Indeed:

There have been a goodly number of bigots, racists, and tolerators of slavery and segregation, over the years, whose understanding of political liberty has been sound or compelling. To admit as much is no more than to extend an insight of the same character about our Founders, whose race-related shortcomings taint, but do not diminish, the quality of their genius. The extension only carries into less impressive territory, excusing nothing, but acknowledging wisdom and knowledge where it is found. That bad or defective people can be right about things is a hard truth but an important one nonetheless. The saddest story of the South, from such a perspective, centers on the great decay in the quality of Southern political intellects after the founding Virginia generation. Calhoun (not a secessionist!) was a lonely light in a dim country. Alexander Stephens was the last statesman of the Old South of any real quality.

Related posts:

1. South Carolina Senator is a Fat, Racist Tool
2. Howard Zinn dead at 87
3. Dead-Alive Cats
4. Pat and The War