American Eloquence, Volume 3 / Studies In American Political History (1897)
PORTRAITS WILLIAM H. SEWARD — Frontispiece From a photograph. SALMON P. CHASE — From a daguerreotype, engraved by F. E. JONES. EDWARD EVERETT — From a painting by R. M. STAIGG. STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS — From a steel engraving. JEFFERSON DAVIS — From a photograph.
The third volume of the American Eloquence is devoted to the continuation of the slavery controversy and to the progress of the secession movement which culminated in civil war.
To the speeches of the former edition of the volume have been added: Everett on the Nebraska bill; Benjamin on the Property Doctrine and Slavery in the Territories; Lincoln on the Dred Scott Decision; Wade on Secession and the State of the Union; Crittenden on the Crittenden Compromise; and Jefferson Davis's notable speech in which he took leave of the United State Senate, in January, 1861.
Judged by its political consequences no piece of legislation in American history is of greater historical importance than the Kansas-Nebraska bill. By that act the Missouri Compromise was repealed and the final conflict entered upon with the slave power. In addition to the speeches of Douglas and Chase, representing the best word on the opposing sides of the famous Nebraska controversy, the new volume includes the notable contribution by Edward Everett to the Congressional debates on that subject. Besides being an orator of high rank and of literary renown, Everett represented a distinct body of political opinion. As a conservative Whig he voiced the sentiment of the great body of the followers of Webster and Clay who had helped to establish the Compromise of 1850 and who wished to leave that settlement undisturbed. The student of the Congressional struggles of 1854 will be led by a speech like that of Everett to appreciate that moderate and conservative spirit toward slavery which would not persist in any anti-slavery action having a tendency to disturb the harmony of the Union. That this conservative opinion looked upon the repeal of the Missouri Compromise as an act of aggression in the interest of slavery is indicated by Everett's speech, and this gives the speech its historic significance.
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AMERICAN ELOQUENCE
STUDIES IN AMERICAN POLITICAL HISTORY
Edited with Introduction by Alexander Johnston
Reedited by James Albert Woodburn
INTRODUCTION TO THE REVISED VOLUME.
V. —THE ANTI-SLAVERY STRUGGLE (Continued from Vol. II.)
SALMON PORTLAND CHASE,
OF OHIO. (BORN 1808, DIED 1873.)
EDWARD EVERETT,
OF MASSACHUSETTS.
STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS,
OF ILLINOIS. (BORN 1813, DIED 1861.)
CHARLES SUMNER,
OF MASSACHUSETTS (BORN 1811, DIED 1874.)
PRESTON S. BROOKS,
OF SOUTH CAROLINA. (BORN 1819, DIED 1857.)
JUDAH P. BENJAMIN,
OF LOUISIANA. (BORN 1811, DIED 1864.)
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
OF ILLINOIS. (BORN 1809, DIED 1865.)
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
OF ILLINOIS. (BORN 1809, DIED 1865.)
STEPHEN ARNOLD DOUGLAS,
OF ILLINOIS. (BORN 1813, DIED 1861.)
WILLIAM. H. SEWARD,
OF NEW YORK. (BORN 1801, DIED 1872.)
VI. — SECESSION.
JOHN PARKER HALE,
OF NEW HAMPSHIRE (BORN 1806, DIED 1873.)
ALFRED IVERSON,
OF GEORGIA. (BORN 1798, DIED 1874.)
BENJAMIN WADE,
OF OHIO, (BORN 1800, DIED 1878.)
JOHN JORDON CRITTENDEN,
OF KENTUCKY. (BORN 1787, DIED 1863.)
ROBERT TOOMBS,
OF GEORGIA. (BORN 1810—DIED 1885.)
SAMUEL SULLIVAN COX,
OF OHIO. (BORN, 1824-DIED, 1889.)
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
OF MISSISSIPPI. (BORN 1808, DIED 1889.)
