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 (Confederacy) 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 (Civil War). 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. ........... 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. .........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 (Confederacy) 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. ....... They assume that the negro is equal, and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal privileges and rights with the white man." By Alexander H. Stephens- Vice President of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Only weeks after this speech the first shots were fired at Fort Sumpter to kick off the war. (I added the words in parenthesis for clarity)