The Aeolus was a case heard before the United States Supreme Court in 1818. The claimant, Wood, argued that he had been wrongfully deprived of his property when it was seized by the government and sold at auction for unpaid taxes. He claimed that he had paid all necessary taxes on the vessel prior to its seizure and sale. The court found in favor of Wood, ruling that since there were no laws or regulations requiring him to pay additional taxes on his vessel after it had already been taxed once, any further taxation would be an unconstitutional taking of private property without due process or just compensation as required by law. As such, they held that Wood's rights under the Constitution were violated when his ship was taken from him without proper legal authority and ordered restitution for damages suffered as a result of this violation.

In The Aeolus -- Wood, Claimant case, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the claimant. Justice Story delivered a dissenting opinion arguing that Congress had not given any authority to the court to issue such a ruling. He argued that it was up to Congress alone to decide whether or not salvage should be awarded and how much should be paid out for it. Furthermore, he noted that there were no laws on record which authorized courts of admiralty jurisdiction from awarding salvage payments beyond what is provided by statute or custom. As such, he concluded that this decision was an improper exercise of judicial power and ought not stand as precedent for future cases involving similar issues.