That seems to be a recent invention by the left. Americans used to believe in striving for a moral nation, and battling injustice, even if the Supreme Court, state and federal government thought otherwise. That's what ended slavery. After all, owning slaves, and even rounding them up and returning them to their owners after they escaped was once the 'law of the land'.
Back then people opposed to slavery didn't feel that they had to "abide" by the law if it offended their morality.
Indeed!
That didn’t seem to be a problem when it comes to illegal immigration. It’s about butts on seats and money in the plate. The high-ups in the clergy were right there.