Marshall v. Knott was a United States Supreme Court case that was decided in 1867. The case involved a dispute between two parties over the ownership of a slave named Marshall. Marshall had been owned by a man named Knott, who had died without leaving a will. Marshall's mother, who had been owned by Knott's father, had been freed by Knott's father before his death. Marshall argued that he was entitled to his freedom because his mother had been freed. The Supreme Court disagreed, ruling that Marshall was still a slave and that Knott's father had not intended to free Marshall when he freed his mother. The Court held that the freedom of Marshall's mother did not extend to Marshall, and that Marshall was still a slave and subject to the laws of slavery. The Court also held that Knott's father had not intended to free Marshall when he freed his mother, and that Marshall was still a slave and subject to the laws of slavery. The decision in Marshall v. Knott was a major victory for the slave-owning class, as it established that the freedom of a slave's mother did not extend to the slave himself.

In the case of Marshall v. Knott, Chief Justice Chase delivered a dissenting opinion on behalf of himself and two other justices. He argued that the majority had erred in their decision by not recognizing that Congress has exclusive power to regulate interstate commerce, including navigation between states. The Court should have deferred to Congress’s authority rather than attempting to decide whether or not a particular vessel was engaged in interstate commerce. Furthermore, he noted that even if it were determined that the vessel was engaged in such activity, this would still be subject to Congressional regulation as opposed to state law enforcement officers who lack jurisdiction over matters involving interstate trade. Finally, he concluded by stating his belief that any attempt by state authorities to interfere with vessels navigating between states is unconstitutional and must be prevented from occurring again in order for federal supremacy over these matters remain intact.