to all the rights and privileges of citizens.
In the articles of confederation, there is- no provision for acquiring rights to lands; but on the contrary, the lands within the territories of the several states, were considered as belonging to those states. By what authority did the confederation acquire a right to the lands ceded to- them ? Whence then,did the confederation draw the capacity to take and hold those lands ? Not from any municipal regulations, or from the laws of,the states; or from the express terms of the articles of confederation; but from the great principles of public law. The powers of Congress were to make war, and peace, and. to make treaties; and in those and the other powers, were included those under which territories were acquired and governed.
That Congress considered themselves possessed of those powers is shown-by the resolutions of 6th September Í780, and 10th . October 1780, recommending to the states to cede, their unappropriated lands — and also by the ordinance for the government of the territory north-west of the river Ohio, passed 13th Julv 1787.
That the inhabitants of-the territories thus acquired, were' citizens of the United States, is manifest from the fact, that .as soon as they were sufficiently numerous to protect themselves, and to form a state government, they became a part of the Union. The territories to which these observations apply, were not-part of the nation at the time of tlie establishment of the Constitution,
. 'The Circuit Court in delivering their opinion, draw a distinction between territories so situated, and those which wpre after-wards acquired. -Is there any foundation for this distinction?
The rights of the United States to hold territories,not apart of the nation at thetime'of the confederation, in.the sarrte manner, as the right to all'those within the original thirteen states^ is derived from the same universal principles of'generaTlaw;' from- the powers of making peace, and war, and of making treaties,.&c.- It is necessary lor the ■peace of the Union, that - they, should, possess those.powersi '.
In what relation then, dp the inhabitants of an acquired ter ritory, stand to the United States ? Are they citizens, or subjects? This is a grave question, and merits the serious consideration of the Court.
The .first territory acquired by the United States, was Louisiana; and by the third article of the treaty, as well as by subsequent legislative Acts, the inhabitants of the country became entiled to the privileges of citizens. The acquiescence of the. people of the United States, fully establishes, that the powers exercised in reference to Louisiana, were properly exercised.
The third section, fourth article, of the Constitution, authorizes the admission of new states into the Union. ■ This section of the Constitution, gives to Congress a power, only limited by their own discretion, to admit as many states as they may think proper, in what manner soever the territory composing those new states may have-been acquired.
After the acquisition of Louisiana; Congress considered and treated the people .of the country in the same, manner they considered the inhabitants of every other territory of the United States, — as a part of the nation at the time óf the confederation. The various'legislative Acts in.reference to Louisiana, establish this position.-
The next great acquisition of the United States by cession from a foreign government, was that of Florida from Spain. The sixth article of the treaty declares, “The inhabitants of the territories which1 his Catholic Majesty cedes to the United States by this treaty, shall be incorporated into the Union of,the United States, as soon as may be consistent with the principles of the Federal Constitution, and admitted to-the enjoyment of all the privileges, rights and immunities of citizens of the United States.”
.. The provisions of this article, in all respects similar to that on.the Louisiana treaty, stipulating-for the privileges of the in- ' habitants of the country, authorize, the belief that the government . of the United.States doubted their power under the Constitution to receive a cession upon any other terms, than that the people inhabiting the country should be citizens of the United States.
The.Act of.Congress entitled “an Act for the establishment of a territorial government in Florida,” followed this treaty, and was passed 20th.March 1802.
• The fifth section of this Act constitutes a legislative body for the territory, and declares-that their legislative powers, shall extend to all the rightful sub.jeofs of; legislation ; but no law shall be valid,-which is inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of ■ the United • States, The sixth- section establishes the- judicial-power. and appoints ¿'superior Court, and gives the territorial legislature power to establish inferior Courts. The seventh. Section prescribes the jurisdiction of the Superior Court,.and. declares that the. said Superior Court shall have aúd exercise the seme jurisdiction within its limits in . all . cases arising under the laws and. Constitution of the United States, which was vested in the Court of the Kentucky, district, by the Judiciary Act of 1789'; and the Act-in addition thereto, of 2d March 1793-; and writs of error and appeal from, the decision in the said Superior Court, authorized by this section of the ¡Act, shall be made to the Supreme Court of the United States in the same cases,- and under the same regulations, as from the Circuit Court of the.United States. By the eighth section, the Judges of the Superior Courts and other officers, are to be appointed by the President, by and with.the advice and consent of.the Senate;' and all" the Judges are to take an oath to support the Constitu- . tión.of. the United States, before theyenter on the duties of their office; .and' the salaries of the Governor, Judges, &c. are to be paid out of the treasury of the United States.
The 9th section ■ declares, that certain Acts of Congress ' which -are enumerated in, the section, “ and all other public laws of the United States, which are not repugnant to the provisions of this Act;- shall extend to, and. have full force and effect, in the territory aforesaid- ”
The 14th section -provides for the appointment of one. delegate to Congress,-for the territory.- -.
, The Circuit-Court, in their opinion in this case say, “they haye the most explicit proof, that the understanding of the .public functionaries, is, that the government of. the United .States. d’oes not extend to such territories, by the mere,act-of cession.' For in the Act of Congress, of March 1822, section . 9th, we1,have an enumeration of. the Acts of Congress, which are to bev'held in .force in the territory; and,.in the 10th section, an enumeration in the nature of a bill , of rights-of privi-" leges, and which could not be denied to the inhabitants of the territory,-if they came under the Constitution, by - the mere act of cession.”
An examination of the Act, will show that it does not war- . rant- this construction'. The 5th section declares no law shall be passed,by the territorial .legislature, which is inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States.- This shows -that Congress, did consider .the Constitution and laws as-extending there. Why prohibit-the passage of a law inconsistent with them, if they had np operation there?
The 7th section- givés the Supreme Court jurisdiction in all cases, undér the laws and Constitution of. the United States; Those laws, must therefore have been considered to extend there, or why empower their enforcement by the Supreme Court ?
The 8th section provides for the appointment of the officers of the government, including the Judges of the Supreme Court, by the President, by and with the advice of the Senate. This manifests the admission that the Constitution extends there; as by .the Constitution this mode of appointment is established.
The law also provides, that the officers of the territory, appointed according to its purposes, shall take' an oath to sup-
■ port the Constitution of the United Statés. Why take this oath, if . that . Constitution does not extend to' the territory ? The payment of the officers of the territory, out of the Treasury of the United States, which could not be constitutionally authorized by Congress, unless the Constitution operated there, may-also be referred to, as evidence of the principles contended for by the appellants.
Becatise Congress have enumerated certain laws- as extending to the territory, in the 9th section of the Act, it is inferred, that Congress desired none, other should extend there, and that, without such enactment, none would have been, in ■ op'eratioh there-.-
The Iánguage of the section, disaffirms this position. After enumerating certain Acts, it closes with a provision “That all the other public laws of the United States, which are not repugnant to the provisions of this Aet, shall extend to, and have full force in the territory. ” By the enumeration of “ some laws,” it is-therefore evident that Congress did hot mean- to .exclude those not enumerated. ' But it is said, the 10th section contains an enumeration in the nature of a bill of rights, of privileges, which, if the Constitution extended there, could, not be denied. This is not admitted. The introduction of this' provision, was necessary, for the purpose of controlling the powy ers granted by the local, legislature, and to secure to the inhabitants rights. which they hadi -under the Constitution, but .which might have been otherwise infringed,, unless provisions were made to. carry the principles of the Constitution into effect.
. It'.has been shown: 1st. That-the people in the territories of the United States are citizens of the United States, en- ' titled to ail the benefits derived from the laws and Constitution of the United States, and subject to all the provisions- of the Constitution, and the" laws passed under it.
2., That in principle, there can be- no .difference between a territory formed out of a country, within the old limits of the United States, and .a territory in'newly acquired country,
3. And that, therefore, the people of Florida, immediately upon its cession, .or. at any rate upon th'e passing óf the Act instituting the territorial government, became citizens of the United States, to .whom the laws and. Constitution extended.
. The inquiry now is,. whether in .establishing the Court' or tribunal b.y whích..the cótton clakned in this case was ordered to jbe soldi the legislature of Florida have not violated the Constitution of the-United States) and the laws'of Congress, passed; under it. If.they have, then, the Court is an-illegal Court, and all its afcfs are void.
It is not Only upon-general principles, that the act' of establishing the Court is-invalid, but-álso by the provision, of the •Act of Congress, which-prohibits- the passing any law) incon-sistent with'the'l^ws and Constitution; of. the United States.
. Tn "the article of the Constitution relátive to the judicial power of the- government, it-is. declared,- that it shall extend to all cases.of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction.- It -has been shown, that the provision applies to territories as'well as states; the Constitution-being necessarily-paramount-within the limits 'of the United'States)
The Constitution having vés.ted the' judicial power in a Supreme Court) and such inferiorCour.ts as Congress' may from time to timé-establish, the legislative power under this provision has been exercised b.y the Acts of, -March 1822 and 1823. Superior Cdurts have been erected, -to which, in addition to-the powers óf territorial Courts, -jurisdiction is assigned within its-limits'- in all-cases arising hnder"the:' laws. and Constitution of the. United States, which, by the Judicial-Acts of the .United States, was vested.in the.Court, of Kentucky district, with a; right of appeal, And a tvrit of error, to this Court.
