In the case of Stockard v. Morgan in 1901, the U.S Supreme Court dealt with a dispute over land ownership rights in Oklahoma. The plaintiff, Stockard, claimed that he had acquired title to certain lands through occupancy and improvement under an agreement made with members of the Choctaw Nation before it was opened for settlement by non-Indians. However, after these lands were officially opened for settlement by proclamation of President Benjamin Harrison on April 22nd 1889, they were subsequently claimed and occupied by defendant Morgan who received a patent from the United States government recognizing his claim. The court ruled against Stockard stating that any agreements or contracts made prior to official opening did not confer valid title as per Federal law which required such lands be held in trust for Indians until officially disposed off by Congress. It further stated that only those settlers who complied with conditions set forth in President's proclamation could acquire valid titles once these territories were open for settlement. Thus this case affirmed federal authority over Indian territories and clarified rules regarding acquisition of property rights therein.

In the dissenting opinion for Stockard v. Morgan, Justice Harlan argued that the majority's decision to uphold a Kansas law prohibiting liquor sales was inconsistent with previous Supreme Court rulings on interstate commerce. He contended that once goods have been transported across state lines and mixed with general property of the state, they should be subject to local laws only if those laws do not discriminate against or place undue burdens on interstate commerce. In this case, he believed that Kansas' prohibition did both by effectively preventing out-of-state liquor from being sold within its borders while allowing in-state producers to continue operating freely. Furthermore, he disagreed with the majority's interpretation of Wilson Act (1890), arguing it was intended to prevent states from interfering with transportation or importation of alcoholic beverages rather than granting them authority over post-importation sale and use.