Yates v. National Home was a United States Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of whether a contract between a national home for disabled volunteer soldiers and a former soldier was valid. The former soldier, Yates, had entered into a contract with the national home in which he agreed to pay a certain amount of money each month in exchange for the home's promise to provide him with a place to live and medical care. The national home argued that the contract was invalid because it was not authorized by Congress. The Supreme Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable. The Court reasoned that the national home was authorized by Congress to enter into contracts with former soldiers, and that the contract in question was within the scope of that authority. The Court also noted that the contract was beneficial to both parties, and that it was not contrary to public policy. Therefore, the Court held that the contract was valid and enforceable.

In Yates v. National Home, the Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a contract between two parties could be enforced when it had been made in violation of an act of Congress. The majority opinion held that the contract should not be enforced because it violated federal law and therefore was void. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision on the grounds that enforcing contracts is essential for maintaining public confidence in private agreements and upholding justice among individuals who have entered into such agreements. He argued that while Congress has authority to pass laws regulating certain types of contracts, they cannot make those contracts completely unenforceable without violating due process rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Furthermore, he noted that if courts were allowed to refuse enforcement simply because a contract violates some statute or regulation then all contractual obligations would become uncertain and unreliable which would lead to chaos in commerce and industry as well as undermine public faith in private transactions