to the autocrats that would direct their affairs. With restricted
territory, a minority of population, and home interests directly opposed
to those of the over-riding North, what was there to hope for but
continuous degradation? Our leaders have been accused of precipitating
the war for their own personal ambition. It was another "Aaron Burr
conspiracy." Let us hear what they had to say about it.

Jefferson Davis, the fearless soldier and upright citizen--the man who
by reason of his supreme fitness was a little later, chosen President of
the Confederacy, said in his last speech before the United States
Senate:

"Secession is to be justified upon the basis that the States are
sovereign. When you deny us the right to withdraw from a government
which threatens our rights, we but tread in the paths of our fathers
when we proclaim our independence. I am sure I but express the feelings
of the people whom I represent, toward those whom you represent, when
I say I hope, and they hope, for peaceable relations with you, though
we must part. This step is taken, not in hostility to others, not to
injure any section of the country, not even for our own pecuniary
benefit; but from the high and solemn motive of defending and protecting
the rights we inherited, and which it is our sacred duty to transmit
unshorn to our children."


Alexander Hamilton Stephens, of Georgia, Vice President of the
Confederacy, was a Whig, and like others of the leading statesmen,
loved the Union. When the North began to control the new territories,
and thus denied the South her legitimate share in the government
thereof, Mr. Stephens made a long and powerful argument in the House of