This Supreme Court case involved a dispute between two parties over a contract. The plaintiffs, Baltzer and another, had entered into a contract with the defendant, the Raleigh & Augusta Railroad Company, to build a bridge over the railroad's tracks. The contract specified that the bridge was to be built in a certain manner and that the railroad company would pay the plaintiffs for the work. The railroad company refused to pay the plaintiffs, claiming that the bridge had not been built according to the contract. The plaintiffs then sued the railroad company for breach of contract. The Supreme Court held that the railroad company was liable for breach of contract. The Court found that the contract was valid and that the railroad company had failed to fulfill its obligations under the contract. The Court also held that the plaintiffs were entitled to damages for the breach of contract. The Court ordered the railroad company to pay the plaintiffs the amount specified in the contract.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in this case. He argued that the majority had misconstrued a Georgia statute, which provided for an action against railroad companies when they failed to pay damages caused by their negligence. The statute stated that such actions must be brought within two years of the injury or death, and Justice Field believed it was clear from its language that any action not brought within two years would be barred forever. In his dissent, he noted that while there were exceptions to statutes of limitation in some cases where fraud or concealment was involved, none applied here as no evidence had been presented showing either one occurred. Furthermore, he pointed out how allowing plaintiffs to bring suit after more than two years would create uncertainty and confusion among defendants who could never know if they might still face liability long after what should have been a final resolution of claims against them.