The southern literary messenger, Vol. II., No. 7, June, 1836

A lively snapshot of early‑American thought, this 1836 volume gathers essays, poetry, letters and sketches that once graced the pages of a Southern literary journal. The pieces range from serious political discourse to light‑hearted verse, reflecting the eclectic interests of its original readership and the vibrant cultural climate of the era.

Among the most striking contributions is a reasoned defense of the “right of instruction,” a debate over whether state legislatures could command their United States senators—a discussion that reveals the constitutional anxieties of the young republic. Interspersed are charming poems, such as “The Laughing Girl,” and vivid sketches by a northern writer known as Boz, alongside thoughtful memorials of Benjamin Franklin’s manuscripts. Together, the selections offer listeners a richly textured glimpse of 1830s intellectual life, where literary art and civic argument shared the same modest pages.