This United States Supreme Court case involved a dispute between the United States and Walker over the ownership of a tract of land in the state of Arkansas. The United States had acquired the land from the Choctaw Nation in 1832, and had subsequently sold it to Walker in 1836. However, the United States later claimed that the sale was invalid because the Choctaw Nation had not been authorized to sell the land. Walker argued that the sale was valid, and that he was the rightful owner of the land. The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the United States, ruling that the sale was invalid because the Choctaw Nation had not been authorized to sell the land. The Court held that the United States had the right to reclaim the land, and that Walker had no legal claim to it. The Court also held that the United States was entitled to damages for the value of the land, as well as for any improvements that had been made to it.

In the case of United States to the Use of Wilson, Administrator v. Walker, Justice Field delivered a dissenting opinion in which he argued that the majority's decision was wrongfully decided and should be reversed. He believed that under common law principles, when an individual is appointed as administrator for another person who has died without leaving a will or other testamentary instrument behind, they are entitled to all assets belonging to their decedent at death. In this particular case, however, it was found that certain property had been transferred by deed from one party (the deceased) to another prior to his death; thus making it impossible for the administrator of his estate (Wilson) to claim title over said property. The majority held that since there was no evidence presented showing any fraudulent intent on behalf of either party involved in transferring ownership rights over said property before its owner's demise - then such transfer must be upheld and respected by courts accordingly. However Justice Field disagreed with this conclusion arguing instead that regardless if fraud could not be proven or not - administrators still have a right under common law principles to take possession of all assets owned by their decedent upon their passing away; even if those assets were previously transferred via deed prior thereto.