Document: 339 U.S. 707 70 S.Ct. 918 94 L.Ed. 1221 UNITED STATESv.STATE OF TEXAS. No. 13, Original. Argued on Motion for Judgment March 28, 1950. Decided June 5, As Amended Denial of Rehearing Oct. 16, Sol. Gen. Philip B. Perlman, Washington, D.C., plaintiff. Messrs. Price Daniel, J. Chrys Dougherty, Austin, Tex., defendant. [Argument Counsel from page 708 intentionally omitted] Mr. Justice DOUGLAS delivered the opinion Court. 1 This suit, like its companion United States v. State Louisiana, 699, 914, invokes our original jurisdiction under Art. III, § 2, Cl. 2 Constitution and puts into issue conflicting claims parties to oil other products bed ocean below low-water mark off shores Texas. The complaint alleges that was is 'the owner in fee simple of, or possessed paramount rights in, full dominion power over, lands, minerals things underlying Gulf Mexico, lying seaward ordinary coast Texas outside inland waters, extending outer edge continental shelf bounded east southwest, respectively, by eastern boundary between Mexico.' 3 material respects identical with filed against Louisiana. prayer a decree adjudging declaring as above-described area, enjoining all persons claiming it continuing trespass upon area violation States, requiring account money derived subsequent 23, 1947. 4 opposed motion leave file grounds Attorney General not authorized bring suit if brought, should be instituted District And Texas, moved dismiss ground since had consented sued, Court no suit. After argument we granted complaint. 337 902, 69 1040, 93 1716. then did come within She also more definite statement bill particulars an extension time answer. judgment. These various motions were denied thirty days 338 806, 36. 5 her answer, later amended, renews objection this case one which has jurisdiction; denies ever been minerals, etc., Mexico disputed area; over said except control, improve, regulate navigation Commerce Clause lands beneath navigable waters same uplands whether privately state owned; these any powers include ownership right take develop authorize taking developing dispute without compensation Texas; control prevent lessees when necessary exercise federal powers, recognized duly appropriate action Congress; admits she rights, title, interests says take, use, lease, properties; leased some received royalties but entitled them; title interest area. 6 affirmative defense asserts independent nation, Republic open, adverse, exclusive possession exercised land, part boundaries established at three marine leagues shore First Congress acquiesced major nations; annexed claim preserved continued State, hold adverse possession, dispute, challenge States; rights; doctrine prescription such sovereign preclude granting relief prayed. 7 second there agreement annexation would cede retain Republic. 8 third acknowledged confirmed three-league declared, established, maintained retained agreement. 9 order depositions specified aged respecting existence extent knowledge use subsoil prior uses devoted parts bearing alleged prescriptive rights. appointment special master evidence report 10 turn judgment asserting defenses tendered insufficient law fact raised could resolved judicial notice. We set down motion. 11 are told considerations give Federal Government marginal sea California Louisiana (see California, 332 19, 67 1658, 91 1889; supra) equally controlling It argued national interests, responsibilities, concerns basis National seem applicable other. 12 But difference which, says, requires different result. That largely preadmission history 13 sum both dominium (ownership proprietary rights) imperium (governmental regulation control) sea. In found she, thirteen colonies, never first asserted Government. held protection indeed function external sovereignty. 31—34, 1664—1666. status said, different: came Union, previously acquired transferred only sovereignty—her imperium—over 14 leads several chapters history. 15 proclaimed convention 1836.1 States2 nations3 formally it. December 1836, passed act defining Republic.4 southern described follows: 'beginning mouth Sabine river, running west along Rio Grande.'5 admitted Union 1845 'on equal footing whatever.'6 during period 1836 brought belt territory subjected domestic coastal waters. contests. international law, evolved 1840's, nation became sub-soil vis-a -vis nations. purchased 1848 formed. 16 Joint Resolution annexing Texas7 provided part: 'Said after ceding public edifices, fortifications, barracks, ports harbors, navy navy-yards, docks, magazines, arms, armaments, property means pertaining defence belonging shall funds, debts, texes, dues every kind, may belong due owing republic; vacant unappropriated limits, applied payment debts liabilities residue discharging liabilities, disposed direct; event become charge States.' (Italics added.) 17 contends inclusion docks cession clause demonstrates intent convey sea, most properties lie side side, with, shade into, stresses phrase 'other defence.' argues necessity. maintains construction restricted actually used defense. 18 'vacant lands' do belt. purpose clause, circumstances inclusion, meaning words usage given them meaning. replies refused assume Republic, have assets expressly ceded. 19 case, neither party suggested necessity introduction evidence. 24, 1661, 1889. makes earnest plea heard facts they bear sets apart issue. 20 actions, passing does controversies sovereigns involve issues high importance, always liberal allowing development facts. 162 1, 725, 40 867; Kansas Colorado, 185 125, 144, 145, 147, 22 552, 558, 559, 560, 46 838; Oklahoma 253 465, 471, 580, 582, 64 1015. If documents answer diplomatic correspondence, contemporary construction, usage, like, hearing essential. 