The U.S. Supreme Court case Greer County, Oklahoma Territory v. Texas in 1904 revolved around a territorial dispute between the state of Texas and the federal government over who had jurisdiction over Greer County. The controversy arose due to differing interpretations of the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 which defined borders between Spanish territories and those of the United States. Texas claimed that according to their interpretation, Greer county fell within its boundaries while Oklahoma Territory (under federal jurisdiction) disagreed. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Oklahoma Territory stating that according to correct interpretation, based on geographical references used at the time when treaty was signed, Greer county did not fall within Texan territory but rather under federal control as part of Oklahoma Territory.

In the dissenting opinion for Greer County, Oklahoma Territory v. Texas, Justice Brewer argued that the majority's decision was incorrect in its interpretation of the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 between Spain and the United States. He contended that this treaty did not clearly define which river was intended to be used as a boundary line between U.S. and Spanish territories; hence it could not definitively establish whether Greer County belonged to Texas or Oklahoma Territory. Furthermore, he pointed out inconsistencies in how different maps depicted these boundaries over time due to geographical uncertainties at that period. Therefore, he believed there wasn't sufficient evidence to conclusively determine ownership based on historical treaties or maps alone.