In the case of Sebree and Others v. Dorr, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties could be enforced when one party had died before it was completed. The plaintiffs argued that they were entitled to compensation for their labor in accordance with an agreement made by them and the defendant's deceased father-in-law. The defendant argued that since his father-in-law had passed away prior to completion of the contract, he should not be held liable for any payments due under its terms. After considering both sides' arguments, the court ultimately ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on grounds that contracts are binding even if one party dies before performance is complete; thus, they were entitled to receive payment from Dorr as per their agreement with his late father-in law.

In the case of Sebree and Others v. Dorr, the dissenting opinion argued that a state law which prohibited non-residents from purchasing public lands within its borders was unconstitutional. The dissent maintained that while states had certain powers to regulate commerce, they could not do so in such a way as to interfere with Congress' power over interstate commerce. Furthermore, it was argued that this particular law violated the Constitution's Commerce Clause by discriminating against out-of-state citizens who wished to purchase land in Kentucky; thus infringing on their right to equal protection under the law. Additionally, it was suggested that if allowed to stand, this type of legislation would lead other states down a slippery slope where they too could pass laws restricting access for non-residents when it came to buying property or engaging in business activities within their borders - something which would be detrimental both economically and constitutionally speaking.