This Supreme Court case involved a dispute between John B. Gorman and Peter Lenox's Executors over the ownership of certain lands in Pennsylvania. The plaintiffs, Gorman and others, argued that they had purchased the land from an individual who was not authorized to sell it because he did not have legal title to it. The defendants claimed that their ancestor had granted them title to the property by deed in 1786, which made them rightful owners of the land. After considering both sides' arguments, the court found in favor of Lenox's Executors on two grounds: firstly, because there was no evidence presented by Gorman and his associates proving that their purchase was valid; secondly, because even if such proof existed it would be insufficient due to its age as more than forty years had passed since then. Ultimately, this decision established that when a party presents clear evidence demonstrating legal title or possession for more than forty years prior to any claim being asserted against them they are entitled to protection under law regardless of whether other parties can provide countervailing proof or not.

In the case of John B. Gorman and Others v. Peter Lenox's Executors, the dissenting opinion was that a contract between two parties should be enforced as written, even if it is not in accordance with public policy or morality. The majority opinion had held that such contracts were void because they violated public policy; however, Justice McLean argued that this would lead to uncertainty and instability in contractual agreements since courts could choose which contracts to enforce based on their own personal beliefs about what constituted good morals or public policy. He further stated that allowing courts to make these decisions would open up opportunities for fraud and abuse by one party against another due to lack of clarity around enforcement standards. In conclusion, he argued strongly for upholding the sanctity of private contracts regardless of any moral implications so long as they are entered into freely by both parties without coercion or duress.