Produced by David Widger AMERICAN ELOQUENCE STUDIES IN AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY Edited with Introduction by Alexander Johnston Reedited by James Albert Woodburn Volume I (of 4) CONTENTS. PREFACE INTRODUCTORY I--COLONIALISM. THE FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION JAMES OTIS PATRICK HENRY SAMUEL ADAMS ALEXANDER HAMILTON JAMES MADISON II--CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT. ALBERT GALLATIN FISHER AMES JOHN NICHOLAS III.-THE RISE OF DEMOCRACY. THOMAS JEFFERSON JOHN RANDOLPH JOSIAH QUINCY HENRY CLAY IV.--THE RISE OF NATIONALITY. ROBERT Y. HAYNE DANIEL WEBSTER JOHN C. CALHOUN THOMAS H. BENTON LIST OF PORTRAITS. VOL. I. ALEXANDER HAMILTON -- Frontispiece From a painting by COL. J. TRUMBULL. PATRICK HENRY From a painting by JAMES B. LONGACRE. SAMUEL ADAMS From a steel engraving. JAMES MADISON From a painting by GILBERT STUART. FISHER AMES From a painting by GILBERT STUART. THOMAS JEFFERSON From a painting by GILBERT STUART. JOHN RANDOLPH. PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. In offering to the public a revised edition of Professor Johnston's American Eloquence, a brief statement may be permitted of the changes and additions involved in the revision. In consideration of the favor with which the compilation of Professor Johnston had been received, and of its value to all who are interested in the study of American history, the present editor has deemed it wise to make as few omissions as possible from the former volumes. The changes have been chiefly in the way of additions. The omission, from the first volume, of Washington's Inaugural and President Nott's oration on the death of Hamilton is the result, not of a depreciation of the value of these, but of a desire to utilize the space with selections and subjects which are deemed more directly valuable as studies in American political history. Madison's speech on the adoption of the Constitution, made before the Virginia Convention, is substituted for one of Patrick Henry's on the same occasion. Madison's is a much more valuable discussion of the issues and principles involved, and, besides, the volume has the advantage of Henry's eloquence when he was at his best, at the opening of the American Revolution. In compensation for the omissions there are added selections, one each from Otis, Samuel Adams, Gallatin, and Benton. The completed first volume, therefore, offers to the student of American political history chapters from the life and work of sixteen representative orators and statesmen of America. In addition to the changes made in the selections, the editor has added brief biographical sketches, references, and textual and historical notes which, it is hoped, will add to the educational value of the volumes, as well as to the interest and intelligence with which the casual reader may peruse the speeches.