Excerpt from American Eloquence, Vol. 1: A Collection of Speeches and Addresses; By the Most Eminent Orators of America The design Of the present work is to furnish a convenient and popular Library Edition of the most celebrated Speeches and Addresses, forensic-and parliamentary, of the principal Orators and Statesmen of America. It contains many which have never before been included in any collection; and heretofore inaccessible to the student and general reader. As far as attainable, specimens Of the eloquence Of the Continental Congress have been given, which fully illustrate the principles and portray the sufferings Of the Revolutionary Period. Many entire speeches from the debates in Congress, since the year 1789, under the present organization of the Government, will also be found in this work. Selections from the earnest and able discussions in the State Conventions Of the principles involved in the adoption Of the Federal Constitution, also form a considerable portion of the work; and thus render it valuable-as a means, Of acquiring an understanding. Of that important instrument. The biographical sketches, preceding the selections from the works of each orator, are intended to present a brief outline Of their lives and public services, the limited space allowed for that portion of the work precluding more extended notices. The analytical index attached to the work may render it generally useful as a book Of reference. The want Of a work Of this kind is too obvious to make any apology necessary for its publication at the present time. Should its success warrant such a course, another series, embracing the more recent and living orators. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.