"My own opinion on slavery, as often expressed, was that if the institution was not the best, or could not be made the best, for both races, looking to the advance- ment and progress of both, physically and morally, it ought to be abolished. It was far from being what it might and ought to have been. Education was denied. This was wrong. I ever condemned the wrong. Marriage was not recognized. This was a wrong that I condemned. Many things connected with it did not meet my approval but excited my disgust, abhorrence, and detestation."
Stephens fought the secession of Georgia.