21 conclude, however, required case. view 'equal footing' admitting disposes present phase controversy. long refer political See Stearns Minnesota, 179 223, 245, 73, 81, 45 162. not, course, economic stature standing. There equality among sense. Some entered their tracts land Government; others soil. agreements governing borders. supra, pages 243—245, 80—81. Area, location, geology, latitude created great diversity aspects States. requirement designed wipe out those diversities create parity standing 23 Yet direct effect certain Thus question early arose soils them. consistently deny formation admission grant reserved themselves. Pollard's Lessee Hagan, How. 212, 228—229, 565; Mumford Wardwell, Wall. 423, 436, 756; Weber Board Harbor Com'rs, 57, 65—66, 798; Knight Land Ass'n, 142 161, 183, 258, 264, 35 974; Shively Bowlby, 152 26, 548, 557, 38 331; Mission Rock Co., 189 391, 404, 606, 608, 47 865. theory decisions aptly summarized Stone speaking Oregon, 295 14, 55 610, 615, 79 1267 follows:8 'Dominion soil so identified government presumption separation sovereignty must indulged, construing either grants private transfer itself. Commonwealth Massachusetts New York, 271 65, 89, 357, 361, 838. For reason, passes it, incident local sovereignty, subject purposes interstate foreign commerce.' 24 hold, works way converse situation presented negatives implied, limitation favor State. riches held. words, now claims. When ceased nation. sister concededly entailed relinquishment took place commerce, waging war, making treaties, shores, like. affairs sole spokesman Nation. relinquished 25 stated reasons 35, 1666, 1889, 'The three-mile rule recognition next able protect itself dangers location. revenues, health, security people wars waged too near coasts. far whatever value discovered seas protective belt, will naturally appropriated use. open detracts common usefulness nations, another consideration nations such, separate governmental units. What does, even what states do, anywhere ocean, enter treaty similar obligations. Belmont, 301 324, 331—332, 57 758, 761, 762, 81 1134. very about here contend might well settlement.' although normally separable separate,9 instance where subordinated follow 26 it—that can complete unimpaired matter owns pointed once domain reached. Property substance coalesce unite sovereign. Today controversy oil. Tomorrow mineral perhaps property, be, lies mark, disposition, management, responsibilities. source rationale decision, Louisiana's result reached achieved. Unless admission, practical subtraction (United 31 32, 1664-1665, 1889) nor enjoys advantage. prevents excluded, just contraction (Pollard's produce inequality 'less greater, dignity power.' Coyle Smith, 221 566, 688, 690, 853. need establish footing.' 27 1941 sought extend line twenty-four miles beyond limit area.10 1947 put extended shelf.11 irrelevancy acts before us adequately demonstrated contentions detailed. They foreclosed 28 Special Master denied. granted. parties, them, September 15, 1950, submit form carry effect. So ordered. 29 30 JACKSON CLARK decision REED, whom MINTON joins, dissenting. 32 brings application Insofar concerned, I see presents variation 33 determines, 36, 1667, 'paramount run shoreward low water conclusion therefore belt.' held, 39, 1668, 'full resources including oil.' based premise, 32—34, 1665—1666, belonged California. points seacoast Sovereignty country. commented belts owned states. Since something akin coasts thought obtained through assertion hitherto unclaimed portion earth's surface, decided contrary true concedes Annexation, claimed Texas.1 34 holds immaterial Texas' because Annexation. Stat. 797. scope doctrine, embrace considered attributes consistent states, jurisdiction, subsequently accorded equivalent ownership. E.g., Martin Waddell's Lessee, Pet. 367, 997. articulated premise zone 'Equal heretofore river beds, interpreted away newly theretofore owned. constitutional done think Annexation left limits.' An kind accord holding ordinarily compact Court, decide limits' (at annexation) includes lands. Cf. Hynes Grimes Packing 86, 110, 968, 982, 1231. At least permit 36 Instead deciding cession, relies follows responsibility, refers discussion point. responsibilities prevailed staked cannot reasonably ceded 37 defend handle enough boundaries, depends holds; consent, places use; purchase, Alaska Territory needs alone than iron ore responsibility greater respect toward particle American territory. my view, virtue proprietorship; shown satisfaction lost terms 39 FRANKFURTER. Time made reasoning persuasive longer me. relevant, note rejecting California's off-shore carefully abstained recognizing emphasized struck proposed case.* 41 who deem define apply particularly historically clear submerged own. decides How shift pass remains me puzzle. On 42 petition rehearing application. Laws, Rep. p. 6. Senate 1837 (Cong.Globe, 24th Cong., 2d Sess., 270), appropriation salary agent (5 170), confirmation d'affaires 1837. Exec. Journ. 17. Gammel's Laws 655, 880, 886, 889, 905 France, Great Britain, Netherlands. 133. traditional maritime league width. One 3.45 English statute miles. approved 29, 1845, 108. idea expressed somewhat differently Field 798 'Although tidewaters bay upland, trust future Upon absolute limits consequent dispose manner proper, necessities commerce vested government.' (then Chief Supreme California) Moore Smaw, Cal. 199, 218—219, Am.Dec. 123. Act May 1941, L. 47th Leg., 454, Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. art. 5415a. 1947, 50th 451, Court's * read '1. America now, times pertinent hereto, proprietorship Pacific Ocean *.' italicized omitted decree. 804, 805, 68 20, 21, 92 382.

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