In the case of Portland Company v. United States, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether the United States was liable for damages caused by the destruction of a bridge owned by the Portland Company. The Portland Company had built a bridge over the Willamette River in Oregon in 1867, and the United States had taken possession of the bridge in 1871 for use in the construction of a military road. In 1872, the United States destroyed the bridge in order to build a new bridge in its place. The Portland Company sued the United States for damages, arguing that the United States had taken possession of the bridge without paying for it and had destroyed it without providing compensation. The Supreme Court held that the United States was liable for the damages caused by the destruction of the bridge. The Court reasoned that the United States had taken possession of the bridge without paying for it, and that the destruction of the bridge was not necessary for the construction of the military road. The Court also held that the United States was liable for the damages caused by the destruction of the bridge, even though the United States had acted in good faith and had not intended to cause any harm. The Court concluded that the United States was liable for the damages caused by the destruction of the bridge, and ordered the United States to pay the Portland Company for the damages.

In the case of Portland Company v. United States, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties could be enforced if it had been made in violation of an act passed by Congress. The majority opinion held that such contracts were not enforceable and that any rights or obligations created by them would have to be determined according to general principles of law. Justice Field dissented from this opinion, arguing that while Congress has the power to pass laws regulating commerce, they do not have authority over private contracts entered into before those laws are enacted. He argued further that enforcing these types of contracts is necessary for upholding public faith and confidence in contractual agreements as well as protecting individuals who enter into them without knowledge or understanding of any applicable statutes or regulations.