In the United States v. Colton Marble and Lime Company case of 1892, the Supreme Court ruled on a dispute involving land ownership in California. The U.S government claimed that certain lands were part of public domain while the defendant company argued they had acquired valid title to these lands through Mexican grants confirmed by an act of Congress in 1866. The court held that although there was evidence suggesting some parts of this land may have been granted to private parties under Spanish or Mexican rule, it did not conclusively prove that all parcels were privately owned at the time California became a state. Therefore, those unproven areas remained part of public domain as per federal law and could be disposed by U.S government according to its policies for such lands. This ruling clarified how titles derived from foreign governments would be treated within American legal framework and affirmed federal authority over public domains.

The dissenting opinion in the case of United States v. Colton Marble and Lime Company argued that the government did not have a valid claim to the land in question because it had failed to prove its ownership. The justice contended that while there was evidence showing that the land had been part of a Mexican grant, this alone did not establish U.S. ownership as required by law for such claims against private parties. Furthermore, he pointed out inconsistencies between different pieces of evidence presented by the government regarding boundaries and landmarks which further undermined their case. He also noted that even if one were to accept all of these evidences at face value, they still fell short of proving actual possession or occupation by any person acting on behalf of U.S., which is another requirement under relevant laws for establishing federal title over lands formerly belonging to Mexico.