In Cargo of the Ship Hazard v. Campbell and Others, the Supreme Court considered a case involving a ship called The Hazard that was seized by French privateers during the Napoleonic Wars. The vessel had been sailing from Philadelphia to London with cargo owned by citizens of Great Britain when it was captured in 1812. After being released, it arrived at its destination but without any of its original cargo or crew members. A dispute arose between those who claimed ownership over what remained on board and those who argued they were entitled to compensation for their losses due to the seizure. Ultimately, Chief Justice John Marshall held that since France had violated international law through its actions against neutral vessels like The Hazard, claimants could not be denied recovery for their losses as long as they could prove them before an American court of justice.

In the case of Cargo of the Ship Hazard v. Campbell and Others, Chief Justice Marshall delivered a dissenting opinion in which he argued that the majority had failed to consider an important principle: that when goods are shipped from one place to another, they become subject to local laws at their destination. He argued that this was particularly relevant in this case because it involved foreign trade; as such, any disputes should have been resolved according to English law rather than American law. Furthermore, Marshall noted that even if American law did apply in some cases involving foreign trade, there were still certain principles established by international custom and usage which must be respected regardless of where goods are sent or received. In conclusion, he stated his belief that justice would not be served unless these principles were taken into account when deciding cases like this one.