In The Moses Taylor (1866) 71 U.S. 411, a California statute, conferring on the state courts power to administer in rem proceedings against the vessel, was struck down as unconstitutional. The United States Supreme Court held that an in rem proceeding against a vessel is purely an admiralty proceeding and is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal courts. In that case, "it was decided that a contract to carry passengers by sea as well as a contract to carry goods, was a maritime contract and cognizable in admiralty, although a small part of the transportation was by land, the principal portion being by water."