The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-04-05
National Affairs.
SPEECH OF A. II. STEPHENS, VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES.


Hon A. H. Stephens, vice president of the
confederate states, delivered long and elab-
crate speech in Savannah on Thursday even
ing last, in which he quite fully discussed the
constitution, the principles and prospects of
the new confederacy. The new constitution
he mnutely compared with that of the sold
Union" claiming that the former was, on the
whole, although Objectionable in some re-
spects, decided improvement. The sold
thorn of the tariff which occasioned so much
irritation in the old body politic," he says,
is removed forever from the new, "while the
subject of internal improvements is put at
rest" River and harbor improvements will
have to be betrayed by the commerce of the
places which are benefited by them. Anoth-
er improvement is the provision giving cabi-
net ministers seats in Congress-, by which
they will be enabled to explain and defend
their plans. The extension of the presiden-
tial term to six years, he also considers an
advance upon the old constitution. The
principal improvement, however, seems to be
that the new constitution is based on slavery.
On this point Mr. Stephens said:
The new constitution has put at rest, for
ever, all the ag!tating questions relating to
our peculiar institutiOns-African slavery as
it exists amongst us-the proper status of
the negro in our form of civilization This
was the immediate cause of the late rupture
and present revolution. Jefferson, in his
forecast, had anticipated this, as the rock
upon which the old Union would split He
was right. What was CON lecture with him,
is now a realized fact But whether he fully
comprehended the great truth upon which
that rock stood and stands, may be doubted.
The prevailing ideas entertained by him and
most of the leading statesmen at the time Of
the formation of the old constitution, were
that the enslavement of the African was in
violation of the laws of nature; that it was
wrong in principle, socially, morally, and po-
litcolly. 1t was an evil they knew not well
how to deal with, but the general opinion tf
the m,n Of that day was that somehow or
other in the order of Providence the insttu-
ton would be evanescent and pass away
This idea Though not Incorporated in the con-
stitution, was the prevailing idea at the time
The constitution, II is true secured every es-
sential guaranty to the institution while i,
should last, and hence no argument can be
Justly usc0 against the constitutional guar
antics thus secured, because of the common
sentiment of the day Those ideas, however
were fundamentally wrong. The rested up
on the assumption of the equ;..i.l of races
This was an error. 1t was Il sandy founda-
ton. and the idea Of government built upol
it. when the storm came and the wind blew
it fell
Our new government is founded upon ex.
actly the opposite idea It's fortitic ations art
, laid, its corner stone rests upon the grea
truth that the negro is not equal to the whit,
man. That slavery-subordinat to the su
> perior race--is his natural and moral condi
. ton. ,AprIause.)
! This or new government, is the first. il
the history of the world. based upon ,hi
, great physical, philosophical and moral truth
I This truth has been SLOW in The process Of il
! development. like all other truths III the va
9 rious departments of science. 1t has bee
y SO even amongst us. Many who hear M
perhaps, can recolect well that this trut
{, was not generally admitted even within thei
r day. The errors of the past generation still
!; clung to many as late as twenty years ago
! Those at the North who still cling TO thes
\ errors with zeal above knowledge, we just
q ly denominate fanatics. Alltanaticsm spring
=, from an alteration of the mind. from de
). feet in reasoning. 1t is a species ofinsanity
l. One of the most striking characteristics G
\ insanity, in many instances, is forming cor
: rect conclusions from fancied or erroneou
I premises. So with the anti-slaverv fanatics
d their conclusions are right, if their premise
are. They assume that the negro is equa
and hence conclude that he is entitled TO
quail privileges and rights with the whit
man. If their premises were correct thei
conclusion would be logical and just bu
. their premises being wrong, their whole al
J. gument falls.
y | recollect once Of having heard a gentl,
D. man from one of the Northern states,
e great power and ability, announce in tn
IL House Of Representatives, with imposing {
J. feet, that We Of the South would be compel
'e ed, ultimately, to yield upon this subject
II slavery, that it was as impossible to war su,
cessfully against principle in politics. as
p was in physics or mechanics. That the pril
le ciple would ultimately prevail. That we
IL maintaining slavery as it exists with U.s. wer
't warning against a principle,a principle fount
II ed in nature, the principle of the equality
'f man. The reply made to him was, that u,
}! on his own grounds We should succeed, an
+ that he and his associates in their crusade
{ ganst our institutions would ultimately fai
10 The truth announced, that it was as imposs
|! BILE to war successfully against principle
T. politics well as in physics and mechanic
| admitted, but told him that it was he an
d those acting with him, who we're warning
le gainst principle. They we've attempting
f. make things equal which the Creator ha
e. made unequal
s. In the conflict thus far, success has been G
C. our side, complete throughout the length ar
c breadth of the confederate states. II IA upo
e' this, as | have stated, our social fabric
IN firmly planted and l cannot permit myse
a to doubt the ultimate success of full reco
ne nition Of this principle throughout the civi
a lied and enlightened world"
y On the greet and all-important question
ch the future success of the new governmer
SIS Mr. Stephens expressed himself as follows
- II have been asked, what of the future !?
rfy 1t has been apprehended by some that '
y would have arrayed against US the civilizt
nj world. | care not who or how many they mi
n1g be, when we stand upon the eternal principl
ne Of truth we are obliged and must triumph
OK (Applause.)
,e Thousands of people, who begin to unde
ke stand these truths, are not yet completely o
ns of the shell they do not see them in the
he length and breadth. We hear much of t
nS civilization and Christianization of the ba
e. barous tribes of Africa. In my judgmel
lg, those ends will never be attained but by fiji
'ut teaching them the lesson taught to Ada
wo that in the sweat of tiny brow shalt thou e
en-, bread (applause) and teaching them to wo
ite and feed and clothe themselves. But to pa