By-the same Acts,, authority is given to-the territorial legislature; to establish ■ inferior Courts, strictly territorial; and the (jurisdiction of which; extends to subjects notwithinthe cognizance of- the tribunals-of the Union.
What ate the powers,- ©f the Court- of' the-'Kentucky district-?
Among other subjects of jurisdiction in the District Court of. • the United States,-it is,declared,-by the ninth-sectionOf the Judiciary Act of .1.799, “that ‘they shall have exclusive original ■ eognizanqe of- all civil causes of .admiralty -and maritime jurisdiction, including all seizures under the laws of import, navigation and trade of the United States, where .the seizures are'made-on waters which-are-navigable from the. sea by-vessels of ten or. more tons bürtheíí..” Thus the Kentucky district had exclusive cognizance of cases of admiralty arid- maritime jurisdiction, and-cóhseqüéntly,)il has exclusive control over cases of salvage.
The tenth section provides, that thé'District Court'qf Kentucky shall,, besides the jurisdiction aforesaid, hávé'jurisdietiah of all other causes* except of appeals made cognizable in a Circuit Court, &c.
It follows from the provisions of the-Act relative to the territorial government* and its reference for the jurisdiction of- the. ■ Superior Court, to that existing in the Court of the Kentucky district, that in the Superior Court of Florida, there is exclusively jurisdiction over admiralty and maritime causes, and of course* of the.claims of the salvors of the cotton, comprising part, of the cargo of the Point a Petre. The jurisdiction is exclusive, for it could not be given to the territorial- Courts by. an ■Act of the territorial legislature, they not having the power to give it; the laws of the United States, having vested it in thfe Supreme Court, having.-similar powers to the District Court of Kentucky, and the potvers of the territorial Court being linfct-ed within the observance of.the.provisions of the laws of the .'United States.
Independent of the restriction imposedi upon the territorial legislature, by which they were disabled from giving admiralty and maritime jurisdiction to the inferior Courts of Florida, the Constitution of the United States would have been violated-by such legislation. The Constitution is che supreme law of the land; and, if without á prohibition in the territorial law, the legislative authority of Florida could -not “ coin money”, or “ issue bills of credit,” the establishing of a Court with admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, would be equally repugnant to the-Constitution; such .jurisdiction being exclusively, by the Constitution, in Courts established'by Congress.
It is said in the opinion of. the Circuit. Court, that .the jurisdiction in cases of salvage, is not vested by Congress-ifl the Superior Courts of Florida. A reference to the laws establishing the Court of the district of Kentucky, and to the Act relative to Florida, authorizes a different, position. Jurisdiction is given by tliosé laws, “in cases arising under the Constitution and laws of the United -States ” What is such a case ? Is not the extent of the judicial ■ power -of the pourts of the' United States, a question arising under th ¿"Constitution? The Con-; stitution having declared, that the judicial power shall extend to' cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, is not a case of admiralty jurisdiction a question of this character? -A prohibition in a state Court in a case of admiralty jurisdictiop, and a plea interposed, that exclusive cognizance of admiralty cases: is in the-Courts, of the United States, would at once raise *a question Under the-Constitution. The principle seems to be, that whenever a case arises, in which the -question is as to the jurisdiction of-the Co arts of the United States, it is necessarily- and always a question wising under the Constitution, and laws »f th,e United States.
. A case of salvage does not, strictly sp^ aking, arise under the latys and-Constitution of the United States,, as the right, to sal-' vage.depends on the principles of maritime law; but the amount . qf 'salvage, depends on the decision óf a.Court, guided by the; circumstances of-the case,, and exercising admiralty and maritime. jurisdiction. Thus, as the jurisdiction over the case is given by the Constitution, the decision upon it, becomes a case arising under the Constitution,
Whether a man is bound to pay a promissory note is not a question of this description, and yet in cases of promissory notes held by the Bank'of. the United States, this Court have always decided that' the Courts of the United States have jurisdiction; ■because- all actions brought by the bank, are cases arising under the Constitution and laws of the United' States. Congress could give this Court jurisdiction of. such cases, cin' no other principle.
If -then, under a clause in the Constitution extending the judicial power of the United-States to all cases arising under- the Constitution andi laws of. the United States, this Court will-sustain jurisdiction uport a promissory note, with the making of which, and the extent of the,liability of the parties thereto, the Constitution and laws’of the United States have nothing to do.
■ — If those liabilities'are questions arising under a different law, and. the jurisdiction is 'sustained by the Court, only in-the particular case of the Bank of the United States, as a casé arising under the Constitution.and laws of the .United States; why is a different rule to' apply in a case of salvage, of which the- exclusive jurisdiction is giyeh by the ConDi,jn.ation anti-law of the United .States to the District Court?. , Is not the one as much a case arising under the laws of the United States, as the other ?•
• Upon the whole, it is contended, that the Superior.Courts of Florida, having the same jurisdiction, in cases arisihg under the laws and Constitution of the United States, as the District Court of Kentucky had, under the Acts of Congress; and as.the District Court of Kentucky has exclusive jurjsdictkm in all.civii cases of admiralty and maritime .jurisdiction; that-,, therefore, the Superior Courts in Florida have exclusive'jurisdiction in all civil, admiralty and maritime cases — that salvage is, a .casé of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction — and that, therefore, any law of. Florida, .giving jurisdiction in a case of. Salvage to any other ,Gourt is unconstitutional; and all the acts of .the Court under it, are void.
Mr. Whipplé and Mr. Webster for the claimant.
- Mr. Whipple contended:—
1. That Canter was a purchaser at Key West of the proper.' ty in question, which, was sold by the. consent of the owners.
After the disaster-and abandonment, the captain of the Point a Petre, acted as agent-to the underwriters. When the cotton arrived at Key West, the salvors and the captain were owners of it-as tenants „in common. The captain had a legal right to sell the proportion that belonged to the underwriters, or to don-sent to a division- of it, through the agency of a Court.
He chose the latter mode. , He himself with the salvors, applied to the justice to issue process; and he co-operated in all the subsequent proceedings, and he received his proportion of the sale of the part of the cargo which was saved. These ■ acts were subsequently ratified by the agent, who it is in evidence offered the claimant 7500 dollars for his bargain:
Upon these facts it is contended, that the consent of the par», ty operates as a change of title to the property.. It will not supply a. defect of power in the Court,' acting as á Court, but the Court is the mere organ of the will of the. partyl As between the original parties, a plaintiff may take advantage of the want of jurisdiction of the Court to which he has resorted. But can he obtain judgment, proceed to execution, obtain a sale, under which a, third per soil purchases-; and then dispute the title of that third person, for- An alleged want of jurisdiction, in the Court ?
The Court at Key West had jurisdiction, and its decree cannot be questioned.
It may be proper to consider in the first place, whether the jurisdiction of the Key 'West Court, can be inquired into by this Court?- Was it not the judge of its own jurisdiction? It was a municipal Court, acting, in rem, under a municipal law. 2 Dal. 273. 2 Blue. Rep. 977- 4 T. R. 191. 2 H. Blue. 410. 4 Crunch, 271: 268. 275-6. 293. 3 Wheat. 236, note. 15 John. 144. 1 Stark- 215-16. 9 Mass. 46. 9 Hast, 199..
In Rosé vs. Himely, 4 Crunch, 268; it is said, “ but of their own jurisdiction, so far- as it depends on municipal laws, the Courts of every country are the exclusive-judges.”
Can the Key West Court.be considered a foreign Court? It was constituted -by Congress, or by a power derived from Congress; yet.it may be considered that the United States has two so vereignties, one over the people of the United- States,- the other over the territories; and that they are ás foreign to each other; as the parliament of England, and the legislature of Jamaica; and that the Courts of each are as foreign as the Courts of Westminster and Kingston. Perhaps a distinction may -be also taken between the power of this Court, to inquire into the jurisdiction of another Courts in a case in which a third person, not a party to the original suit, defends his.right to the property purchased under that judgment, and a- case where a party to the original -judgment, seeks to enforce that judgment in this Court, and ■ .thereby to acquire new rights under it. Another distinction, may be taken between a defect of jurisdiction, ia consequence of .the'absence'of some fad necessary to confer jurisdiction, and' that want of jurisdiction which arises from • the different construction put upon a municipal law by .this Court, from the construction adopted by the municipal Court.
Instead of - considering the territorial' Court of Florida, a strictly foreign Court, suppose the same right to inquire into its jurisdiction, that' exists to inquire into the'jurisdiction of a state Court, is admitted.
As' a general principle, it is true, that the proceedings of a Coürt áre void, unless it has jurisdiction over the subject matter.- This however, like all general rules, has its limits and its qualifications.
