Gaines v. De La Croix was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of slavery. The case involved a dispute between a slave owner, Gaines, and a slave trader, De La Croix. Gaines had purchased a slave from De La Croix, but the slave had escaped and was later recaptured. Gaines sued De La Croix for damages, claiming that De La Croix had not provided him with a valid title to the slave. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Gaines, finding that De La Croix had not provided a valid title to the slave. The Court held that the slave was not legally owned by De La Croix, and that Gaines was entitled to damages for the loss of the slave. The Court also held that the slave was not a chattel, and that the slave was entitled to the same rights as any other person. This ruling was significant in that it established that slaves were not property, but rather persons with rights. This ruling was also important in that it established that slave owners could not be held liable for the actions of their slaves.

In Gaines v. De La Croix, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties that provided for arbitration of disputes should be enforced by a court. The majority opinion held that such contracts were enforceable and could not be set aside by either party without the consent of both parties or an order from the court. Justice Field dissented, arguing that it would be unjust to allow one party to bind another in this manner without their express agreement or knowledge. He argued further that allowing courts to enforce these agreements would create uncertainty as they may not always have jurisdiction over all matters related to them and thus could not provide adequate protection for those involved in such arrangements. Furthermore, he noted that if one party is allowed unilaterally to enter into an arrangement with another which binds them both then there is no incentive for either side to negotiate terms more favorable than what has already been agreed upon since neither can back out without permission from the other or a court order.