In the case of William Hardeman and Henry R. W. Hill v Benjamin D. Harris, the complainants alleged that they were entitled to a tract of land in Georgia due to their service in the Revolutionary War as soldiers under General Elijah Clarke. The defendants argued that they had purchased this same tract from another party who held title to it, but Hardeman and Hill maintained that their right was superior because it derived from an act passed by Congress which granted them compensation for military services rendered during the war. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with Hardeman and Hill, ruling that since there was no evidence presented showing any other person or entity having a better claim than theirs, then their rights must be respected over those of Harris'. Furthermore, since Congress had already recognized these rights through its legislation granting them compensation for wartime service, then such recognition could not be overturned by any state law or court decision unless specifically authorized by Congress itself

In the case of William Hardeman and Henry R. W. Hill v Benjamin D. Harris, the complainants argued that they had been wrongfully deprived of their freedom by Harris in violation of a state law prohibiting slavery or involuntary servitude within its borders. The majority opinion found for Harris on technical grounds, but Justice McLean dissented from this decision arguing that it was clear from the facts presented that Hardeman and Hill were held as slaves against their will and thus should be granted relief under the state law prohibiting such practices. He further noted that while there may have been some confusion regarding whether or not they were legally enslaved due to conflicting laws between states, this did not absolve Harris from his responsibility to uphold what he knew to be true - namely, that slavery is illegal in all forms regardless of any other considerations at play here. In conclusion, Justice McLean believed justice would only be served if Hardeman and Hill were given reparations for being unlawfully held as slaves by Harris despite existing laws forbidding it