The Contract Clause of the Constitution applies to both public and private corporations. Decided February 25, 1819 (argued 1818). Opinion of the Court: John Marshall → go there Dissenting: Duvall. Topic: Businesses/Corporations/Contracts. Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward, 17 U.S. 518 (1819), often called simply The Dartmouth College Case, is a landmark decision in United States corporate law from the United States Supreme Court dealing with the application of the Contracts Clause of the United States Constitution to private corporations. The case arose when the president of Dartmouth College was deposed by its trustees, leading to the New Hampshire legislature attempting to force the college to become a public institution and thereby place the ability to appoint trustees in the hands of the governor of New Hampshire. The Supreme Court upheld the sanctity of the original charter of the college, which predated the creation of the State. Wiki link