■ Whether the subject'rfiatfer, (the person, or property,) is with-. in the power ei the" Cotirt, is a question of fact, to be'decided, generally, by the return of an officer. The Court may be supposed to act upon the existence of that fact. When it is proved in another Court, that the CourTwhose jurisdiction is questioned had been deceived as to that, essential fact,- it does, not impugn its judgmejitj to say that it acted without jurisdiction.
But the construction of the statutes of.the states, is peculiarly the province of the Courts of the state; and a uniform cqn-. s.truction becomes the settled law of the. state. The jurisdiction cannot be settled in any other way,' .than by the Courts' of the state. It presents a question of law, and the .decision of that • question,- though it' relates to jurisdiction, is as binding upon the parties, as though'it related to the raefifs ;of the case. The question as to the extent of the power of the Court under a-sta- • tute, is a question of law, and -the decision conclusive on the par-, ties. .
The Courts of Florida alone, are to construe the Acts of.Congress in relation to the jurisdiction óf .-Florida... Had the-.justice, at Key West, jurisdiction_of the question of- salvage? ■
'By the territorial Act of-1823,. called- thé. “ Wreckers’ Act,” it is admitted, that sufficient authority was given to the,-Justice over this subjéct. The question arises out-of the Act of Congress of March 1823; and.is this, docs that Act .of Congress, grant sufficient power to the legislature of Florida to pass such a-.law?.
The Act of Congress of March 1828, authorizes the territorial legislature, “to legislate upon all rightful subjects'of le--gislation..”
It makes it the duty of the governor to lay before Congress, annually,'all-'the Acts passed by the legislature. If either of those Acts are disapproved of by Congress, it is, from thenceforth, to be of no effect. The Act-concerning wreckers was'laid be fore Congress in December 1823, and its attention particularly pointed to that, subject,- by a memorial- in which the necessity of such'a law was enforced. ! Congress 'did not disapprove-Or annul that law, Untill 1826. In the opinion of Congress, then, this, law did not violate the provisions Of the Constitution, or of any general law of the United States,
' It ought to be noticed, that' the right conferred on the territorial legislature to legislate upon all rightful subjects of legislation,” was qualified by the condition, that no law should, be valid “ if -inconsistent' with the Constitution or laws of the United States. ” ■
Much argument has been used In order, to show that the Constitution and laws of the United States'are,per se, in force in Florida, •'and that the inhabitants are citizens : of the United States,
How the Constitution became of force in Florida has no.t beers shown. Was it by the Act of cession? Is there any principie n» the /aw. of nations, which upon the Act of cession or conquest,' gives to the ceded orconqu'ered'country, a right to participate in the' privileges of the Constitution of the. parent country. ? The usages of nations from the period of Grecian colonization - to the present moment, are precisely the réverse. Such a right never was asserted.
. The'Constitution was established by the people of the United States for the United States. It provides for the future admission" of territories’intothe Union,'and expressly confers upon Congress the power of governing them as territories, until they are admitted as states. ....
. If the Constitution is in force in Florida, why is -it not re- - presented in Congress ?,. Why was it necessary to pass- an Act of Congress extending several of the laws of the United States to Florida? Why did Congress designate particular laws, such as the crimes Act, the slave trade and revenue Acts, and introduce them'as laws into Florida? Why enumerate particular rights secured to the people of the United-States, if the inh'a-bitants'of-Florida were entitled to them upon the Act of -cession? -
It is denied,that all the, cas'es of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction are exclusively vested in the Courts of the Union. On the contrary it is asserted, that many cases within the admiralty. áre also within the common law. jurisdiction of the state Courts. Seamen’s wages, salvage, marine torts,, collision, 8cc. are of this description. 2 Doug. 614. Abb. orí Ship.,433. 436. 3 Bos. 4* Pul. 612. 8 East, 57. 2 Selw. ffl. T. 1287. 1 John.-175.- 1 Nott 8¡^MiCord, Í70; 1.8 JoUn. 9,57. '2 Gall. 399.-1 Kent’s Commentaries, 351-2.
If, however, salvage is admitted to. be- exclusively tested in the Court's of- the United States as a part of their admiralty jurisdiction, how does that deprive Congress of the power of distributing that jurisdiction among the Courts of the territories as it- pleases ? It is vested in the Courts of the Union; ex- ' elusive of the Courts of the ates. The state Courts are constituted by state legislatures, over which Congress has no control. They are in a measure adversé jurisdictions. If it is admitted that Congress has no power to vest any part of admiralty jurisdiction in the state Courts, over which it has no control, how does it follow that it has no power to vest it in a’ territorial Court, over which it has control ?
Congress can constitute new Courts within the states, and confer portions of admiralty jurisdiction upon ■ them. It can confer that jurisdiction upon-the superior or inferior Courts of the territory, or it can authorize the territorial legislature to do it. And this, whether the Constitution is or is not.in force In Florida.
The power of Congress over the territory is the same in the one case as in the other. - The Constitution authorizes Congress to provide for the government of the territories. It has all the power over them, that Congress and the legislature of a state, have over a state. Its power to appoint Courts of admiralty jurisdiction, can be as legally delegated, as its power to appoint ahy other Courts. ’ A1Í the Courts of Florid»*-whether appointed by Congress or by the territorial legislature, are dependent iipon Congress, and are Courts of the 'United States. They are thferefore, upon the admission of the opposite counsel, capable of receiving grants of admiralty jurisdiction. It is only state Courts, which are independent of Congress, that cannot bé. clothed with such power. If the power of Congress to distribute admiralty jurisdiction among the Courts of the territory as it pleases, is denied, its power to distribute it among the Courts of the United States as it pleases, must be denied. Of. what consequence is it then, whether the Constitution, is or is nd.t: in force in . Florida, since the Constitution excludes the state Court's alone from the exercise of admiralty jurisdiction ?
The ground assumed is this, that Congress authorized1 the territorial legislature to legisláte upon all rightful subjects of legislation,” unless inconsistent with the Constitution. That salvage is a rightful, and in-Florida a necessary subject of legislation that the necessary import of the words of this grant includes the exercise of the power in question; that the exercise of that power, by enacting the wrecker’s Act, was.not inconsistent with the Constitution or laws of the United States; and that consequently it must be supported, unless it- can be clearly shown that it.is inconsistent with some other, parts of the Aot of Congress- of March 1-823.
This is attempted by resorting to the 8th section, which-confers jurisdiction' upon the Superior Courts. of Florida. These Superior -Courts were appointed by Congress, and jurisdiction was conferred by Congress, and' the argument is' that as Congress have-conferred exclusive admiralty jurisdiction upoti these Courts of its own appointment, that the power given to the-legislature iii the same Act .to appoint other inferior Courts, and “ to legislate upon all rightful subjects- of legislation,” was not intended to include- the power over subjects of admiralty jurisdiction.
As the necessary import of the terms ■ of the grant to the le-gislatufe does include the power in .question, it must be shown that the necessary import of the grant of jurisdiction to.the Superior Courts excludes it. Words of a clear import are nob, to be controlled by other, words in the same statute, unless their import is equally clear; for doubtful words shall not limit the operation of clear and'precise- ones;
Two propositions must be established, as the necessary result of these words of the 8th section. 1st. That an exclusive admiralty jurisdiction is conferred upon-the Superior Cou’rts. 2nd. That that exclusive jurisdiction extends .to all cases.
The words are the “ same jurisdiction.” And it is argued that because the jurisdiction-of-the Kentucky Court was exclusive, that these terms, necessarily, vest an exclusive jurisdiction in the Superior Courts.
The grant iá'-“ the same jurisdiction.” Must itnecessarily be exclusive in.FIorida because it was' exclusive in Kentucky ? Are the terms, exclusive or concurrent, parts or: qualities of the jurisdiction,-so that a grant of the principié carries them, along with, it, as incidents? Or are they in fact no part of the jurisdiction itself, but terms used to express the relation which that Court hds to some other Court? Is not the term exclusive intended to prohibit other Courts from exercising, the same juris- • diction ? Is a jurisdiction more extensive when exclusive* or less so when concúrrent ? Is it not -precisely .the same in the one case as in the other ? ■ The power of the Court over the parties, the subject' matter and the process, is the samé in the one -case -as in the other; ■ A grant then of the “ same jurisdiction, does not necessarily carry with it- the same relation to other jurisdictions. It may be concurrent in Kentucky," and. exclusive in Florida. Suppose, two- Courts in Florida- whose, jurisdiction extended over the same district. -Congress confers upon these two Courts the “ same jurisdiction*” that the Ken-. tucky Court possessed.. It'was exclusive in -Kentucky, but.a'sit was conferred on.two Courts, would it not be concurrent in Florida ?
These terms, then, do not necessarily import an exclusive jurisdiction, and ought, not to limiCthe grant of power to the legislature... The intention of Congress might have beeji one way or the other. ,It is probable they did not intend an exclusive jurisdiction.. In Kentucky this admiralty power is exclusive of the state Courts, over which Congress has no control. Why in Florida should it'be exclusive 'of the térritorial Courts over which Congress had a control.
