Refer to explorations in literature for a complete version of this speech. jefferson davis supported slavery. in his speech, he mentions a counterclaim by senator seward that “the white laborer among us is not enslaved only because he cannot yet be reduced to bondage.” does davis directly address the counterclaim? no, by stating: “…white men have an equality resulting from a presence of a lower caste, which cannot exist where white men fill the position here occupied by the servile race.” yes, by stating: “…white men have an equality resulting from a presence of a lower caste, which cannot exist where white men fill the position here occupied by the servile race.” no, by stating: “… dislodge the democracy from the possession of the federal government, and assigns as a reason the friendship of that party for what he denominates the slave system.” yes, by stating: “… dislodge the democracy from the possession of the federal government, and assigns as a reason the friendship of that party for what he denominates the slave system.”