The Columbian Orator

by Bingham, Caleb; Blight, David W.

• ISBN13: 9780814713235
• ISBN10: 0814713238
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-02-01
• Publisher: New York Univ Pr

Summary

TheColumbian Oratorwas of profound importance to the shaping of the African American canon, throughThe Narrative of Frederick Douglass. David Blight has done historians and literary critics a profound service by so expertly editing this germinal text. A must read for scholars of American and African American studies.--Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Harvard University"Thousands of young readers in 19th century America learned about eloquence and liberty from the stirring speeches, plays, and poems inThe Columbian Orator. When one reads it today--even better, reads it aloud- -its eloquence speaks to us all."--Sydney Nathans, Duke University"Frederick Douglass validated his manhood by giving Edward Covey, his surrogate slave master, a good whipping. What inspired his fists was not only manly rage, but liberating knowledge--knowledge gained in part from his reading ofThe Columbian Orator. I read it now and the words still inspire and inflame."--Ossie DavisFirst published in 1797,The Columbian Oratorhelped shape the American mind for the next half century, going through some 23 editions and totaling 200,000 copies in sales. The book was read by virtually every American schoolboy in the first half of the 19th century. As a slave youth, Frederick Douglass owned just one book, and read it frequently, referring to it as a "gem" and his "rich treasure."The Columbian Oratorpresents 84 selections, most of which are notable examples of oratory on such subjects as nationalism, religious faith, individual liberty, freedom, and slavery, including pieces by Washington, Franklin, Milton, Socrates, and Cicero, as well as heroic poetry and dramatic dialogues. Augmenting these is an essay on effective public speaking which influenced Abraham Lincoln as a young politician. As America experiences a resurgence of interest in the art of debating and oratory,The Columbian Orator--whether as historical artifact or contemporary guidebook--is one of those rare books to be valued for what it meant in its own time, and for how its ideas have endured. Above all, this book is a remarkable compilation of Enlightenment era thought and language that has stood the test of time.

Table of Contents

Editor's Acknowledgments
Editor's Introduction
Identification of Authors
Preface	p. 3
Introduction: General Instructions for Speaking	p. 5
Oration on Eloquence	p. 27
Speech in Congress, 1789	p. 30
Speech of a Roman General	p. 32
Exhortation on Temperance in Pleasure	p. 33
Judah's Plea for Benjamin, before Joseph	p. 35
Plea in Behalf of Thomas Muir	p. 37
On the starry Heavens	p. 38
Paper, a Poem	p. 40
Speech before the Roman Senate	p. 41
Dialogue between Duellist, Savage, and Mercury	p. 43
Speech of an Indian Chief	p. 46
On the Creation of the World	p. 47
Lines spoken by a little Boy	p. 49
Speech in the British Parliament, 1766	p. 50
Scene from the Farce of Lethe	p. 52
Eulogy on Dr. Franklin	p. 55
Epilogue to Addison's Cato	p. 59
Self-Conceit, an Address by a small Boy	p. 60
Dialogue between Howard and Lester	p. 62
Christ's Crucifixion	p. 63
The Wonders of Nature	p. 66
Dialogue on Physiognomy	p. 68
Oration at the Festival of Gratitude	p. 70
Address to the President of the United States	p. 73
President's Answer	p. 74
The oppressive Landlord, a Dialogue	p. 76
Speech in the British parliament, 1770	p. 82
On the Day of Judgment	p. 84
Christ triumphant over the apostate Angels	p. 86
Slaves in Barbary, a Drama in two Acts	p. 88
Speech in the British Parliament, 1770	p. 104
Plea before a Roman Court	p. 107
Dialogue on Cowardice and Knavery	p. 110
Speech in the British Parliament	p. 114
Extract from an Oration against Catiline	p. 115
Description of the first American Congress	p. 116
Speech of a French General to his Army	p. 118
Reflections over the Grave of a young Man	p. 120
Scene from the Drama of "Moses in the Bulrushes"	p. 120
Speech of a Roman General	p. 125
Speech in the British Parliament, 1784	p. 127
Address to the People of the United States	p. 129
Dialogue on the Choice of Business for Life	p. 132
Speech of a French General	p. 135
Speech in the British Parliament, 1777	p. 137
Dialogue between a School-master and School Committee	p. 138
Speech in the British Parliament, 1770	p. 145
On the general Judgment Day	p. 147
On the Works of Creation and Providence	p. 150
Speech in the British Parliament, 1778	p. 151
The Conjurer, a Dialogue	p. 153
Speech in the British Parliament, 1775	p. 161
Speech of the Caledonian General	p. 162
Modern Education, a Dialogue	p. 165
On the Existence of God, a Sermon	p. 170
The Dignity of Human Nature	p. 177
Internal Conference	p. 178
Speech in the British Parliament, 1777	p. 187
On the Day of Judgment	p. 189
The dissipated Oxford Student	p. 191
Speech in Congress, on the British Treaty	p. 201
Oration on Independence, July 4, 1796	p. 204
General Description of America, a Poem	p. 207
Dialogue between a Master and Slave	p. 209
Speech in the Irish Parliament	p. 212
Scene from the Tragedy of Tamerlane	p. 216
Speech in the British Parliament	p. 220
The Last Day	p. 222
Dialogue on Loquacity	p. 225
American Sages	p. 228
Speech in the British Parliament, 1777	p. 229
Scene from the Tragedy of Cato	p. 232
Oration delivered at Boston, July 4, 1794	p. 234
Dialogue between a White Man and an Indian	p. 235
Oration, pronounced at Boston, July 4, 1796	p. 238
Dialogue between Edward and Harry	p. 240
David and Goliath	p. 242
Oration on the Powers of Eloquence	p. 246
Dialogue on Civilization	p. 252
Oration on the Manumission of Slaves	p. 256
A Forensic Dispute	p. 257
Oration delivered at Boston, March 5th, 1780	p. 262
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