In the United States Supreme Court case of The United States, Plaintiff in Error v. Charles Le Baron, the court was asked to decide whether a federal statute that prohibited citizens from selling or trading with Native Americans on their own lands was constitutional. At issue was whether Congress had authority under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution to pass such a law and if so, did it violate any other provisions of the Constitution? The Court held that Congress did have authority under Article I, Section 8 to pass such laws as long as they were not contrary to any other provision in the Constitution. Furthermore, since this particular law only applied within certain territories and not throughout all states or territories governed by Congress at large then it could be considered valid legislation without violating any other Constitutional provisions.

In the case of The United States v. Charles Le Baron, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a state court had jurisdiction over an offense committed on board a vessel in navigable waters within its boundaries. The majority opinion held that it did not have such jurisdiction and reversed the decision of the lower court. However, Justice Grier dissented from this ruling and argued that states should be allowed to exercise their police powers over vessels navigating within their territorial limits as long as they do not interfere with federal laws or regulations governing navigation on navigable waters. He further contended that Congress has never intended for any part of its power over commerce to supersede state authority when it comes to matters concerning public health, safety, and morals. As such, he concluded that states should be able to prosecute offenses committed on board ships located in their territorial limits without interference from federal law or regulation.