EMAILS ABOUT "CORNER STONE "
Our "regression" as African Americans from some hypothetical pre- enslavement ideals, is akin to the "Stockholm Syndrome," in which the victims identify with their tormentors; but worse for us, is that our is not limited to individuals. It is multi-generational, continental, global. Deprivation, degradation, alienation are all part of it, for vulnerable ones, spiritual emaciation is another, since they worship the image of the enemy as their God, limiting any emancipation!
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 20, 2017, at 5:49 AM, ARTHUR wrote:
Well, I am not going to dignify Stephens "Cornerstone Speech;" it is rife with wrong assertions about our fore fathers. We did come to this country as a people, many taken from royal stock. However, how did we regress to a race where so many of our men have been reduced to thugs, gang bangers, and the chronic unemployed?
--------------------------------------------
On Sun, 2/19/17, wrote:
Subject: INFAMOUS EXCERPTS FROM "CORNERSTONE SPEECH" OF MARCH 21, 1861
To:
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2017, 12:41 PM
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/cornerstone-speech/
EXCERPTS FROM C.S.A. VICE
PRESIDENT, ALEXANDER STEPHENS' "CORNERSTONE
SPEECH" OF MARCH 21, 1861, REGARDING AFRICAN SLAVERY AS
BASIS OF CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA'S PHILOSOPHIC,
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION, AS
CAUSE OF WAR.
"But not to be tedious in
enumerating the numerous changes for the better, allow me to
allude to one other though last, not least. The new
constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating
questions relating to our peculiar institution African
slavery as it exists amongst us the proper status of the
negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate
cause of the late rupture and present revolution. Jefferson
in his forecast, had anticipated this, as the “rock upon
which the old Union would split.” He was right. What was
conjecture with him, is now a realized 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 old constitution, were that the
enslavement of the African was in violation of the laws of
nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally,
and politically. It was an evil they knew not well how to
deal with, but the general opinion of the men of that day
was that, somehow or other in the order of Providence, the
institution would be evanescent and pass away. This idea,
though not incorporated in the constitution, was the
prevailing idea at that time. The constitution, it is true,
secured every essential guarantee to the institution while
it should last, and hence no argument can be justly urged
against the constitutional guarantees thus secured, because
of the common sentiment of the day. Those ideas, however,
were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of
the equality of races. This was an error. It was a sandy
foundation, and the government built upon it fell when the
“storm came and the wind blew.”
Our new government is founded
upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid,
its corner- stone 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. This,
our new government, is the first, in the history of the
world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and
moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its
development, like all other truths in the various
departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many
who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth
was not generally admitted, even within their day. The
errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as
twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to
these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly
denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an
aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a
species of insanity. One of the most striking
characteristics of insanity, in many instances, is forming
correct conclusions from fancied or erroneous premises; so
with the anti-slavery fanatics. Their conclusions are right
if their premises were. They assume that the negro is equal,
and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges
and rights with the white man. If their premises were
correct, their conclusions would be logical and just but
their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails. I
recollect once of having heard a gentleman from one of the
northern States, of great power and ability, announce in the
House of Representatives, with imposing effect, that we of
the South would be compelled, ultimately, to yield upon this
subject of slavery, that it was as impossible to war
successfully against a principle in politics, as it was in
physics or mechanics. That the principle would ultimately
prevail. That we, in maintaining slavery as it exists with
us, were warring against a principle, a principle founded in
nature, the principle of the equality of men. The reply I
made to him was, that upon his own grounds, we should,
ultimately, succeed, and that he and his associates, in this
crusade against our institutions, would ultimately fail. The
truth announced, that it was as impossible to war
successfully against a principle in politics as it was in
physics and mechanics, I admitted; but told him that it was
he, and those acting with him, who were warring against a
principle. They were attempting to make things equal which
the Creator had made unequal.
In the conflict thus far,
success has been on our side, complete throughout the length
and breadth of the Confederate States. It is upon this, as I
have stated, our social fabric is firmly planted; and I
cannot permit myself to doubt the ultimate success of a full
recognition of this principle throughout the civilized and
enlightened world.
