But not to be tedious in enumerating the numerous changes for the better, allow me to allude to one other -- though last, not least.
So where are all the other reasons that he saw fit to deal with first? Slavery was "not least", to be sure -- but it wasn't necessarily "first", either, whether in magnitude or certainly in order of his recitation.
So where would Stephens put the emphasis, and would he agree with the inference you draw from his words quoted in part?
You might also put on your thinking cap and reflect on the fact that an "immediate cause" isn't necessarily the greatest or most compelling cause, either.
Nice try, but read what he says in addition that statement.
He quoted Jefferson and says he is correct, that slavery was the rock on which the old union would break.
Slavery is the issue without which there would not have been a civil war.
The South was determined to make it acceptable in every state in the Union as a property right.
The North would protect the institution as a constitutional right, but they would not accept it as being 'good'.
Oh, if the South had men of the caliber of Andrew Stephens, Robert E. Lee and Davis-honest men, not men hiding behind double talk and evasion.
Well had you read the speech in the first place, you would see that Stephens' subject was the confederate constitution and the improvements it had over the U.S. constitution. One of those improvements was the fact that it clearly places the black population in their proper place in southern society, slavery. And, Stephens adds, the question of slavery was the reason for the rebellion to begin with. I can post a link if you are interested in actually reading the speech.
Did the South have another Vice President?
But not to be tedious in enumerating the numerous changes for the better, allow me to allude to one other -- though last, not least. So where are all the other reasons that he saw fit to deal with first? Slavery was "not least", to be sure -- but it wasn't necessarily "first", either, whether in magnitude or certainly in order of his recitation. So where would Stephens put the emphasis, and would he agree with the inference you draw from his words quoted in part? You might also put on your thinking cap and reflect on the fact that an "immediate cause" isn't necessarily the greatest or most compelling cause, either
Well, Rustbucket has agreed that slavery was the main cause of the war, although not the only one.
Thank goodness that there are some people on your side of the issue who are honest enough to deal with facts.