If a majority of the US Supreme Court held that the moon was made of
blue cheese in a decision before the Court, that would be the case for the
purposes of the laws of the United States, until such a decision was modified
by some later court.  Taney's decision is the law of the land until the
Supremes find to the contrary.  I am sure you appreciate that fact.  From a
legal effect perspective, Taney's interpretation of the First Amendment on
this point is the only one that really matters as a practical matter,
although there is, of course, always room for the "if cows could fly"
hypothetical discussion on the point.

       Here's a Virginia related question.  Lincoln's grandfather was
reportedly from Rockingham County, Virginia.  Has anyone followed the
research that an Abe Enloe was really Lincoln's father by Nancy Hanks, or is
this just a rumor started by Southerners to embarrass Lincoln?  I think the
theory on this goes along these lines:

       Abraham was tall, 6 feet and 4 inches, and thin, wiry. In 1887 Lizzie
Murphy was interviewed and said she heard her mother and grandmother say that
Abe Enloe was the real father of Abe Lincoln. She described Abe Enloe as
being tall and that he had a large nose and long ears. He was a big man often
seen in a fur cap and wore moccasins on the largest feet possible.Judge
Alfred M. Brown said in an interview that he was raised at Hodgenville and
recalled that George Bromfield or Brownfield was possibly Lincoln's real
father and resembled him. He said Abe Enloe denied he was Lincoln's father
and was only about 18 when Nancy got pregnant. Judge Brown said Nancy Hanks
was a loose woman and either Enloe or Bromfield could be Lincoln's real
father.William H. Herndon got an anonymous letter in 1867 from Paris,
Kentucky. The letter suggested that Herndon was looking for information about
the legitimacy of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.The writer instructed Herndon
to consult with old Mrs. Thatcher who lived half-way between Paris and
Winchester, Kentucky. Mrs. Thatcher was a cousin of Nancy Hanks, and Milton
Bealle. There was an old colored woman and her daughter living with Milton
Bealle and these people could prove that Abraham Enloe was Abe's father.
Abraham Enloe was a millwright who was building Thatcher's Mill and while
working there was intimate with Nancy Hanks and got her pregnant. Enloe had a
man working for him by the name of Lincoln. When Nancy Hanks threatened Enloe
with a seduction suit, Enloe offered Lincoln $200 to marry Nancy and take her
off. Thomas Lincoln accepted the money, married Hanks and moved to the Green
River country where Abe was born.The letter claims Abe was called Abraham
after his real father, Abraham Enloe and Lincoln after the man who agreed to
marry Nancy Hanks. The letter writer also claims that Enloe got the old black
lady pregnant and that is the daughter who lives with her mother at Milton
Bealle's place.E. R. Burba wrote from Hodgenville in 1866 that Thomas Lincoln
and Nancy Hanks or Sparrow lived three miles south of Hodgenville when Abe
was born. He said that Abraham's true name is not Lincoln -- that some
thought it was Enlows (Enloe); but others said William Cessna is the real
father.Cessna had a reputation of being inclined to the company of women and
Burba had heard Cessna say he knew Nancy as well as he ever knew any woman.

       Anyone know if there is any validity to this (let's not be closed
minded on such issues).


JDS
















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