The term 'SCOTT IN AN 1857 CASE' refers to the landmark Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, which was decided in 1857. The plaintiff in the case was Dred Scott, a slave who sued for his freedom. The Supreme Court ruled that Scott was not a citizen and therefore could not sue in federal court. This ruling was a major setback for the abolitionist movement and helped to further divide the nation on the issue of slavery.