Bonus Episode: The Cornerstone

To all listeners, The episode examines the Cornerstone Speech, an infamously racist revelation of the gruesome reality behind the Confederacy. Unfortunately, there is no way to properly explain the speech without directly examining the words of Alexander Stephens in detail. Although I am deeply uncomfortable with repeating them, an honest examination of the Confederacy and the true ideology that lay behind requires an understanding of his words. The language, though antiquated, was not considered especially offensive at the time. The ideas behind the words, however, are intensely troubling. Use your own judgment regarding this episode. This episode appears somewhat outside of the intended order, as I have not yet completed the look Lincoln’s inaugural address. My apologies for the delay. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit uscivilwar.substack.com