The Portland daily press., 1863-05-14
subsequent to his Inauguration as Vice Presi-
dent of the Conlederacy-a position he now
holds-he said:

subsequent to his Inauguration as Vice Presi-
dent of the Confederacy-a position he now
holds-he said:
The new Constitution has put to rest forever, all
the agtating questions relating to peculiar insti
tuition = African slavery as IL exists among - the
proper status of the negro in ourforn ofcvilizaton
: This the immediate cause Of the late rupture
Jefferson in his forecast had anticipated this as
the rock upon which the old Union split. He was
right. What was a conjecture with him is now a re-
allied 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 ola Constitution, that the enstdrement Of
the 4rican in riotdtioR Of the lars Of nature;
and that IL wrongin principle socially, morally
how to deal with. but the general opinion of the
of that day was that, somehow in the order of Prov
dence, the institution would be evanescent and pass
away.
This idea, though not incorporated in the CoDsti-
tuition scas the prerailing idea Of that time. The
antg 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.
These IDEAS homerer, WERE FUNDAMENTALLY
WRONG. They rested upon the assumption OF the
equality of races. This was error. II was sandy
foudation, and the idea of government built upon
il, and when the storm came and the wind blew, it
fell.
Our new government is founded upon exactly the
opposite idea its foundations laid, its corner
stone rests upon the great truth that the not
equal to the white man; that Observation-Disclosures
to the superior - rs HIS NATURAL AND MORAL
CONDITION.
The following are from lesser lights, but
they are to the point. They are all from the
debates in the South Carolina Convention that
ordained the independence Of that state of the
Union, and made rebellion an actuazed fact:
Mr.. PARKER. Mr.. President, it appears to me,
with great Difference to the opinions that been
expressed, that the public mind is fully made up to
the great occasion that now awaits II is spas
modic effort that has suddenly upon as, IL has
been gradually eliminating for a long series Of
years, until at last IL has TO that point irhen
noe may say the matter is entirely right.
Mr.. 1NGLIsH. Mr.. President, If there is any gen.
teman present who wishes to debate this matter of
course this body will hear him; but to delay for
the purpose of discussion, for opposed to it,
As my friend MIR Parkerl has said most Of as hare
had this matter under consideration for the last
foenty years, and presume tre hare by this time
rired at a decision upon the subject
Mr.. kEITT. Sir, we performing a great act
which involves not only the stirring present, but en-
braces the whole great future ages to come hare
been engaged IN this Increment since entered
political life. am content with what has been done
TODAY, and content with what will take place to-mor-
row. We have carried the body of this Union TO its
last resting place, and now will drop the flag
its grave. After that is done, am ready TO adjourn
and leave the remaining ceremonies for tomorrow.
Mr.. RHETT. The secession Of South Carolina is
not eBent Of a day. II is not ANYTHING produced
By Mr.. Lncota's election. or By non-erecufion IF
the fugitice stare ta,c. ~ has been matter which
has been gathering head for thirty years. The cleo
ton of Lincoln and Hamn the last straw
on the back of the camel But il was not the
only one The back nearly broken before
The point upon which differ from my friend is this
great question before the world upon this simple mat
ter of wrongs on the question.