 Between June and December 1860 , Benjamin was almost entirely absorbed in the case of United States v. Castillero , that was tried in San Francisco during the latter part of that period . The case concerned a land grant by the former Mexican government of California . Castillero had leased part of his land to British mining companies , and when American authorities ruled the grant invalid , they hired Benjamin ; he spent four months in San Francisco working on the case . The trial began in October , and Benjamin gave an address lasting six days . The local correspondent for the New York Times wrote that Benjamin , " a distinguished stranger " , drew the largest crowds to the courtroom and " the Senator is making this terribly tedious case interesting " . Benjamin sailed for New York once the case was submitted for decision in early November . The court 's ruling , rendered in January 1861 , was substantially for the company but , not satisfied , it appealed . It lost the case entirely to an adverse decision by the U.S. Supreme Court , three justices dissenting , the following year . Benjamin was by then a Confederate Cabinet officer , and could not argue the case . His co @-@ counsel filed his brief with the court . 
