Logos In Benjamin Franklin's Speech At The Convention

Throughout Benjamin Franklin’s “Speech at the Convention,” Franklin conspicuously utilizes logos to further his agenda by appealing to the people present at the Philadelphia Convention/Constitutional Convention; with the purpose of persuading and convincing his compatriots to ratify the newly made constitution. One may witness Franklin’s use of logos when he states in paragraph two “In these Sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its Faults, if they are such; because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well administered; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of Years, and can only end in Despotism

Franklin again uses logos later in his speech, stating in paragraph 4 “If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the Objections he has had to it, and use his Influence to gain Partisan in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary Effects and great Advantages resulting naturally in our favour among foreign Nations, as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent Unanimity.” Here Franklin again makes use of syntax, specifically employing the use of long sentences, to slow down the pace of the speech and put emphasis on the logos found in the paragraph. Diction within this sentence such as “gain,” “support,” “prevent,” “recieved,” “lose,” and “advantages” serve the purpose of emphasizing how much of a lost opportunity it is for the country, if the people in the audience do not sign the constitution, and how much more the newly born country stands to gain from the new constitution then lose, despite its shortcomings; which Franklin himself admits to (forming