Charles A. Davis, Consul-General of the King of Saxony, brought a case against Isaac Packard, Henry Disdier and William Murphy to the United States Supreme Court in 1833. The dispute was over an unpaid debt owed by Packard to Davis for goods purchased from him while he was living in France. In his defense, Packard argued that under French law at the time of purchase he had no obligation to pay as it was not legally enforceable due to his status as a foreigner residing outside France's jurisdiction. However, the court ruled against him and held that foreign laws are not binding on citizens or residents within US borders unless they have been adopted into state legislation or federal statutes; thus making this particular debt payable according to American law regardless of its validity under French law. This decision established precedent for future cases involving international transactions between individuals located in different countries with conflicting legal systems.

In the case of Charles A. Davis, Consul-General of the King of Saxony v. Isaac Packard, Henry Disdier and William Murphy, the dissenting opinion was that a consul has no authority to bring an action in any court within the United States for damages against individuals who have committed acts which are injurious to his sovereign’s rights or interests. The majority opinion held that such actions were permissible under international law; however, Justice Story argued that this would be contrary to public policy as it could lead to foreign governments suing citizens without due process protections afforded by American courts. He also noted that if a foreign government had cause for complaint against its own citizens they should seek redress through their own laws rather than attempting to do so in another country's judicial system. Furthermore, he argued there was nothing in either treaty or statute which gave consuls such power and thus allowing them access would create new powers not authorized by Congress nor recognized by common law principles established at the time of ratification of treaties between nations.