. The libellants then fail to establish the first proposition, that the necessary import of the- terms confers an exclusive jurisdiction on the Superior Courts. The second proposition it is apprehended cannot be established, which is, that jurisdiction over all cases, to which the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Court extended, was intended to be conferred. The words of the Act arc “ all cases arising under the laws of the United States. ”
It is at once perceived, that unless it can be established that the case of salvage tried before the justice and jury was a case arising under the law of the United States, that Congress have not conferred jurisdiction over it, on the Superior Courts, and consequently that the territorial legislature had the right of • conferring it upon an inferior Court.
,• The-reasoning adopted to show, Ujat.it was a case arising Under this laws of the United States is somewhat novel. The jurisdiction of the justice depended upon the. territorial law; the ' right of .the territorial- legislation'to enact that law-' depended on the. Act of Congress; it was therefore a case arising under the laws of the United States. And the case of Osborne Us. the-Bank, of the'United'States, 9 Wheat. 738, is relied upon as an authority. •
■' ’ The case of Osborne vs. the.Bank, did not involve the right ' of. the bank to sue-in a particular Court, not ¿'mere question of jurisdiction, but the right of the bank to' sue in any Court; its right to a legal' existence. The.fact of the legal existence of the bank-depended on a law of the United; States. The decision of the' question settled the- case-between the parties. - No suit-eo.uk! be afterwards brought by the bank in another Court.- But, if tjie : justice iñ Florida had decided' against his own jurisdiction, it -.would have left the rights of the parties as they- were before, to be decided upon in another' Court. -It would have effected the remedy in that Court, and that alone-
Besides; if every case which involves a question of jurisdiction under a law of the United States, is a case arising "under the laws of the United' States, then every case which by possibility c(in be-brought in the.Kentucky Courtis of that description, because, every- case involves that question. What meaning-then have the words “ arising under the .laws -of the■ United .States?” -Why not omit them entirely and read‘the Section thus, the same jurisdiction in all cases which the Kentucky Court. has. ” If those words do not limit the grant to cases where some right is claimed under a law, they 'are wholly inoperative.
•It will be found, not only that these words are inoperative upon the construction of the libellants, but that distinct and in-' dependent provisions in the Act of Congress of 1824,-are also inoperative. Immediately following these words conferring jurisdiction upon the Superior Coiirts, it iaiprovided that “ all cases arising under the laws of the United States” shall be tried the first six days of the term, and all other" .cases after-wards; that in such cases the Clerk shall have the same fees that' the Clerks of the District Courts have, but in all other cases, such fees as the legislature shall, establish. Now. if every case brought in a territorial Court, involves a question of the jurisdiction of the Court, and that alone gives it the character of “ a case Under the laws of the United States,” according to the meaning' of Congress, how can the distinction as to' the time of trial, and the amount of fees exist ? Congress has es-, tabiished two classes of cases, one under, and the other not under, the law of the United States. The libellants say there is but one class. Ail casesbrought in'the Courts, of Florida are cases arising under the laws of the United States, because they all involve a question of jurisdiction. This view- of the subject appears conclusive. '
The whole case results in this, that Congress, being the sovereign, de facta, or. under the Constitution of Florida, had a right to provide for its government by a direct or a delegated exercise of power, or -by both. That it had the right of distributing all branches of judicial power' among'the several Courts of Florida as it pleased, and how it pleasedj'and this to , the same extent if the Constitution is, or'if it is not, per se, in force in Florida.
That the grant of power to the territorial legislature clearly embraces-.the exercise of it in question, and that .so far from-a ' clear gráht of exclusive jurisdiction in all admiralty, cases, being' conferred upon the Superior Courts, which ■ could alone limit the grant of power to the "legislature, that it is very doubtful' whether any exclusive jurisdiction' was intended, and if it was, it was only in relátion to,cases in which some right or power is claimed under a-law .of the United States. It is agreed that salvage is not of that description, unless the possibility of a c testion of jurisdiction makes it so.
MivWebster-—
This will be a hard' case against the claimant of the property, should he lose it, having purchased it in good faith under the decree of a Court exercising jurisdiction over the matter,' ■and to which jurisdiction, no objection was made, by the parties to the proceeding.
How did the District Court of' South Carolina obtain jurisdiction in this case ?• No wrong was done — no tort was committed. That Court'had not therefore jurisdiction of the subject. .Salvage is too indefinite a term, to designate jurisdiction. Marine salvage, when the service has been rendered át sea, •may form a proceeding ih the admiralty, but in this case, the' services were after the vessel was a wreck; and therefore the same principles do not apply.
This proceeding is in the nature of an action, of trespass; the process was against the r.es, and the person of the cláimant; and because there had been a question of salvage in the Court under whose decree the' res is held by the claimant, it does not follow, that there is jurisdiction in the Courts of the United States. It is said the property 'has not passed by any valid decree, and trespass or trover would lie.
Has there been such a judicial sale, as conyeyed the property to the claimant ? — If not, the insurance companies claim to hold the property. What is Florida ? It is no part of the United States. How can it be ? — how is it represented ?. do the laws of the United States reach Florida? Not unless by particular provisions.
The territory and all within it, are to be governed by the acquiring power, except where there are reservations by treaty.
By the law of England,- when possession is taken of territories, the king, Jure Coronas, has the power of legislation until parliament shall interfere. Congress have the Jus Coronas in this case, .afid Florida was to be governed by Congress as she thought proper.
What has Congress done? she might have done any thing— she might have refused the trial by jury, and refused a legislature. She has given a legislature, to be exercised at her will; and a government of a mixed nature, in which she has endea-voured to distinguish between state and United States jurisdiction, anticipating the future erection of the territory-into a state.
Does the law establishing the Court at Key W st, come within the restrictions of-the Constitution of the United States? If the Constitution does not extend over this territory, the law cannot be inconsistent with the -national Constitution.
It is said that the Court erected -for the territory by the law of'the United States, has exclusive-jurisdiction ov.er this case, and that the interference of the.-local legislature i.s unauthorized. Does the law erecting the Superior Court of Florida, give this exclusive jurisdiction ?
The jurisdiction given to the Florida Court is the same as-that given ’to the Circuit Court of Kentucky; and as the District Court of Kentucky has jurisdiction of all cases arising up-. tier the laws of the United States, it is-inferred, that.the'same is vested in the Florida Court. But it does not follow from the language of the Act, that-the jurisdiction is occlusive; and thus the power of .the Court erected by the legislature of Florida, may'be and was concurrent. The main point in this easels, whether it is a case arising under the Constitution of the Unit* ed States ? What are the cases which are referred to in the provision, and is this one ?
The, principles of those cases , have been examined, and enough has been settled, to show that this is one which does' not so.arise. A case is not one arising- under a law, of the United States,, because, in some part of it, a question- may arise under a law of the United' States. The meaning of the provision of the'Constitutibn cannot be,' that* when a law of the United States can have any influence in a case, it is to be. considered-as one arising under the law of the United States.
How does the cause before the Court arise under a law óf .'the .United1'States It is a claim for salvage.. The goods are brought-into Rey West, and. there' is mo law of the United . States limiting or fixing" the arnount of salvage. Salvage is not a'-right arising; under a law of the. United States-* — it is a common-law right; and the action for its recovery, or the-rate to' ' he allowed," does not depend upon any law of the United States. It canriot.be claimed, that any laws operated in the case, unless the general laws which extended over the territory. The case of Osborn vs. thfeBank-of the United States, decided in this Court, does not- apply to. this-case. The law giving :to the bank their charterj.gave to that institution a power to sue in the Courts of the United States. But,.ás has been stated, the salvors of the cotton, did- not claim salvage undfer any law of the Union. The salvage plight have been sped for, yherever the goods could be ■found and libelled,- in England pr .in France, or elsewhere.
■ The argument, that thi's-Court should lay its hands on thepro-.ceedings of the Courts of Key West,-because of the great in jufies'sustained , by merchants arid undérwriter.s, if it could, at ,'ariy time, have force here, cannot have it now;' as the law establishing the Court which -is so much complained of has been repealed."
■Mr. Ogden in reply,
Thé place yvhére the service is done,-ascertains the jurisdiction., Tt'is upon .this principle, .that' questions of seamen’s images are .subjects of adriiiralty-.jurisdicción, and entertained in Adriiiralty Corirts-; and- upon Chis principle, the case before the Court,.'is Of admiralty cognizance.. The whole of the services of'the salvors -were at sea; -the placfe where the Point a Betre was wrecked, was at a distance-from the main land,, and. there the goods were -saved.
It is admitted, that for the cotton, which is the. subject of this suit,_an action of trover will lie; but this is a concurrent remedy with that afforded in a Court of Admiralty.
Territories acquired by conquest, and -by cession, stand under.differentrelations to the United States. ■ Where.territories arq ceded, they become part of the'United States. It has been the uniform understanding, that this shall be the cas.e. Those territories obtained by treaties with France and Spain, were so consideren,'and the provisions in those treaties relative tó'the rights and privileges of the inhabitants; were introduced under the belief that Congress would not interfere. .
