The Republicans of 1857 formed to prevent slavery from moving westward with national expansion, went south to help the slaves, were lynched by Democrats, etc. On the issue of civil rights, the Republicans can stand tall."
The Republicans of 1857 ushered in the era of big government, taxes, and by their war of aggression emancipated slaves and enslaved free men. They had no legitimate right to poke their noses into a State's own internal affairs. This is according to the Founding Fathers who set up this nation to be one of Man-over-Government. So if the people are the ultimate authority, and the Constitution just a compact of States ... what gave them the right to interfere in the self-determination of any State? In short, the answer is nothing.