The Teresita was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1866. It involved a dispute between two Spanish citizens, Don Francisco and Don Jose, over ownership of the schooner Teresita. The court held that under Spanish law, which governed this case because it took place before Florida became part of the United States, title to property could not be acquired through adverse possession or long-term use without payment of taxes on said property. Therefore, since neither party had paid taxes on the vessel for more than ten years prior to their dispute over its ownership, they both lacked legal title to it and thus were unable to prove their respective claims in court. As such, no one had valid claim to the schooner and it remained unclaimed at sea until further notice from either party or an order from another competent tribunal with jurisdiction over maritime matters.

In The Teresita, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a ship that had been sold in Mexico and registered there could be seized by an American court. Justice Field dissented from the majority opinion, arguing that it would be unjust for an American court to seize a vessel which had been legally acquired and owned abroad. He argued that such action would violate international law as well as principles of comity between nations. Furthermore, he contended that if this were allowed then foreign courts might do the same with vessels belonging to Americans who have purchased them abroad. In conclusion, Justice Field believed it was wrong for an American court to interfere with property rights established under another nation's laws and urged his colleagues not to set such a precedent.