The case of Alabama & Vicksburg Railway Company et al. v. Journey in 1921 revolved around a dispute over the liability for damages incurred during interstate commerce transport. The plaintiff, Journey, had shipped cotton via the defendant's railway and it was damaged by fire while in transit. The lower court ruled in favor of Journey, holding that under the Carmack Amendment to the Interstate Commerce Act (1906), which made carriers liable for losses or damages caused during transportation, he was entitled to compensation from Alabama & Vicksburg Railway Company. However, on appeal before the Supreme Court of United States, this decision was reversed based on an exception clause within said amendment stating that if damage is due to an act of God or public enemy etc., then carrier would not be held responsible unless negligence can be proven against them. As there were no signs indicating any negligence by railway company leading up to fire incident and considering it as accidental event beyond their control; hence they were exempted from liability.

In the dissenting opinion for Alabama & Vicksburg Railway Company v. Journey, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a state law requiring railroads to provide separate accommodations for black and white passengers violated both the Due Process Clause and Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The dissenters contended that such laws were inherently discriminatory and served no legitimate public interest. They further asserted that these segregationist policies not only imposed undue burdens on interstate commerce but also infringed upon individual liberties by dictating where one could sit based solely on their race. Therefore, they believed this case should have been decided in favor of Journey who challenged this unjust practice rather than upholding an unconstitutional statute.