The Providence Bank, Plaintiffs in Error vs. Alpheus Billings and Thomas G. Pittman was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1830. The dispute revolved around two promissory notes issued by Billings and Pittman to the bank for $1,000 each with interest of 6%. The defendants argued that they were not liable on either note because there had been no consideration given for them; however, the court found that since both parties had agreed to enter into an arrangement where money would be exchanged between them, this constituted sufficient consideration under contract law. Furthermore, it was determined that even if one or both of the notes were invalid due to lack of consideration at their inception, any subsequent payments made towards them could still be recovered from those who received such payments as long as they knew about their origin when receiving said funds. Ultimately, judgment was entered against Billings and Pittman for payment on both notes plus interest accrued up until then according to terms previously established between all parties involved in this transaction.

In the case of The Providence Bank vs. Alpheus Billings and Thomas G. Pittman, Chief Justice Marshall delivered a dissenting opinion that disagreed with the majority's ruling in favor of the defendants. He argued that although it was true that no specific contract existed between them, there were still certain obligations on both sides which had been created by their actions and conduct towards each other. According to him, these obligations should be recognized as binding even without an express agreement or written document to support them; otherwise, people would not be able to rely on any promises made between parties if they could simply deny ever having agreed upon anything in writing. Furthermore, he believed that this decision would set a dangerous precedent for future cases involving similar circumstances where one party may try to avoid their responsibilities due to lack of evidence proving an explicit agreement between them and another party.