Speeches of the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi; delivered during the summer of 1858.

A compact but vivid collection of public addresses delivered during the summer of 1858, this volume brings together a Southern statesman’s speeches from a bustling New England coast to the halls of his own state legislature. In venues ranging from a Fourth‑of‑July celebration at sea to bustling meetings in Portland, Boston, and New York, the orator tackles the pressing questions of his day—territorial claims, the balance of federal and state power, and the future of the Union.

Interwoven with these summer remarks are excerpts from earlier Senate debates in 1850, revealing a consistent thread of concern for constitutional equality and the rights of the Southern states. The language is forceful yet measured, invoking both patriotic reverence for the Union and a fierce defense of local autonomy. Listeners will hear a snapshot of the political climate that preceded the nation’s most turbulent chapter, framed by eloquence and the earnest desire to be heard.