This case involved a dispute between the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company and the Wiggins Ferry Company. The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company had a bridge over the Mississippi River, and the Wiggins Ferry Company had a ferry service that ran across the same river. The Chicago & Alton Railroad Company argued that the Wiggins Ferry Company was infringing on their exclusive right to operate a bridge over the river. The Wiggins Ferry Company argued that they had the right to operate their ferry service, as it was a public right. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the Wiggins Ferry Company, ruling that the right to operate a ferry service across the Mississippi River was a public right, and that the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company did not have exclusive rights to the bridge. The Court held that the Wiggins Ferry Company had the right to operate their ferry service, as long as it did not interfere with the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company's bridge. The Court also held that the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company could not prevent the Wiggins Ferry Company from operating their ferry service.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in this case. He argued that while it was true that a state could not grant exclusive privileges to any person or corporation, such as granting an individual the right to operate a ferry across navigable waters, there were exceptions to this rule. In particular, he noted that when Congress had granted rights of way for railroads over public lands and waterways, those grants included certain exclusive privileges which allowed them to use those routes without interference from other companies. Therefore, Justice Field concluded that the State of Illinois did have authority under its police power to protect these exclusive rights by prohibiting Wiggins Ferry Company from operating on Chicago & Alton Railroad's route across the Mississippi River.