In The United States, Appellants v. John Huertas, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a Spanish grant of land in Florida could be confirmed by the U.S. government after it had been ceded to the United States from Spain following the Treaty of 1819. The court held that although Congress had not specifically authorized such confirmation, it did have authority under its power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and Indian tribes as well as its duty to fulfill treaty obligations with other countries in order for this type of confirmation to take place. Furthermore, since there were no laws or regulations prohibiting such confirmations at that time, they should be allowed if all parties involved agreed upon them and met certain requirements set forth by Congress regarding public lands within their jurisdiction. Ultimately, this case established an important precedent for how grants made prior to American sovereignty over a territory can still be recognized even after said territory has become part of the United States through treaties or other means

In The United States v. John Huertas, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a federal court had jurisdiction over an offense committed on board of a Spanish vessel in international waters. Justice McLean delivered the dissenting opinion, arguing that Congress did not have authority under the Constitution to extend criminal jurisdiction beyond U.S. territory and therefore could not punish offenses committed outside its borders or on foreign vessels in international waters. He argued that this power belonged exclusively to each nation's own government and should be exercised by them alone without interference from other nations unless expressly authorized by treaty or convention between those countries involved in any particular dispute. Furthermore, he noted that even if Congress had such authority it would still need explicit statutory language granting it before they could exercise it as there was no indication of such intent here with regard to this case at hand involving Mr Huertas' alleged crime aboard a Spanish vessel in international waters