Stephens vs Lincoln

Stephens vs. Lincoln In two very different speeches by Alexander H. Stephens and Abraham Lincoln they both argue their points of view on slavery and the opposing side plus how they would like to have the new government to be run. In the first speech by Stephens he states that the ideas of slavery at the time of the old constitution were wrong and that they rested on the beliefs of equality between the races. He goes on to argue that slavery in the south will have its foundations laid upon the ideas that, as Stephens says. the negro si not equal to the white man; that slavery, subornation to the superior race, is his natural and moral condition. ” In contrast, Lincoln describes how each person has a different definition for the word Liberty. One side defines it as meaning that they can do what they please with themselves and the earnings. While the other defines it, as Lincoln says, “some men do as they please with other men, and the product of their men’s labor. ” Lincoln identifies the central differences between the north and the south as a misconception of the word Liberty, one side called liberty and the other tyranny.

Stephens believes himself, and all whites as being superior to African Americans and that it’s the law of nature for it to be so. Whereas Lincoln says that everyone is equal and that’s Stephens and others like him have destroyed the meaning and significance of the word Liberty. These opposing speeches show the points of view on slavery from the north and the south and how each side takes liberty and changes it around to the advantage of their own purposes.