The Cornerstone doc is another doc in which my opponents usually bring up as proof positive the war was about slavery. There are a multitude of websites and blogs which have this speech posted, most DO NOT post this information --

The Cornerstone Speech was delivered extemporaneously by Vice President Alexander H. Stephens, and no official printed version exists. The text below was taken from a newspaper article in the Savannah Republican, as reprinted in Henry Cleveland, Alexander H. Stephens, in Public and Private: With Letters and Speeches, before, during, and since the War, Philadelphia, 1886, pp. 717-729.

Body of Speech

[REPORTER'S NOTE. -- Your reporter begs to state that the above is not a perfect report, but only such a sketch of the address of Mr. Stephens as embraces, in his judgment, the most important points presented by the orator. -- G.]

Stephens does not and cannot declare war.

For more reading on this read -- What I Really Said and the Cornerstone at

http://southernheritageadvancementpreservationeducation.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?2011113.post

George