negro is equal, and hence conclude that he is entitled to equal rights and privileges with the white man.  If their premises were correct, their conclusions would be logical and just; but, their premise being wrong, their whole argument fails.  I recollect once hearing a gentleman from one of the Northern States, of great power and ability, announce in the House of Representatives, with imposing effect, that we of the South would be compelled ultimately to yield upon this subject of slavery, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics as it was in physics or mechanics; that the principle would ultimately prevail; that we, in maintaining slavery as it exists with us, were warring against a principle, founded in nature, the principle of the equality of men.  The reply I made to him was that upon his own grounds we should ultimately succeed, and that he and his associates in this crusade against our institutions would ultimately fail.  The truth announced, that it was as impossible to war successfully against a principle in politics as it was in physics and mechanics, I admitted; but told him that it was he, and those acting with him, who were warring against a principle.  They were attempting to make things equal which the Creator had made unequal.

In the conflict, thus far, success has been on our side, complete throughout the length and breadth of the Confederate States.  It is upon this, as I have stated, our social fabric is firmly planted; and I cannot permit myself to doubt the ultimate success of a full recognition of this principle throughout the civilized and enlightened world.

As I have stated, the truth of this principle may be slow in development, as all truths are and ever have been, in the various branches of science.  It was so with the principles announced by Galileo.  It was so with Adam Smith and his principles of political economy.  It was so with Harvey and his theory of the circulation of the blood; it is stated that not a single one of the medical profession, living at the time of the announcement of the truths made by him, admitted them.  Now they are universally acknowledged.  May we not, therefore, look with confidence to the ultimate universal acknowledgment of the truths upon which our system rests?  It is the first government ever instituted upon the principles in strict conformity to nature and the ordination of Providence in furnishing the materials of human society.  Many governments have been founded upon the principle of the subordination and serfdom of certain classes of the same race; such were and are in violation of the laws of nature.  Our system commits no such violation of nature’s laws.  With us, all 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.  The architect, in the construction of buildings, lays