Burns v. Meyer is a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 1879. The case involved a dispute between two parties over a contract for the sale of a steamboat. The plaintiff, Burns, had contracted to purchase the steamboat from the defendant, Meyer, for a certain sum of money. However, Meyer refused to deliver the steamboat to Burns, claiming that the contract was invalid because it had not been properly executed. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court found that the contract was valid because it had been signed by both parties and was witnessed by a third party. The Court also held that the contract was binding on both parties, and that Meyer was obligated to deliver the steamboat to Burns. The Court's decision in Burns v. Meyer established the principle that a contract is valid and enforceable if it is signed by both parties and witnessed by a third party. This principle has been applied in numerous cases since then, and is still used today.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Burns v. Meyer, arguing that the majority's decision was contrary to established precedent and would lead to a dangerous expansion of federal power. He argued that Congress had no authority under Article III of the Constitution to pass legislation granting exclusive jurisdiction over civil cases involving citizens from different states in state courts, as it did with this case. Furthermore, he argued that such an interpretation would be inconsistent with prior Supreme Court decisions which held that only certain types of cases could be removed from state court into federal court for adjudication by a jury. Justice Field concluded his dissent by noting that if Congress were allowed to grant exclusive jurisdiction over all civil matters between citizens of different states in state courts then it could effectively nullify any right or privilege granted by the Constitution regarding access to justice through federal courts.