Letter to the editor: Civil War was indeed fought over slavery

Regarding the perplexing and conspiracy-laden letter “A Civil War history lesson” (Jan. 9, TribLive): To quote the author: “The mainstream media’s attacks on Nikki Haley not recognizing slavery as the reason for the War Between the States is way off base.” No. The Civil War was fought over slavery. The primary reason for the Civil War, instigated by the South, was to maintain the dying institution of slavery. The South deemed the African races inferior and good only as slaves.

This was spelled out clearly and succinctly in the famous “Cornerstone Speech” given by Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens on March 21, 1861: “They (The United States Founding Fathers) 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.”

Perhaps the writer, rather than speculate about history, should look at the actual facts and the actual words of history’s instigators.

Richard Graham

Sheraden