The Act relative to the terrritory of Florida provides, that no law shall be passed against the provisions, of the Constitution of the- United States.. The officers appointed und.er it, take an oath to support the Constitution, and thus the full force, and operation of the Constitution is acknowledged-in the territory.
iiy the Constitution, the Courts of the United States have .jurisdiction in all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; and'it therefore follows, that this is exclusive. What Courts have Congress- ordained and established in the territory of Florida, ,to’exercise the jurisdiction assigned by the Constitution to the Courts of the United States ? The law establishes a. Superior Court with' general jurisdiction, similar to the Courts established'in the states; it thetiprovides that-infe-riór Courts may bé. erected 'by the . territorial legislature, whose jurisdiction shah-not exceed one hundred dollars; and it is afterwards said, in thc .law, that the Superior Court shall, in addition to* the defined powers, exercise all-such powers as are granted to'the United States Court óf Kentucky. The'Court established in Kentucky has given to it’admiralty .and maritime jurisdiction, and .therefore the Superior Court of Florida has th.e same jurisdiction. If, then, it is given by Congress' to the Superior Court, it exists nowhere else/
It i§ said that. Congress has given to the territorial' legislature all (he rights of legislation they have. Legislative powers' cannot be delegated. Delegatus non potest delegare.
•' Whether the territorial Court had jurisdiction, is a question arising under the Constitution of the United States/ How else does it arise ? Suppose. a jurisdiction in admiralty cases, assumed by New-York during a war. . How can the powers thus .assumed be examined before the Courts of the United States, butrby. affirming the Acts to be void, by the Constitution arid laws of the United States ?
This is a question of salvage ; -and had the.territorial Court jurisdiction of salvage ?. If the cotton was not sold under the’ decree' of a Court competent to decide such a question, the property is not changed.1 Does the territorial Act give the ju- . risdictiori ? .Thé powers of Courts formed under .the territori- ; al.law, being.limited'to controversies not exceeding one hun:dred dollars,’the limitation-has been exceeded; and the provisions for the establishment of the ,Court are therefore .void.
The Reporter acknowledges with pleasure, his obligations to Mr. Justice Johnson, by. whom he has been furnished with a copy of the opinion delivered by him on the decision of this case.
Mr. Justice Johnson. — This ease comes up on a cross appeal, from a decision of the District Court, adjudging a part of,the res subjecta to the li-bellants,-and the residue to the claimants. '
The decree establishes the right of the parties libellant to recover, but dismisses the libel as to a great proportion of the cotton, on the ground' of a defect of evidence to identify it.
From the pleadings and testimony, it appears that the libellants were insurers to a large amount'on a quantity of cotton shipped by certain individuals, in the French ship point a Petre, ón a voyage from Orleans to Ha-vre. That the ship was stranded and lost on the coast of Florida, and the cotton abandoned to these underwriters. That the cotton libelled, was a part of the cargo of the Point a Petre, is admitted; .but it appears, that after being saved from the wreplc, it was deposited at Key West, where it was sold and purchased by Canter the claimant, Under the .order of a municipal Court, constituted under a law of. Florida, with jurisdiction qver cases of salvage.
The preliminary question alone, has now been argued, to wit. whether the sale by that Court was effectual to divest the interest of the underwriters.
The general principle is not denied, as to the mutations of property, which takes place through the intervention of Courts of Justice; but it was argued that the Constitution of the United States vests the admiralty jurisdiction exclusively in the general government — that no state can exercise a concurrent jurisdiction over admiralty and maritime causes, and that salvage was of that description. Wherefore the legislature of Florida had, in organizing this Court, exercised a power not legally vested in it, and the Act constituting it, being a void Act, it was as though no such Court existed. That moreover, the nullity of that Court did not rest merely qn an inherent want of power to constitute it, but on positive prohibition contained in the Acts organizing the government of the territory to pass any laws contrary to the laws and Constitution of the United States. That the Act organizing this Court, was an Act of this nature, inasmuch as Jurisdiction of causes, admiralty and maritime; were' expressly vested in. the Superior Courts of Florida ; and, that, without the right of exercising a concurrent power over the subject, vesting this jurisdiction in an inferior Court, is quoad hoc, divesting the Superior Court of its jurisdiction, and rendering null the Act of Congress, which vests ti e admiralty jurisdiction in that alone.
On'the other hand, it has been contended, that salvage is a subject of municipal and common law cognizance,-not exclusively belonging to the admiralty; that although the Constitution may vest the exclusive cognizance of admiralty and maritime causes in the United States, in those instances in which the admiralty at the adoption of the Constitution, had exclusive jurisdiction of the subject, yet, in those cases, in which the common law .exercised a concurrent jurisdiction with the admiralty, there is no reason tor carrying the grant beyond a concurrent jurisdiction with the common law Courts of the states.
That the Court which ordered this sale, was properly a municipal Court, and a Court of a separate and distinct jurisdiction from the Courts of the United. States, and as such, its acts are not to be reviewed in a foreign tribunal; of which description it was contended, were.the Courts of the United States for South Carolina District. That the District of Florida was no part of the United States, but only an acquisition or dependency, and as such the Constitution, per se, had no binding effect in or over it; and finally that the argument drawn from the assumed fact, that the admiralty and maritime jurisdiction was-by law expressly. vested in another Court, originates in a misconstruction of the law, inasmuch as no Act of Congress vests in the Superior Court.any other portion of thé jurisdiction of the Kentucky Court, than that of causes arising under tíie laSvs of the United States ; that this is not a cause of that description, it is one arising under a casualty in which no law of the United States Came necessarily under review.
To this it was replied, that it w'as a cause arising under a law of the United-States; and the case of Osborne vs. The Bank of the United States, was quoted aftd insisted on as furnishing a decision in point. That if the cause there was one of that description, because the Bank was incorporated by a law of the United States; for the same reason was this a cause of that description, because the body politic here was like the body corporate there, created by a law of the United States; and, if at every step' there, the Court' was met by the law which made the one a bank, gave it power to make by laws, and to act under those by-laws, so was it equally met here, by the laws which mad.e this a state, gave It power.to legislate; and legalized this transfer of property, under laws, which without the laws of the United States, were mere nullities.
It becomes indispensable to the solution of these difficulties, that we should conceive a just idea of the -relation in which Florida stands to the United States ; and give a correct construction to the secon.d section of the Act of Congress, .of May the 26th, 1824, respecting the territorial government of Florida; correct views on. these two subjects, will dispose of all the points that have been considered in argument.
And first, it is obvious, that there is a material distinction,between the territory now under consideration, and that which, is acquired from the aborigines ( whether, by purchase or conquest,)'-within the acknowledged limits of the United States, as also that which is acquired by the establishment of a disputed line. As to both these there can be no question, that the sovereignty ■ of. the state or territory within which it lies, and of-the United ■States, immediately attach, producing a complete subjection to all the laws and institutions of the two governments, local and general, unless modified by treaty.
"The question now to be considered, relates to territories previously subject to the acknowledged jurisdiction of another sovereign; such as was Florida to the crown of Spain. And on this-subject, we have the most, explicit proof, that the understanding of our public functionaries, is, that the government aiid laws of the.United States do not extend to such territory by the mere Act of cession; For, in the Act of Congress, of March 30th, 1822, section 9th, we have an enumeration'of the'Acts of Congress, which are to be held in force in the territory; and, in the 10th section an enumeration, in nature of a bill of rights, of privileges, and immunities which could not be denied to the inhabitants of-the territory, if they came under the Constitution by the mere Act of cession.
As, however, the opinion of our public functionaries is not conclusive, we will review the provisions of the Constitution oh this subject.
At the time the Constitution was formed, the limits of the territory over which it was to operate were generally defined and recognised. These limits consisted in part, of organized states, and in part of territories, the absolute property and dependencies.of the United States. These states, this territory, and future states to be admitted into the Union, are the sole objects of the Constitution ^ there is no express provision whatever made in the Constitution for the acquisition or government of territories beyond, those limits.
1 The right, therefore, of-acquiring territory is altogether incidental to the treaty-making power, and perhaps to the power of admitting new states into the Union ¡ and the government of such acquisitions is, of course, left to the legislative power of the Union, as far as that power is .uncontrouled by treaty. By the latter we acquire either positively or sub modo, and by the former dispose of acquisitions so made; and in case of such acquisitions, I see nothing in which the power'acquired over the ceded territories, can-vary from the power acquired under the law of nations by any other government over acquired or ceded territory. The laws, rights and institutions of the territoiy so acquired remain in full force, until rightfully altered by the new government. In the present instance, however, the laws of Flo. rida were not left to derive their force from general principles alone; for by the 13th section of the same Act it is declared, “That the laws in force in the said territory at the commencement of this Act, and not inconsistent with the provisions thereof, shall continue in force until altered, modified or repealed by the legislature.
From these views of the sub-ject it results,
1st. That whatever may be the correct idea of the distribution of the ad- . miralty jurisdictions as between the states and United States, it can have no application here, since this territory does Pot stand in thé relation of-'a state to the United States.
2ndly. That whether salvage be of admiralty jurisdiction exclusively or not, it is immaterial to this cause, since the whole power of legislation, over the subject in Florida, existed exclusively in the general government.
