Private citizens cannot purchase lands from Native Americans. Decided February 28, 1823 (argued 1823). Opinion of the Court: John Marshall → go there Topic: Native American law. Johnson v. McIntosh, 21 U.S. 543 (1823), also written Johnson v. M‘Intosh, is a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that held that private citizens could not purchase lands from Native Americans, referred to as "Indians" in the judgment. As the facts were recited by Chief Justice John Marshall, the successor in interest to a private purchase from the Piankeshaw attempted to maintain an action of ejectment against the holder of a federal land patent. Wiki link