The Bermuda was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1865. It involved an American vessel, The Bermuda, which had been seized and condemned by a British court for alleged violations of neutrality laws during the Civil War. The owners of the ship argued that their vessel should not have been subject to condemnation because it had sailed under a valid license from the U.S. government at the time of its seizure and thus could not be considered as violating any neutral rights or duties owed to Britain. In its decision, however, the Supreme Court held that although such licenses may have given some protection against capture on suspicion of piracy or other offenses against public law, they did not protect vessels from being captured for violation of neutrality laws; therefore The Bermuda's owners were liable for damages resulting from her seizure and condemnation by Britain.

In The Bermuda, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a ship called "The Bermuda" had been legally seized by Confederate forces during the Civil War. The majority of justices held that it had not been lawfully taken and ordered its return to its owners. However, Justice Field dissented from this opinion on two grounds: firstly, he argued that under international law at the time of seizure, belligerents were entitled to capture enemy vessels; secondly, he contended that even if this rule did not apply in this case due to a lack of war between the United States and Confederate States at the time of seizure, Congress could still pass legislation validating such captures. He concluded his dissent by stating that since Congress has passed no such statute thus far regarding The Bermuda's capture or any other vessel similarly situated as it relates to their respective captors' rights over them before they are returned back into Union control - then there is nothing for him nor anyone else within judicial authority can do about it until Congress acts upon these matters accordingly.