In Anthony v. County of Jasper, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a county could be held liable for damages caused by a defective bridge. The plaintiff, Anthony, was injured when his horse and wagon fell through a bridge that had been built by the county. The county had been aware of the bridge's condition, but had failed to repair it. The Supreme Court held that the county was liable for Anthony's injuries. The Court reasoned that the county had a duty to maintain the bridge in a safe condition, and that it had breached that duty by failing to repair the bridge. The Court also held that the county was liable for Anthony's damages, even though the county had not been negligent in constructing the bridge. The Court's decision established that a county can be held liable for damages caused by a defective bridge, even if the county was not negligent in constructing the bridge. This decision has been cited in numerous subsequent cases involving the liability of local governments for damages caused by defective public works.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Anthony v. County of Jasper, arguing that the majority's decision was inconsistent with prior Supreme Court rulings and would lead to a dangerous precedent. He argued that if state governments were allowed to tax federal property, it would be an unconstitutional infringement on Congress' power to regulate commerce among states. Furthermore, he noted that this ruling could open up other avenues for taxation by state governments which could have far-reaching implications for interstate commerce and ultimately weaken the authority of Congress over such matters. Justice Field concluded his dissent by noting that while it may seem reasonable for a local government like Jasper County to collect taxes from those who benefit from its services, allowing them to do so at the expense of federal property is not only unconstitutional but also sets a dangerous precedent going forward.