3dly. That the general principles of international law, on the immunities of foreign courts and foreign decisions, have, no application here,' since the Courts of Florida have a common origin with this Court — our authority flows from the same source — we are csnnected at the fountain head, go-' verned- by the same legislative power, and have equal access to the laws which constitute and governs us. It follows, that neither can regard the decisions of the other, if acting without authority derived through the legislature of the Union.
The Act entitled “ An Act for the- establishment of a territorial government in Florida,” and the Acts in pari materia, of. the 3d March 1823, and the 26th May 1824, constitute what may be properly termed the Constitution of Florida, The first provides for the appointmeniof ah executive, with-powers not material here to be considered; It constitutes a Legislature, or-' ganizes a Judiciary, and imposes upon the one and the other some'general restrictions, subject to which they áre empowered to exercise the legislative, judicial and executive' powers-which belong generally to an organ-, ized government.
The Act of March 1823 goes over' the. same! ground, and rep.eals .the • preceding Act so far as the provisions of. the latter are inconsistent with those of the former Act.. And with regard to both, or either, ks íkr as the latter remains unrepealed, the position is incontrovertible, that the legislative power could enact nothing inconsistent with .what-Congress has made inherent and permanent in the form of government of the .territory. .Therefore, if the admiralty jurisdiction is made inherent in the Superior Courts, it was not in the power of the territorial legislature to transfer it to any Inferior tribunal.
To determine this questieWe must examine the provisions-of .thé several acts, touching the exercise of legislative and judicial power.
-In defining the legislative power, the words efthe-Actof.l822are these, “ th£y shall have power tp alter, 'modify, or repeal the Jaws, which qtky be in force at the commencement of this Act.1 These legislative powers, shall,, also, extend to all the rightful subjects oflegis}ation j but no law shall be valid; Which is inconsistent with the Constitution and laws Of tfie United States, or which, lay any person under restraint; -burthen1 or disability, óp account of his religious opinions; professions or. woráhip j..in. all'which lie shall be free to maintain his own, and not to be biitth'ened With those of another.”
The language of the Act of 1823 is, “ they shall havé legislative power over all rightful, subjects Of legislation ; but, no law shall be valid, which is inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States ; or, which lay any person under restraint, &c.” . ' ,
, That jurisdiction of'salvage, is'a rightful subject of legislation, is not to be questioned. The jurisdiction then vested by the legislature in this municipal Court,' must be sustained, unless -inconsistent with the laws or Constitution of the United States. But with the Constitution, in legislating on the subject of salvage, there can be no incongruity; it is only therefore the supposed inconsistency, with the Act of Congress of May 1824, that can impugn it. "
' The provisions of that Act upon this subject, are these ■ “ Each'of the said Courts, (meaning the superior Courts of the'district of Florida,) shall moreover have and exercise the same jurisdiction within its limits, in all cases arising under the laws and Constitution of the United. States, which, by an Act to. establish the judicial'Courts of the U niled States, approved .the'24th day of September 1789; and ‘an Act in addition to the Act entitled an Act, td establish the judicial Courts'of the United States, approved the 2d March 1793,5 was. vested in the Court of Kentucky district.” .
The question then is reduced, to this, in what cases, arising under the laws and Cimstitutioti'of the United States, is jurisdiction vested in .the Court of Kentucky distriot,' by the two Acts qí the'24th September 1789, and the Sdcf March-1793. -
Ithas.béen erroneously assumed, that all the jurisdiction vested by those Acts jn the Kentucky\Court, was vested by this law in the superior Court of Florida 5 it is expressly, confined'to cases arisihgunder the laws and Cm-stituiion of the United- States¡ and' the reason is-obvious.- In all cases arising" under the laws of the district, jurisdiction is given-by the preceding section of the same Actbut as .most of the laws of the United States, had been made of. force ip the territory as before observed, the 2d section is intended to'extend the jurisdiction of-the Court to cases arising under the latter laws, and'further, if necessary, to all" cases arising under laws of the •United States,'over which jurisdiction had been given to the Kentucky Court — a.practice in defining- jurisdiction, that hadbeen pursued by Congress, with'-regard to all the territories subsequent to- the .time when' the Kentucky Court was established.
In the- original organization of the' judiciary of-the United States, Kentucky and Maine were excluded from the arrangement of circuits. And, as.noüircuit Court was required in law to he held there, the District Court .was vesfed with Circuit Court jurisdiction. — This is the whole purport of the Act of -178% referred to in the Florida-Apt of 1824: The, -other Act there referred to; to wit, that of 1793, lias ho other' operation as-to the Kentucky Court, besides vesting in it the power given to the Circuit Courts to hold special-sessions.
■if -the -Florida Act were as broad in its operation as the two Acts referred to', it would indeed he a.sérious question, whether the legislature of Florida could divest its superior Court of any:part of its" admiralty jurisdiction, as existing in and exercised by the District Courts of the United States. But T think it incontestable, that the jurisdiction here given is explicitly restricted-to so niuch of the jurisdiction'of the Kentucky' Court only, as comes within tiie description of cases arising under the laws and Constitution of the United States. • .
Now, excepting in the single instance of the present Bank of the United States,'Congress, never lias-vested a jurisdiction even in its Circuit Courts, generally, over causes arising under the Constitution and laws of the United. States. It lias given an appellate jurisdiction, and that only, to the Supreme Court, over causes of that description, when such causes arise in the state ■ Courts, but we look in vain through the law defining the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Court for any general claim to jurisdiction under the description of “cases arisihg under the laws and Constitution of the United States.”
. Yet, very aniple .operation' must be given to these words of the Florida Act, considered in reference to the jurisdiction actually possessed and exercised by the Kentucky Court, under the two laws of 1789 and 1793. The laild laws, revenue laws, laws of trade, criminal laws, and many other public laws, were all laws of the United States, under which, cases might arise, and over which the Kentucky Court, was undoubtedly vested with jurisdiction. Nor do I doubt, that the admiralty jurisdiction, over revenue cases, as exercised by the Kentucky Court, is rightfully vested, (and that beyond the control of the. Florida legislature,) in the Superior Court of this district. ’
But here it appears to me, the grant of jurisdiction terminates. The admiralty jurisdiction, beyond this limit, is left to be administered Under the laws of the' territory, for this simple reason, that other causes,- occurring in the admiralty, cannot be brought within this description of causes, arising under the laws of the United States — at least, this appears incontrovertible, when applied to questions of salvage arising on wreck of the sea — to questions'of salvage on captures as prize of war, l am inclined to think it.would extend, at least, to all causes, in which the distribution of prize money, de-' pends upon laws of the United States.
But it is argued, that this is a cause arising under the laws of the United States, within the reason of the decision of the Supreme Court, in the case of Osborne-as. The Bank of the United States; that die validity of the sale, divestjng the interests of these libellants, depends upon the legality of the powers, exercised by. the Court of Key West, which depends upon the powers vested in the legislature of Florida, which finally depends upon the. Acts of Congress, which created the body politic of Florida — that creating á body politic, is only creating a body corporate on a larger scale, but essentially the exercise of one and the same power — that whether the one or the other sues or .defends, legislates or áets, by itself or its agents, all must lie done with reference to the law that creates and organizes it; and in fine, in the language of the Court, in the case cited, “ the charter, not only, creates it, but gives it every faculty that it possesses. The power to acquire rights of any description, to transact business of any description, to sue on those contracts, is given and measured by its charter, and that charter is a law of the United States. This being, can acquire no right, make-no contract, bring- no suit, which is not authorized by a law of the United States-It is not only itself the mere creature of the law,- but all its actions, and all its rights, are dependent on the same law,” &c. '
I have taken a week to reflect upon this question alojie, and I cannot withhold from the gentleman, who argued the cause for the libellants, an acknowledgment, that I have not been able to draw any line of discrimina tion, between this and the decided cause, which satisfies my mind. Yet, I am thoroughly persuaded, that the learned men who decided that cause, ne« ver contemplated that such an application would have been given of their decision. I am happy in the prospect that this cause will finally .be disposed of elsewhere, not doubting, that the mental acumen of those who decided the other, will be found fully adequate to distinguish or reconcile the two cases, on grounds which have escaped my reflections. At present, I must' content myself with observing, that it is too much to require of a Court, upon mere analogy, to sustain an argument, that not only proves too much, if it proves any thing, but which leads, in fact, to positive absurdity.
