"It's important for us to appreciate what we were in 1857 to better understand what we are today," he added.
The slavery situation in 1857 was wrong. But in terms of our country being a republic (not a democracy), justice, rights, and responsibility -- I would say the this country was doing more right in 1857 than we are today.
Oh, and I don't think Dred Scott was the "moral low point" of the Supreme Court. That, clearly, was Roe v Wade.
I would say that the "big 3" moral low points for SCOTUS have been Dred Scott, Plessy v. Ferguson and Roe v. Wade. However, the true culprit has always been and always will be Marbury v. Madison, because this is the vehicle that the Supreme Court used to usurp powers that it is clearly not given in the Constitution and from this has come their unconstitutional authority to adjudicate new law.
Why? It was legal. In 1857 and for years and years before, and years afterwards.
and Kelo and CFR...
Absolutely. Each justice that voted yes on Roe should rend their robes in horror and repentance. Then maybe, just maybe, God’s wrath will lessen a bit. Otherwise, you think our society is immoral now? You have seen nothing. The Holy Spirit withdraws from the citizenship, and the wrath of God is seen throughout what is called NATURE. I was wondering why God had to use Moses to get the Israelites out of Egypt. Why did He just show up as a cloud and as fire? Why does God use earthquakes, drought, famine, war, plagues, disease? Where are our bees, why is the sun so hot? God created this world, like the vine over Jonah’s head when he was sent to Ninevah. What happened to the vine?
"A Republic, not an Empire" is a nice slogan, but in terms of justice and rights are we really worse off?
In 19th century South Carolina over half the population was enslaved, in some counties far over half the population. Wealthy planter families split up offices among themselves. For that matter, they split up families at their own whim. The state didn't even count the votes for presidential electors, for fear that the voters might think differently from the state establishment.
South Carolina wasn't a democracy in those days. It was a "republic" of sorts, like ancient Rome or Renaissance Venice. But it wasn't freer than it is today.
There's a lot to criticize in democracy, particularly if a democracy is a society where there are no limits on the power of the majority. But democracy isn't the only enemy of freedom, and republics don't always provide guarantees of rights to people.
It amazes me how many of the same liberals who express hollow outrage over what Dred Scott did 150 years ago think Roe v. Wade is a positive good for society.