As I have stated, the truth of
this principle may be slow in development, as all truths are
and ever have been, in the various branches of science. It
was so with the principles announced by Galileo it was so
with Adam Smith and his principles of political economy. It
was so with Harvey, and his theory of the circulation of the
blood. It is stated that not a single one of the medical
profession, living at the time of the announcement of the
truths made by him, admitted them. Now, they are universally
acknowledged. May we not, therefore, look with confidence to
the ultimate universal acknowledgment of the truths upon
which our system rests? It is the first government ever
instituted upon the principles in strict conformity to
nature, and the ordination of Providence, in furnishing the
materials of human society. Many governments have been
founded upon the principle of the subordination and serfdom
of certain classes of the same race; such were and are in
violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no such
violation of nature’s laws. With us, all of the white
race, however high or low, rich or poor, are equal in the
eye of the law. Not so with the negro. Subordination is his
place. He, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is
fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system.
The architect, in the construction of buildings, lays the
foundation with the proper material-the granite; then comes
the brick or the marble. The substratum of our society is
made of the material fitted by nature for it, and by
experience we know that it is best, not only for the
superior, but for the inferior race, that it should be so.
It is, indeed, in conformity with the ordinance of the
Creator. It is not for us to inquire into the wisdom of His
ordinances, or to question them. For His own purposes, He
has made one race to differ from another, as He has made
“one star to differ from another star in glory.” The
great objects of humanity are best attained when there is
conformity to His laws and decrees, in the formation of
governments as well as in all things else. Our confederacy
is founded upon principles in strict conformity with these
laws. This stone which was rejected by the first builders
“is become the chief of the corner” the real
“corner-stone” in our new edifice. I have been asked,
what of the future? It has been apprehended by some that we
would have arrayed against us the civilized world. I care
not who or how many they may be against us, when we stand
upon the eternal principles of truth, if we are true to
ourselves and the principles for which we contend, we are
obliged to, and must triumph.
Thousands of people who begin
to understand these truths are not yet completely out of the
shell; they do not see them in their length and breadth. We
hear much of the civilization and Christianization of the
barbarous tribes of Africa. In my judgment, those ends will
never be attained, but by first teaching them the lesson
taught to Adam, that “in the sweat of his brow he should
eat his bread,” and teaching them to work, and feed, and
clothe themselves."
Monday, February 20, 2017
EMAILS ABOUT ALEXANDER STEPHENS' "CORNERSTONE SPEECH" OF MARCH 21, 1861
EMAILS ABOUT "CORNER STONE "
Our "regression" as African Americans from some hypothetical pre- enslavement ideals, is akin to the "Stockholm Syndrome," in which the victims identify with their tormentors; but worse for us, is that our is not limited to individuals. It is multi-generational, continental, global. Deprivation, degradation, alienation are all part of it, for vulnerable ones, spiritual emaciation is another, since they worship the image of the enemy as their God, limiting any emancipation!
Sent from my iPhone
On Feb 20, 2017, at 5:49 AM, ARTHUR wrote:
Well, I am not going to dignify Stephens "Cornerstone Speech;" it is rife with wrong assertions about our fore fathers. We did come to this country as a people, many taken from royal stock. However, how did we regress to a race where so many of our men have been reduced to thugs, gang bangers, and the chronic unemployed?
--------------------------------------------
On Sun, 2/19/17, wrote:
Subject: INFAMOUS EXCERPTS FROM "CORNERSTONE SPEECH" OF MARCH 21, 1861
To:
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2017, 12:41 PM
http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/document/cornerstone-speech/
EXCERPTS FROM C.S.A. VICE
PRESIDENT, ALEXANDER STEPHENS' "CORNERSTONE
SPEECH" OF MARCH 21, 1861, REGARDING AFRICAN SLAVERY AS
BASIS OF CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA'S PHILOSOPHIC,
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AND SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION, AS
CAUSE OF WAR.
"But not to be tedious in
enumerating the numerous changes for the better, allow me to
allude to one other though last, not least. The new
constitution has put at rest, forever, all the agitating
questions relating to our peculiar institution African
slavery as it exists amongst us the proper status of the
negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate
cause of the late rupture and present revolution. Jefferson
in his forecast, had anticipated this, as the “rock upon
which the old Union would split.” He was right. What was
conjecture with him, is now a realized 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 old constitution, were that the
enslavement of the African was in violation of the laws of
nature; that it was wrong in principle, socially, morally,
and politically. It was an evil they knew not well how to
deal with, but the general opinion of the men of that day
was that, somehow or other in the order of Providence, the
institution would be evanescent and pass away. This idea,
though not incorporated in the constitution, was the
prevailing idea at that time. The constitution, it is true,
secured every essential guarantee to the institution while
it should last, and hence no argument can be justly urged
against the constitutional guarantees thus secured, because
of the common sentiment of the day. Those ideas, however,
were fundamentally wrong. They rested upon the assumption of
the equality of races. This was an error. It was a sandy
foundation, and the government built upon it fell when the
“storm came and the wind blew.”