It will be recollected, that it is not only in the territories that we find bodies politic created by the laws of the United States, but that near one half the states derive their origin and admission into the Union, under laws of the United States. But will it be contended that all the causes arising under their laws, are causes arising under laws of the United Slates ! It is true, that in the District of Columbia, the appellate jurisdiction given to the Supreme Court, can be maintained only on the ground that the laws of that district are laws of the United States; and that all the laws of the District of Florida derive directly, or indirectly, their force from the same origin. But in the case of the District of Columbia, this power is expressly given to the Supreme Court, and we are not now inquiring whether Congress might not have vested this jurisdiction in the Superior Court of Florida, but whether they have so vested it. The simple inquiry is, what force' and operation is to be given to those words, in the second section of the Act of 1824, “Jurisdiction in aH cases arising under the laws .and Constitution of the-United States ?” And what cóuld be more absurd than to decide, that the same force is to be given to those words as if they were not there. Expunge that sentence altogether, and the construction of the clause will be necessarily and precisely that contended .for by the libellants, to wit, an unrestricted grant of the jurisdiction vested by law in "the Kentucky Court. It not unfrequently happens, that in the construction of a whole law, or a section, or a clause of a law, words, or even sentences, are declared sur-plusage; or irreconcilable with other words or sentences ; but here we are called upon to'givé a meaning to words, which deprives them of all meaning, and that without any incongruity with other words, or want of distinct meaning in themselves, but from an analogy with another case, in which similar words have received a construction which produces that consequence, when applied to tljese words.
Until better advised, I must maintain that’ these words have a definite meaning and bearing in their place in this law, and amount to a restriction of the jurisdiction of the Superior Court of Florida, to a class of cases which does not comprise salvage on wreck of the sea.
Some minor grounds have been dwelt upon in argument, .of which it is proper to take a brief notice.
It has been argued that the Superior Court of Florida acquired jurisdiction in another way ; to wit, that the 9th section of the Florida Act, of 1822, makes of force in the territory, all public laws of the United States, not repugnant to the provisions of that Act. That the judiciary Acts are Acts of thqt description, and, therefore, are laws of the territory. But this argument is without point, until such an organization of Circuit and District Courts of the United States takes place' in that , territory, as will admit of the application of this law to the jurisdiction of its Courts.- Or rather, it takes effect as to the subject now under consideration, only through those clauses which relate to the jurisdiction of the Kentucky Court, and thus returns, in a circle, to the argument which we have been before considering.
it has also been contended that the Florida Act, under which the Court at Key West was organized, is void. 1st. Because never ratified by Congress .; and 2dly, because inconsistent with that provision of the firstsection of the Act of'1824, which gives original jurisdiction to the Superior Courts of the territory, in all cases of 100 dollars in value..
To the first of these reasons, the 5th section of the Act of .1822, furnishes an unequivocal answer. It is only the right of repealing that Congress retains over the laws of Florida. That clause which requires the Governor to . report the laws of the territory to the President, to be laid before Congress, is merely directory, but has no bearing upon the validity of those laws, until repealed. The words are “ which if disapproved by Congress, shall thenceforth be of no forcenecessarily implying their previous operation.
With regard to the second, I have no doubt but that the individual who chooses to resort to his common law remedy, of an action for wo.rk and la-bour, instead of libelling for salvage, may maintain an original suit in the Superior Court of the territory. But I see nothing in the Act which makes that jurisdiction exclusive, in a case in which both remedies are open to the choice of the party. • The language of the 6th section is, “That the judicial power shall be vested in two- Superior' Courts, and- in such inferior Courts, and justices of the peace as the legislative council of the" territory may from time to time establish.” The 7th section of this Act, and the 2d of the subsequent Act, confine-to the Superior Courts exclusively, the jurisdiction' over the cases arising'under the. laws, ,&c. of the United States, of which the Kentucky Court had jurisdiction — but as to all others, I perceive nothing in the law which precluded the Florida legislature, from making any distribution of jurisdiction consistent with preserving to the Superior Court a concurrent" jurisdiction, to be exercised according to its own terms.
It is proper, to remark here,' that whatever may be the fact as to the ¡integrity and propriety, which regulate the proceedings of the Court at Key West, there is nothing novel or unprecedented in the organization of that Court. The model of it is of great antiquity, and throughout the civilized world, some such summary mode of adjusting salvage,, in cases of wreck of the sea, is to -be found. We had just such á Court here, and I believe in. most of the states, when the Constitution was adopted ; and although ju- • r.sdiciion of the subject has been every where abandoned to the District Courts of the United States, where it is generally adjusted with great solemnity and discretion, and I believe, very much to the satisfaction of all the commercial world, there exists no reason to, preclude the Congress of the United States from constituting similar summary tribunals, whenever and wherever it may become necessary; TKe establishment of this tribunal, therefore, however justice may be distributed in it, is no unwarrantable exercise of the legislative or judíáial power vested in Florida.
Finally, I am of opinion that there is error in the decision of the District Court', and adjudge that it he reversed, and the goods restored to the claimant ivith costs.

Opinion:
Mr. Chief Justice Marshall .
delivered-, the opinion of theCogrt.—
.• .The plaintiffs filed their libel in this-cause in the District Court of-..South Carolina, to obtain .restitution of 356 bales of cotton; -part'of thé cargo- of the ship Point a Petre; which had been insured, by them on a voyage from-Néw-Orleans tó Havre de Grace, -in France. The Point a, Petre was wrecked on "the coast-pf. Florida, the cargo-saved .by. the inhabitants; and.carried-into Key West, where it was sold for the purpose of satisfying'the .salvors;, by virtue of a decree of a Court, consisting of a notary and five jurorsj .which was erected by-ah Act of the territorial; legislature of Florida; The owners abandoned to the underwriters,- who .' having accepted, the. .same, proceéde^l against the property; alleging thait the sale was not made' by order of a Court competent, to change the property. ;
David Canter claimfed the'cotton as. a bonk-fide purchaser, under the decree of a competenf COurt, which awarded seventy-six per-cent-'to the-salvors, on the'value of the property saved.
J The .District Judge pronounced the decree-pf. the .territorial Court a-hulhty, and awarded restitution. to-the liDellants-of such pari of the cargo as-.He supposed to be identified by the evidence; deducting therefromb salvage of. fifty per cent;
' The libellants and' .claimant both- appealed. . The. Circuit .Court reversed-the decree pf the District Court,- and decreed-the whole .cotton, to the'claimant, with cost?.; on the ground that the proceedings of the Court .at Key West were -legal, and transferred the. property-to. the purchaser. .
From this decree the libellants have appealed to this Court.
The c^.ase'depends, mainly, on thé ¡question whether the property in the cargo saved, was changed'by the sale. .at Key West. .Thé conformity-of that sale-tó-the orderundér whifeh it was made,-has not been-controverted. Its validity, has been denied, on th.e ground that it was ordered by an incompetent tribunal. . '
The tribunal was constituted by an Act- of the territorial le-. gislatúre of Florida,-passed on the-4th July 1823,. which is inserted, in the record. That; Act purports-.to give the power which, has,- beep exercised-; consequently;the-salé is.valid, if the territorial legislature was,competent t6 enact-the law.
The,course which-the argument has.taken"; -will require, that, in deciding this question, the Court should take into view the relation in which Florida stands to the United States.
The Constitution confers absolutely on the government of the Union, the powers of making war, and of making, treaties; consequently, that government possesses the power of acquire ing-territory,- either by conquest or by treaty.
The usage of the world is, if a nation be not entirely subdued, .to consider the holding of conquered territory as a mere military occupation, until its fate shall be determined at the treaty, of peace.- -If it- be ceded by the treaty, the acquisition is'confirmed, and'the-ceded territory becomes'a part of the nation to which, it is annexed;- either ,on the terms stipulated in the treaty of cession, or on suchi as its new master shall impose. On such transfer of territory, it has never been held, that the relations of'the-inhabitants with each other undergo any change.. Their -relations with their former sovereign arc dissolved, and new relation^ are created between them, and the government • which has acquired their territory.' Thé sam'e Act which transfers their' country, transfers the allegiance of those who remain in it; and thp law, which may-be denominated political, is necessarily changed,- although' that whichiegulátes the intercourse, and general conduct of. individuals,-remains in force, until altered by'the newly created .power of the state.
' On the 2d of February 1819, Spain'ceded Florida to the United States. The 6th article qf the treaty of cession, contains the following provision — " The inhabitants of the territories, which his Catholic majesty cedes to the United States by this treaty, shall be incorporated in the -Union of the Upited States, as soon., as may be consistent with the principles of the federal Constitution; and admitted to the enjoyment of the privileges, rights, and immunities of the citizens of the United States."-
This -treaty is the law of .the land, and admits the inhabitants of Florida to the enjoyment of the privilege's, rights, and immunities-, of -the citizens of the'United States. It is-unnecessary to -inquire; whether'this is-not their-condition, independent of stipulation.; They do not, however, participate in political power; they do not-share in the government, till Florida shall-become, á state- In the mean time, Florida continues to be a territory of the United States; governed by virtue of that clause in the Constitution, which empowers Congress "to make all'neédfuí rules and regulations, respecting the-territory, or other property belonging to the. United States."
Perhaps the; power of governing a territory belonging- to the'United'States,-which has not, by becoming a state, acquired the mean's of self-government, may result necessarily from the facts, that it is not withili the jurisdiction of any particular, state, "arid is within the power and jurisdiction of the United States. The right to govern, may be the inevitable consequence of the right to acquire territory. Whichever may be the source, whence the power is derived, the. possession of it is .'Unquestioned. In execution of it, Congress, in 1822, passed " an Act for the establishment of a territorial government in Florida;" and, on the 3d of March 1823, passed another Act to amend ' the Act of 1822. Under this Act', the territorial legislature enacted the law now under consideration.
