The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1861-04-08
The Corner stone ~ the New Gem
fA1RVarY.

ident OF tho Southern confederacy. Hc eet
forth very clearly tho conflicting principle
!, OF the Constitution OF the United StAtea
! formed BY Washington, Madison, and thei
composers, and OF that Of the Southern Con
federacy, formed by JEFF. Davis, Yancy
90. The old Constitution, be ssserts, Va
based on the erroneous principle Of equalit!
and liberty, while the now is based upon tn
principle OF inequality and slavery. Th,
great merit OF the new Constitution 10 tha
slavery, rejected BY the Revolutionary pat.
riots and excluded from . place in their
frame OF Government, sis become the chiei
stone Of the corner'' in the Constitution DON
structcd by the 6rs-eaters. He says:
But not to Do tedious in enumeratinE the
numerous changes for the better, allow me
to allude 30 one other, though last, not least.
The new Oonstitution has put TO rest, forev-
or, oil tho agitating questions relating to orr
peculiar NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. slavery - it
exists among us--ths proper status Of the
negro in our form Of civilization. This vas
the immediate cause OF tho late rupture and
present revolution. Jefferson, in his fore
cast, had anticipated this ~ the ssrock upon
which the old Union split" He wss right.
What Was conjecture with him, ID now ! re-
al;ssd fact. But whether be fully conprs-
hended the great truth upon which that rock
stood and stands, may b. doubted. The pro.
vailing ideas entertained BY him and most
OF tho leading statesmen ct tho time Of tho
formation Of the old Constitution, were that
the enslavoment Of the African was . viola
ton OF tho laws Of nature; that IL Was wrong
10 principle, socially, morally and politically.
IL was an evil they knew not we'll how to deal
with, but the general opinion Of the men Of
that day, wAs that somehow or other 10 the
order. OF Providence, tho institution would be
evanescent and pass away. This idea, though
not incorporated IN the Constitution, was the
prevailing idea Ut the time. The Constitu-
ton, it 10 true, secured every essential guar
anty to the institution while it should last,
and hence no argument can be justly used
against the Constitutional guarantees thus
secured because of the common sentiment of
the day. Those ideas, however, were fun
damentally wrong. They rested upon the
assumption OF the equality Of races. This
vas N error. 1t was . sandy foundation,
and the idea Of . Government built upon il
when the ssstorm came and the wind blew, il
fell"
Our new Governmsntis founded upon ex-
aotly the opposite idea; its foundations are
laid, it's corner stone rests upon tho great
truth that the negro 10 not equal to the white
man-thst slavery, subordination TO the su-
perior race, 10 his natural and aornal condi-
ton. [Applause.
This, our new Government, 10 the frst 10
the history Of the world based upon this
great physical, philosophical and moral
truth. This truth has been slow in the pro-
cess of its development, like oil other truths
10 the various departments d science. 1t
has been so even amongst Us. Many who
hear me, perhaps, can recollect we'll that this
truth was not generally admitted even with
in their day. The errors Of the past gene.
ration still chung to many o. late a. twenty
yeare ago. Those at the North, who still
cling TO these errors, with . seal above
knowledge, We justly denominate fanatics.-
All fanatieism springs from On alteration
Of the mind; from defect in reasoning
Ii 10 species OF insanity. One of the most
striking characteristics OF insanity, 10 many
instances, is forming correct conclusions
from fancied or erroneous premises SO with
the anti staUery fanatics; their conclusions
are right ii their premises are. They as.
sumo that the negro 10 equal, and hence con-
olude that be il entitled to equal privileges
and rights With the white man. If their
premise we're correct, their conclusion
would be logical and just-but their premise
being wrong, their whalS argument ffuttiis.
recolieCt once Of having heard gentlemen
from one of the Northern States, OF great
ability, announce IN the House Of Rep
resentatives, with imposing effect, that We Of
the South would be compelled, ultimately, TO
yield up this subject VI slavery, that il was
as impossible to var successfully against .
principle in politics ~ il was 10 physics and
| mechanics. That tho principle would ulti.
mately prevail. That We, 10 maintaining
slavery ~ it exists with us, were warning
against principle, principle founded IN
nature, the principle Of the equality OF man.
The reply made to him was, that upon his
own grounds we should succeed, and that be
and bis associates in the crusade against our
institutions would ultimately fail. Tho truth
announced, that il was as impossible TO war
successfully sganst principle in politics a.
we'll ~ IN pbysics and mechanics, l admitted.
but told him that it was he and those acting
with him, who wcre warning against prin.
cple. They were attempting to make things
equal which the Creator bad made unequal.
! In the conflict thus far, success has been
on our eide, complete throughout tho length
and breadth OF the Confederate States. Ii il
upon this, - have stated, our social fabric
10 firmly planted; and cannot permit N.Y.
self to doubt the ultimate success OF full
recognition OF this principle, throughout the
civilized and enlightened world.
As have stated, the truth Of this princi.
pie may be slow 10 development, % eli truths
are, and ever have been, in tho vsrious
branches Of science. II Vas 90 with the prin-
c'ples announced By Gallileo-it VAS 90 with
Adam Smith and bis principles Of political
economy. 1t vas 30 with Harvey, and hi,
theory OF the circulation OF the blood. Il i
stated that not single one OF the medica
profession, living ct the time Of tho announce.
mens Of tho truths made by him, admitted
them. Nov, they are univ Greatly acknowl.
edged. May We not, therefore, look with