The Scott County Macadamized Road Company v. State of Missouri Ex Rel. Hines, Prosecuting Attorney of Cape Girardeau County case in 1909 revolved around the issue of whether a private corporation could be compelled to perform public duties without compensation. The Scott County Macadamized Road Company was chartered by an act of the Missouri legislature and given authority over certain roads within its jurisdiction, including their maintenance and repair. However, when it failed to maintain these roads adequately, the state sought to compel performance through mandamus proceedings (a court order compelling someone to execute a duty they are legally obligated to complete). The company argued that this would constitute involuntary servitude as prohibited by the Thirteenth Amendment since it wouldn't receive any compensation for performing these services. However, the Supreme Court ruled against them stating that corporations do not have personal rights under constitutional amendments designed for individual protection from government action such as those found in Thirteenth Amendment prohibiting slavery or involuntary servitude. Therefore, they can be required by law or charter obligations to perform certain acts even if no direct payment is provided.

In the dissenting opinion for Scott County Macadamized Road Company v. State of Missouri, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold a state law requiring private road companies to maintain their roads in good condition or face penalties was an infringement on contractual rights. The dissenting justices believed that this ruling essentially allowed states to alter contracts at will, which they saw as a violation of the Contract Clause of the U.S. Constitution. They contended that once a contract had been made and obligations defined by both parties involved, neither party should be able to change those terms unilaterally without consent from all parties involved - including private corporations like road companies who have entered into agreements with states regarding maintenance responsibilities for public infrastructure projects.