(Alexander H. Stephens, “Cornerstone Address, March 21, 1861 ” in The Rebellion Record: A Diary of American Events with Documents, Narratives, Illustrative Incidents, Poetry, etc., vol. 1, ed. Frank Moore (New York: O.P. Putnam, 1862), pp. 44-46.)
Speeches such as this one, by the Vice-President of the Confederacy, Alexander H. Stephens, demonstrate the inarguable commitment that the Southern states had towards racially superior ideology and the institution of slavery. To the slave-holding states, it was an elemental aspect to their way of life, something that they had built a significant portion of their entire economy on. Furthermore, Stephens expressly supports the ideology of African American racial inferiority, thus proving that the level of this problem extended well beyond an issue of economic necessity. Above, Stephens revels in the fact that his government has finally ended any debate over keeping slavery. He remarks at Thomas Jefferson’s foresight into the conflict that arose around slavery, but criticized the Founding Fathers and the men of that era for having a negative view towards the institution. Stephens pronounces the views of the Founding Fathers as being “fundamentally wrong” for assuming the “equality of races”. Statements like this gave the Southern leaders little room to argue against the importance that slavery held for them.