The Noble v. Mitchell case in 1896 revolved around a dispute over land ownership. The plaintiff, Noble, claimed that he had purchased the property from an individual who had obtained it through a patent issued by the United States government. However, the defendant, Mitchell, argued that he was entitled to the land based on his preemption claim filed before the issuance of said patent. Preemption laws at this time allowed settlers to purchase public lands after living on and improving them for a certain period. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Mitchell stating that if someone has made improvements upon public lands with intent to claim preemption rights under U.S law and has filed their intention timely with local Land Office prior to any adverse claims or patents being issued by government then such preemptive right takes precedence over subsequent patents granted by US Government for same piece of land. This decision reinforced importance of actual possession and improvement as well as timely filing intentions with relevant authorities when claiming ownership rights under pre-emptive laws against later legal instruments like patents etc., thereby providing some level protection for early settlers against potential conflicting claims arising out later governmental actions.

In the dissenting opinion for Noble v. Mitchell, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a state law prohibiting non-residents from hunting game violated the Privileges and Immunities Clause of Article IV of the Constitution. The dissenting justices believed that this clause guaranteed citizens of each state equal access to all privileges and immunities in every other state, including hunting rights. They contended that while states have authority over their own natural resources, they cannot discriminate against out-of-state residents by denying them access to these resources under reasonable regulations similar to those applied on its own residents. This interpretation would ensure equality among American citizens regardless of their residence status in any particular state.