This case was a dispute between the United States and the Spanish government over the ownership of a ship called the Nuestra Senora de Regla. The ship was originally owned by a Spanish company, but it was seized by the United States during the Spanish-American War. The Spanish government then filed a claim for the ship, arguing that it was still their property. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of the United States, finding that the ship had been lawfully seized and was now the property of the United States. The Court also held that the Spanish government had no right to reclaim the ship, as it had been taken in a lawful act of war. This decision established the principle that a nation's property can be taken in a lawful act of war, and that the nation has no right to reclaim it.

In the case of The Nuestra Senora de Regla, the Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a Spanish vessel had been legally seized by an American warship. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Field argued that under international law and treaties between Spain and the United States, only vessels engaged in hostile acts against either nation could be lawfully captured. He further noted that there was no evidence presented at trial showing any such activity on behalf of this particular ship or its crew. As such, he concluded that it should not have been taken into custody by the American forces as it did not meet any criteria for lawful seizure according to both domestic and international laws.