The Sapphire was a case heard before the United States Supreme Court in 1873. The case involved a dispute between the owners of a schooner, the Sapphire, and the owners of a cargo of cotton that had been shipped on the vessel. The owners of the cotton had sued the owners of the Sapphire for damages, claiming that the vessel had been unseaworthy and that the owners had failed to properly maintain it. The Supreme Court held that the owners of the Sapphire were liable for the damages, as they had failed to properly maintain the vessel and had not taken reasonable steps to ensure its seaworthiness. The Court also held that the owners of the cargo had the right to sue for damages, as they had been damaged by the unseaworthiness of the vessel. The Court's decision in The Sapphire established the principle that the owners of a vessel are liable for damages caused by their failure to properly maintain the vessel and ensure its seaworthiness. This principle has been applied in numerous cases since then, and is still an important part of maritime law today.

In The Sapphire, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a ship called "The Sapphire" had been legally seized by the United States government. In an 8-1 decision, the court held that it had not been properly seized and thus could not be forfeited to the government. Justice Field wrote a dissenting opinion in which he argued that Congress had given broad powers to customs officers to seize vessels suspected of being involved in smuggling activities. He further argued that since there was evidence suggesting The Sapphire may have been used for such purposes, its seizure should stand as valid under law. Ultimately, however, his argument did not prevail and The Sapphire was released back into private ownership without forfeiture or penalty imposed upon its owners or crew members.