As his wealth increased, Stephens began acquiring both land and slaves. By the time of the Civil War, Stephens owned 34 slaves and several thousand acres.

"assumption of the equality of races" was "fundamentally wrong."

"Our new [Confederate] government is founded … 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"

"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."

African slavery as it exists amongst us — the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization.