Mr. Stephens, Vice President of the “Confederate States” in his recent speech at Savannah, has a great deal to say about the great principle upon which the new revolutionary government is founded—which truth he slates to be this: “ That the negro is not equal to the white man. That slavery—subordination to the superior race, is his natural and moral (normal?) condition.” He does not tell us what he means by equality, and rings the changes on the word, very much as we have heard it done nearer home. From what he says, however, we presume he means some physical inequality, as he speaks of this, “great physical and moral truth.” We presume that he does not mean to state that any man may be rightfully compelled under the lash, to work for any other who is physically his superior. And so also of inferiority in moral- character or Intelligence—he would hardly assert these as justifying enslavement. Either of these principles put in practice would lead to strange changes. Mr. Stephens himself is physically inferior to the average of men of his age. He must refer to difference of race. For, in speaking of the scientific aspect of his principle and the slowness of its recognition in the world, he says: “Many governments have been founded upon the principle of certain classes; but the classes thus enslaved were of the same race and (so enslaved) in violation of the laws of nature.”
Indeed! The enslavement of the same race then is “in violation of the laws of nature.” What say Dr. Van Dyke, Dr. Thornwell, and Dr. Raphall to this? What becomes of all their arguments from the Bible in favor of slavery? The slaves held by the Jews were white; and so, according to the Vice President of the “Confederate States,” held as such “in violation of the laws of nature.” Mr. Stephens must be immediately excommunicated from the Southern Church, or the sound doctrine of the D. D.s will be in danger of being corrupted. Perhaps, however, he will hasten to retract so dangerous a statement
A word or two now as to the “scientific” truth of the principle so complacently announced by Mr. Stephens. He seems to think this asserted difference (and so the inferiority of the black race) is universally admitted by all competent judges. We are aware that certain physicians at the South have asserted the existence of physiological facts going to show a difference of race – and those assertions have been vaunted in an arrogance not quite in consonance with the coolness which should characterize true disciples of the inductive method. We apprehend that they must wait awhile yet for any general recognition of their doctrine, and would particularly recommend them to submit this point to the judgement of the aforementioned doctors of Divinity.
In the meantime we beg leave to call attention to what we believe is the very latest expression of opinion on this subject, from high scientific authority. We refer to an elaborate work on Anthropology by Dr. Waiz, published at Leipsig, 1860. One of the highest literary authorities in this country says: “Waiz seems to us the most careful and truly scientific author in the field of ethnology whom we have had since Prichard, and with the wider scope which belongs to the intellectual German. He has reasoned; slowly and carefully from facts. He rejects, in toto, Professor Agassiz’s ‘realm theory,’ as inconsistent with facts. The hybrid question, as put by Messrs. Gliddon and Nott, meets with a searching and careful investigation, with the conclusion that nothing in fact yet ascertained proves any want of vitality, or power of propagation in mulattoes or in crosses of any human races.” This is in direct contradiction to the theories which have been so readily welcomed by our Southern neighbors as affording ground for justification of their favorite “institution.’’ Germany yet stands superior to Georgia in reputation for careful scientific research and learning, and we would suggest to her Stephens the propriety of abating somewhat his confidence in the scientific truth of his great principle.
Chicago Daily Tribune, Chicago, IL
Background: The Cornerstone Speech
The “recent speech” referred to was Stephens’ Cornerstone Speech of March 21st in Savannah, GA. In that speech, in reference to the foundations of the Confederacy, he stated that the “..cornerstone rests upon the great truth, that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery—subordination to the superior race—is his natural and normal condition.”