. The 5th section of the'Act of 1823,-creatés a territorial legislature, which shall Rave legislative powers over all- rightful objects of legislation';, but no law.shall .be valid, which is inconsistent with the laws and Constitution of the United . States. _
_ The 7th section . enacts " That the judicial power shall be vested,in two Superior Courts, and in such inferior Courts, and justices of. the peace, as the legislative council of the territory may from time to time establish.'*' After prescribing the place of cession, and the jurisdictional limits, of each Court, the Act proceeds to say;'"within its limits herein. described, each Court shall Rave jurisdiction in all criminal cases,- and exclusive jurisdiction in all capital offences; and original jurisdiction in all-civil cases of the valúe of one hundred . dollars, arising under and cognizable by the. laws of the territory, "now in force therein, or-which may, at' any time, be enacted by the legislative council thereof. "
The 8 th section enacts "That each' of-the.said! Superior Courts shall moreover Rave and exercise the same jurisdiction .within its limits, in all cases arising und,er the laws and Constitution of the United States,;which', by án Act to-establish the. judicial Courts of the United-States, approved, the'24th of September 1789, and an. Act iii addition to the Act, entitled- án . Act to. establish the judicial Courts of-the United'States; .approved the 2d of March 1793, was. vested in the Court of ¿en-tucky. district."
The powers of the territorial legislature extend,to all rightful objects-of. legislation, subject-to the restriction, that their laws shall -not be " inconsistent with the laws and Constitution of the United-States."/.As salvage is: admitted to. come, within this description,."the Act is valid, Unless -it can .bp-brought within the restriction.
The counsel for the libellants contend, that it is inconsistent • with, both the faW and -the.Constitution; that it is inconsistent • with the provisions,of the law,.by-Which the territorial govern - ment' was created, arid with the amendatory Act-of March 1823. It vests,' they sayyin-.an inferior-tribunal, "a jurisdiction, Which is, by-those Acts, vested exclusively-,'in the. -Superiqn-Courts "of - the territory..
This argument requires an attentive consideration of the sections which define the "jurisdiction of the Superior Courts.
The 7th section of the Act of 1823, vests the whole judicial '.power of the territory "in two Superior Courts, and in such inferior Courts, and justices of the peace, as the legislative council of the territory may from time to time establish." This' .general grant is common to the superior and inferior Courts, and their jurisdiction is concurrent, except so far as it may be made exclusive in either, by other provisions of the statute. The jurisdiction of the Superior Courts, is declared to be exclusive over capital offences.; on every other question over which those'Courts may take cognizance by virtue of this section, concurrent jurisdiction may be given to the inferior Courts. Among these subjects, are • " all civil cases arising under and cognizable' by the laws of the territory, now in force therein, or which may at 'any time be enacted by the legislative council thereof."
It has been already stated, that all. the laws which were in, force in Florida' while a province off Spain, those excepted which were political in their character, which concerned the relations between the people and their sovereign, remained in force," until altered by the goyérnment of the United States. Congress recognises this principle, .by using the words "'laws of the, territory now in force. therein. " No laws could then have been in force, but those enacted by the Spanish govern- ment. If among these, a, law", existed on the subject of salvage, and it is. scarcely possible there should not have been shch a law, jurisdiction .over cases arising Under it, was conferred on the Superior Courts, .but that jurisdiction was not exclusive. A territorial Act, conferring jurisdiction over the same cases , on an..inferior Court, would, not have been inconsistent with this- section.
The 8th "section extends the. jurisdiction" of the ' Superior Courts, in terms which admit of more doubt. The words are " That each-of "the said Superior Courts, shall moreover.have, and • exercise the. sanie jurisdiction, within its limits,'in all cases arising under the laws and Constitution ,of the United States, which, by an Act to establish the judicial Courts of the United States, was vested in the Court of', the Kentucky .district."
, The 11th section of the Act declares. " That tlie laws of the United States, relating to the revenue and its collection, and. all other public Acts of -the United States,, not inconsistent or. repugnant to this Act, shall extend to, and have full force and effect,'in the territory aforesaid."
The laws which.are extended to".the territory by this section, were either1 for the punishment of crime, or for civil purposes. Jurisdiction is given in ail criminal cases, by the 7th section, but in civil, cases, that section gives jurisdiction only in those which arise under and are cognizable' by the laws of the territory,v consequently, all civil cases .arising under the laws which are extended to the - territory by the 11th section,.are cognizable in the territorial Courts, by virtue of the 8th section; and, in those cases, the Superior Courts may exercise the same jurisdiction, as is exercised by the Court for the Kentucky district.
The question.suggested by thife view of the subject, on which the case under consideration- must depend, is this:—
Is the admiralty jurisdiction of the District Courts of the Unjted .States vested in the Superior Coúrts of Florida under' the words of the 8th section, declaring that eacji of the said ' Courts " shall moreover have and exercise the' same jurisdiction within its limits, in all cases arising under the laws, and Constitution of the United- States," which, was vested in the Courts of. the Kentucky, district?
. It is observable, that this clause.does not confer on the ter-, ritorial Courts all the jurisdiction which is vested, in the Court' of the Kentucky district, but that part of it only which applies to. "cases arising under the laws and Constitution of the United States." Is á case of admiralty of this description?
The Constitution and laws of the United States, give jurisdiction to-the District Courts over all-cases in admiralty; but jurisdiction over the case, does not constitute the case itself. We are therefore to inquire, whether cases' in admiralty, and cases arising under the laws and Constitution of-the United States, are identical.
If we have recourse to that pure fountain from which all the jurisdiction of- the Federal Courts is derived, we find language employed which' cannot well be misunderstood. The Constitution declares, that "the . judicial'power shall extend to all cases in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and. treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to' all cases affecting, ambassadors, or other public ministers, and-consuls; to all-cases:of . admiralty and maritime jurisdiction. "
The Constitution certainly contemplated these as three distinct classes of cases; and if they are distinct, the grant of jurisdiction over one of-them,'does not confer jurisdiction over either of the other two. The discrimination made between them, in-the Constitution, is,' we think, conclusive against their identity. If it were not-so,- if this were a point open to inqui- . ry, it would be. difficult to maintain the proposition that they are the-same. A case in admiralty does not,.in fact, arise under the Constitution or laws of the United States. These cases ' .are as-old as navigation itself; and the Jaw,: admiralty-and ma<-ritime, as it has existed for ages, is applied by our Courts to-the-cases as tljeyarise. It is not.then to the-8th section of -the territorial-law, that we are to look' foy-the grant of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction, to the .territorial Courts.; Consequently, if that jurisdiction is exclusive, it is: not madefso by the reference to tjié District C'purt of Kentucky.
It has been,contended; that by'the Constitution' the judicial power of; the United States extends to all cases of admiralty and-'maritime jurisdictionand that thé whole óf this'.'júdÍGÍáI; power, must be -vested" 'fin. one Supreme Court-, arid in such' inferior- Courts, as Congress'shall from.-time-to time'ordain .and', establish." íLencé. it has been argued, that Congress cannot-•vest admiralty!jurisdiction.in Courts created by. the territorial legislature..
• We have only to pursue.this subject' one step .further, to per-, ceive that this.' provision of the Constitution does not apply, to it. ' The- next senience declares^ that " the . Judges both of. the Supreme and inferior-Courts, shall hold their- offices during goad-behaviour." The Judge's, of the-Superior Coúrts of Flof rida hold their offices for four,years. íhese Courts,.then, are not constitutional.Courts, in which, the judicial power conferred ; by the Constitution on- the génerar'goyernment, can be deposited. -They, aré incapable. Of-receiving- it: Th'ey are legislative . Courts, created in virtue-of the general right of sovereignty which .exists , in :the .government,.or ,;in -virtue, of that clause Which'-enables-Congress to-make,'all needfuL'ruleS and.regulations, respecting the territory, belonging- to, the United -States.The jurisdiction with which, they are invested, is riot a part of'that judicial power which is.-defined'in the-3d article of the Constitution, but is conferred; b.y Congress, in the execution of those general, powers-which- that body possesses over'.the territories'of thjé, United States.- Although- admiralty, jurisdic- ' tion can .be exercised in thé.státesin those .Courts,-only, which are established in pursuance of the 3d-afticfe of the Constitution;, the same' limitation do.es not extend to'.ih.e -territories. 'In lfe--gislating for .them,,-GongreSs exercises-the. combined -powers of -he general, and of a state governments
-We think,. then, that the Act, of. the territorial legislature; • erecting'the'Court by whose' decide -the -cargo.of the Point -a-' •'•Petre was sold, is not inconsistent- with"tl)e laws arld Coristi-'tution of-the United States,'* and is'valid. •' Consequently,; thb sale made in pursuance of it changed.¿the'property, and'the'de-erCe'of. the Circuit Court, awarding restitutioii-of . the property to the claimant,' ought, tó be affirmed with posts. .