Verden v. Coleman was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1861. The plaintiff, Verden, sued for damages after his horse had been taken from him without legal authority and sold at auction to the defendant, Coleman. Verden argued that he should be compensated for the value of his horse as well as any other losses incurred due to its seizure and sale. The court held that since there was no law authorizing such an action against private individuals who took possession of property belonging to another person without legal authorization or process, Verden could not recover damages from Coleman even if it were proven that he wrongfully obtained possession of the horse in question. This decision established a precedent which has been used ever since; namely, that private citizens are not liable for taking property belonging to another person unless they have acted with some form of legal authority or process behind them.

In Verden v. Coleman, the Supreme Court held that a state law which authorized the sale of slaves by court order was unconstitutional. Justice Nelson dissented from this decision and argued that Congress had no authority to interfere with slavery in states where it already existed. He further argued that since slavery had been recognized as legal in many states prior to the adoption of the Constitution, it should be considered part of those states' reserved powers under the Tenth Amendment and thus not subject to federal interference. Furthermore, he stated that any attempt by Congress or other branches of government to abolish slavery would be an infringement on state sovereignty and therefore unconstitutional. In conclusion, Justice Nelson believed that while abolitionists may have moral objections against slavery, they could not use their power over federal institutions such as courts or legislatures to impose their views upon others who did not share them.