In the case of Barney v. Baltimore City, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a city ordinance that prohibited the operation of a ferry service on the Patapsco River was constitutional. The plaintiff, Barney, argued that the ordinance violated his right to operate a ferry service on the river, which he had been doing for many years. The Supreme Court held that the ordinance was constitutional, as it was a valid exercise of the city's police power. The Court reasoned that the ordinance was a reasonable exercise of the city's authority to regulate the use of its waterways, and that it did not violate Barney's right to operate a ferry service. The Court also noted that the ordinance was not an unreasonable burden on Barney's business, as he could still operate his ferry service on other rivers. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the ordinance was a valid exercise of the city's police power, and did not violate Barney's right to operate a ferry service on the Patapsco River.

In the case of Barney v. Baltimore City, Chief Justice Chase delivered a dissenting opinion that argued against the majority's decision to uphold an ordinance passed by Baltimore City in 1859 which prohibited any person from selling goods or merchandise on Sunday without first obtaining a license. The dissent argued that this ordinance was unconstitutional because it violated both the Free Exercise Clause and Establishment Clause of the First Amendment as well as Article I Section 10 of the Constitution, which prohibits states from passing laws impairing contracts. Furthermore, Chief Justice Chase asserted that while there may be some public interest in preventing people from engaging in certain activities on Sundays for religious reasons, such interests should not override individual rights protected under these clauses and sections of law. He concluded his argument by stating that if governments are allowed to pass ordinances like this one then they will have too much power over individuals' lives and could potentially lead to tyranny.