United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Texas, 143 U.S. 621 (1892)

United States v. Texas

No. 5, Original

Argued December 9, 1891

Decided February 29, 1892

143 U.S. 621

ORIGINAL

Syllabus

The Supreme Court of the United States has original jurisdiction of a suit in equity brought by the United States against a state to determine the boundary between that state and a territory of the United States, and that question is susceptible of judicial determination.

Although it is inherent in the nature of sovereignty not to be amenable to the suit of an individual without its consent, that principle has no application to a suit by one government against another governmet.

The exercise by this Court of original jurisdiction in a suit brought by one state against another to determine the boundary line between them, or in a suit brought by the United States against a state to determine the boundary between a territory of the United States and that state, so far from infringing, in either case, upon the sovereignty, is with the consent of the state sued.