Our new government is founded
upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid,
its corner- stone 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. This,
our new government, is the first, in the history of the
world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and
moral truth. This truth has been slow in the process of its
development, like all other truths in the various
departments of science. It has been so even amongst us. Many
who hear me, perhaps, can recollect well, that this truth
was not generally admitted, even within their day. The
errors of the past generation still clung to many as late as
twenty years ago. Those at the North, who still cling to
these errors, with a zeal above knowledge, we justly
denominate fanatics. All fanaticism springs from an
aberration of the mind from a defect in reasoning. It is a
species of insanity. One of the most striking
characteristics of insanity, in many instances, is forming
correct conclusions from fancied or erroneous premises; so
with the anti-slavery fanatics. Their conclusions are right
if their premises were. They assume that the negro is equal,
and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges
and rights with the white man. If their premises were
correct, their conclusions would be logical and just but
their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails. I
recollect once of having heard a gentleman from one of the
northern States, of great power and ability, announce in the
House of Representatives, with imposing effect, that we of
the South would be compelled, ultimately, to yield upon this
subject of slavery, that it was as impossible to war
successfully against a principle in politics, as it was in
physics or mechanics. That the principle would ultimately
prevail. That we, in maintaining slavery as it exists with
us, were warring against a principle, a principle founded in
nature, the principle of the equality of men. The reply I
made to him was, that upon his own grounds, we should,
ultimately, succeed, and that he and his associates, in this
crusade against our institutions, would ultimately fail. The
truth announced, that it was as impossible to war
successfully against a principle in politics as it was in
physics and mechanics, I admitted; but told him that it was
he, and those acting with him, who were warring against a
principle. They were attempting to make things equal which
the Creator had made unequal.
In the conflict thus far,
success has been on our side, complete throughout the length
and breadth of the Confederate States. It is upon this, as I
have stated, our social fabric is firmly planted; and I
cannot permit myself to doubt the ultimate success of a full
recognition of this principle throughout the civilized and
enlightened world.
As I have stated, the truth of
this principle may be slow in development, as all truths are
and ever have been, in the various branches of science. It
was so with the principles announced by Galileo it was so
with Adam Smith and his principles of political economy. It
was so with Harvey, and his theory of the circulation of the
blood. It is stated that not a single one of the medical
profession, living at the time of the announcement of the
truths made by him, admitted them. Now, they are universally
acknowledged. May we not, therefore, look with confidence to
the ultimate universal acknowledgment of the truths upon
which our system rests? It is the first government ever
instituted upon the principles in strict conformity to
nature, and the ordination of Providence, in furnishing the
materials of human society. Many governments have been
founded upon the principle of the subordination and serfdom
of certain classes of the same race; such were and are in
violation of the laws of nature. Our system commits no such
violation of nature’s laws. With us, all of the white
race, however high or low, rich or poor, are equal in the
eye of the law. Not so with the negro. Subordination is his
place. He, by nature, or by the curse against Canaan, is
fitted for that condition which he occupies in our system.
The architect, in the construction of buildings, lays the
foundation with the proper material-the granite; then comes
the brick or the marble. The substratum of our society is
made of the material fitted by nature for it, and by
experience we know that it is best, not only for the
superior, but for the inferior race, that it should be so.
It is, indeed, in conformity with the ordinance of the
Creator. It is not for us to inquire into the wisdom of His
ordinances, or to question them. For His own purposes, He
has made one race to differ from another, as He has made
“one star to differ from another star in glory.” The
great objects of humanity are best attained when there is
conformity to His laws and decrees, in the formation of
governments as well as in all things else. Our confederacy
is founded upon principles in strict conformity with these
laws. This stone which was rejected by the first builders
“is become the chief of the corner” the real
“corner-stone” in our new edifice. I have been asked,
what of the future? It has been apprehended by some that we
would have arrayed against us the civilized world. I care
not who or how many they may be against us, when we stand
upon the eternal principles of truth, if we are true to
ourselves and the principles for which we contend, we are
obliged to, and must triumph.
Thousands of people who begin
to understand these truths are not yet completely out of the
shell; they do not see them in their length and breadth. We
hear much of the civilization and Christianization of the
barbarous tribes of Africa. In my judgment, those ends will
never be attained, but by first teaching them the lesson
taught to Adam, that “in the sweat of his brow he should
eat his bread,” and teaching them to work, and feed, and
clothe themselves."