In the 1892 case of Evans v. Stettnisch, the U.S Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving land ownership and mineral rights in Colorado. The plaintiff, Evans, had purchased mining property from a man named Chaffee who had previously obtained it through a patent issued by the United States government under its Mining Acts. However, before selling to Evans, Chaffee leased part of this property to Stettnisch for ten years with an option to buy at any time during that period. When Stettnisch attempted to exercise his purchase option after learning about the sale between Chaffee and Evans, he was denied by both parties leading him to file suit claiming rightful ownership based on his lease agreement with Chaffee. The court held that while federal law did allow for leasing of such lands without affecting their status as mining claims (thus not invalidating leases made prior), once patented these properties became private real estate subject only state laws which could potentially invalidate such leases if they were deemed contrary public policy or otherwise unlawful under local statutes - something which was not determined here since no evidence regarding relevant Colorado law was presented at trial level nor argued before them on appeal; therefore remanding case back down lower courts so those issues might be properly addressed there first.

The dissenting opinion in the case of Evans v. Stettnisch argued that the majority's decision was a departure from established legal principles regarding property rights and contracts. The dissent contended that, under Texas law, a debtor could not be deprived of their homestead without their consent unless it was to satisfy a debt for which the homestead had been pledged as security. In this case, there was no evidence to suggest that Evans had ever agreed to pledge his homestead as security for his debt to Stettnisch or any other creditor. Therefore, according to the dissenters, seizing and selling Evans' home violated both Texas law and fundamental principles of justice by depriving him of his property without due process of law.