Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
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
The question now before the people of North Carolina and the other border slave States is not Union or Disunion, for every candid man admits that the Union of our fathers is broken up, disrupted, overthrown. The question then is not whether we are for Union or Disunion that has been decided and notwithstanding all the love for a Constitutional Union which has ever characterized our people, it has been decided against and without us. Seven States of the old Union possessing the bulk of the wealth of the Southern States have left the Union and established a Government of their own; but because they have thought proper to do this we do not urge it as a reason why this State should follow them, not by any means; we desire however that the people of North Carolina should calmly and maturely examine the advantages offered them an their property by the two Governments. Examine the Constitution, the laws, the practices and the rulers of the two and the protection offered you and yours under each, and then say under which you will live.
With the seven seceded States gone there can be no doubt but the old Government is thoroughly abolitionized for all time, and that if we consent to live under it we must submit to Black Republican Rule now, and finally the abolition of slavery and negro equality. Every act of Lincoln since he ascended the portico of the Capital at Washington to deliver his inaugural to the present time, his inaugural, his appointments and all, go to prove most conclusively that he means to administer the Government upon the principles enunciated in the Chicago platform and as expounded by Greeley, Beecher, Phillips and others of that radical school. It is clear that if we remain under him and his Republican successors that we must consent to remain as degraded inferiors, and not as equals. We appeal then, these things being so, to the people of the border slave States to ponder this matter, and act as becomes freemen and patriots.
