An Oration Delivered July 4th, 1809, in the North Dutch Church, before the Washington Benevolent Society of the City of New-York …
Delivered just 33 years following the signing of the Declaration and 20 years after the Constitution went into effect, this speech celebrates the wisdom of the founders, particularly George Washington in whose name this society was founded. 1809 was not far removed from the Revolutionary War era, with founding fathers filling many federal government positions, including James Madison serving as President. The Washington Benevolent Society, before which this address was delivered, was one of several organizations established by the Federalist Party to organize political and election support. The orator delivering this speech was the secretary of the Society, Gulian Crommelin Verplanck, who was part of prominent New York families that counted college presidents, a U.S. Senator, a member of Congress, and a state assembly speaker among his relations.
Gulian C. Verplanck (1786-1870).
An Oration Delivered July 4th, 1809, in the North Dutch Church, Before the Washington Benevolent Society of the City of New-York …New-York: Printed for E. Sargeant, by D. & G. Bruce, 1809.
Lehigh University Catalog Record:https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/1169982
A version of this text has been digitized and is available through Hathitrust