Taney's influence generally was very bad. The habeas corpus thing isn't even the worst and most unreasonable thing he did.
The Taney court's attempt at social engineering in the Dred Scott case was an important factor in bringing on the war.
The court was attempting to settle political questions through judicial activism totally undounded in constitutional precedent.
How could Taney say in Dred Scott that blacks had no rights that blacks were bound to respect when blacks could vote in five states? Taney -was- a slouch when it came to his duties.
Walt
Urk. That whites were bound to respect.
Walt