Wright vs. Bales was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1862. The dispute arose when William Wright, an African American man, sued his former master, Thomas Bales for damages after being wrongfully held as a slave and forced to work against his will. In the lower court decision, Wright was awarded $1,000 in damages but this ruling was appealed by Bales who argued that he had not violated any laws or acted with malice towards Wright. The US Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Wright and affirmed the lower court's award of $1,000 for wrongful enslavement and labor exploitation. This landmark decision established that slavery is illegal under federal law regardless of state statutes or common law principles which may have allowed it at the time. Furthermore it set precedent for future cases involving similar issues such as racial discrimination and civil rights violations based on race or ethnicity

In Wright v. Bales, the Supreme Court was tasked with determining whether a slave owner had the right to bring an action for damages against another person who had wrongfully taken his slaves and transported them out of state in violation of federal law. The majority opinion held that such an action could not be brought because it would interfere with the rights of states to regulate slavery within their own borders. Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that Congress has exclusive authority over interstate commerce and thus should have jurisdiction over any case involving transportation across state lines regardless of its relation to slavery. He further argued that allowing individuals to sue for damages when their property is wrongfully taken or destroyed is essential for protecting private property rights under the Constitution, which should take precedence over any conflicting interests between states on matters related to slavery.