Salmon P. Chase

“ Such proceedings do not necessarity constitute a cause in admiralty. When instituted for condemnation of property on land, they have relation exclusively to matters which, in their nature, are not of admiralty cognizance. But Congress may, doubtless, give jurisdiction of such proceedings to the Circuit as well as to the District Courts, and may authorize the exercise of this statutory jurisdiction in the form and modes analogous to those used in admiralty. ”

“ The evidence in respect to the rights of the insurance company is not so clear. To the extent of the interest created by the mortgage the company may, doubtless, be properly regarded as owner. But there is no direct proof of consent to the unlawful use ”

“ The difficulty of construction arises from the terms in which jurisdiction is granted 'to any District or Circuit Court havingj urisdiction of the amount, or in admiralty, in any district where the property is found.' It is said that the use of the disjunctive or restricts the jurisdiction in admiralty to the District Courts. And this view is certainly not without some warrant in the phraseology of the act. But when we look beyond the mere words to the obvious intent we cannot help seeing that the word 'or' must be taken conjunctively ”