In New Orleans v. Morris, the United States Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a city ordinance in New Orleans was constitutional. The ordinance prohibited the sale of certain types of goods on the streets of the city. The plaintiff, Morris, argued that the ordinance violated his right to due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court held that the ordinance was constitutional. The Court reasoned that the ordinance was a valid exercise of the city's police power, which is the power of a government to regulate activities within its jurisdiction for the public good. The Court also noted that the ordinance was not overly broad or oppressive, and that it was not an unreasonable restriction on Morris' right to due process. In conclusion, the Supreme Court held that the ordinance was constitutional and did not violate Morris' right to due process of law. The Court's decision established that the police power of a government can be used to regulate activities within its jurisdiction for the public good, as long as the regulations are not overly broad or oppressive.

In the case of New Orleans v. Morris, the Supreme Court was tasked with deciding whether a municipal ordinance in New Orleans that prohibited certain types of business activity on Sundays was constitutional. The majority opinion held that it did not violate any federal laws and could be enforced as written. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that such an ordinance violated both the spirit and letter of the Constitution by infringing upon citizens' right to freely practice their religion without government interference or regulation. He argued further that while states have broad powers to regulate public health and safety, they do not have authority over matters of religious belief or conscience; thus, he concluded that such ordinances should be struck down as unconstitutional because they are overly restrictive and interfere with individuals' rights to exercise their faith according to their own beliefs.