In Ware & Another v. Galveston City Company, the Supreme Court of the United States was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties was valid and enforceable. The contract in question was between the Galveston City Company and the Ware brothers, who had agreed to build a wharf for the company. The contract stated that the company would pay the brothers a certain amount of money for the construction of the wharf. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court noted that the contract was clear and unambiguous, and that the parties had agreed to its terms. The Court also noted that the contract was supported by consideration, meaning that each party had given something of value in exchange for the other's promise. The Court concluded that the contract was binding and enforceable, and that the company was obligated to pay the brothers the amount specified in the contract.

In the case of Ware & Another v. Galveston City Company, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a contract between two parties could be enforced when it had been made in violation of an existing state law. The majority opinion held that such contracts were not enforceable and should be voided due to their illegality. However, Justice Field dissented from this ruling on the grounds that there was no evidence to suggest that either party knew or intended for their agreement to violate any laws at the time they entered into it. He argued that since both parties acted in good faith and without knowledge of any legal infractions, then enforcing their contract would not cause any harm or injustice; rather, doing so would simply uphold what each party agreed upon before entering into said agreement. Therefore, he concluded that even though a contract may have been formed illegally under state law, if neither party knowingly violated said law then it should still remain valid and binding between them as originally agreed upon by both sides