Ethos In Emerson's Letter Rhetorical Devices

Emerson uses ethos to present himself to the president. In the beginning of his letter he writes, “ The seat you fill places you in a relation of credit and nearness to every citizen.” And that, “ By right and natural position, every citizen is your friend.” Here he is telling the president that him and every other citizen is a friend of the president. This displays the rhetorical device ethos because he is showing his creditability for the president to read his letter. He wants the president to know that he wants to be taken seriously and see changes from the government. He shows hid creditability by writing to the president with a big degree of respect to him and how he expects the same in return.
Boudinot uses ethos to share with the people that he is writing on their behalf. In the opening sentence he says he has been waiting for the chance to publish one of his many papers. He is implying he is a skilled and well-practiced writer. However he does not to a great job of showing he is someone of character and we can trust what he says. Emerson proved his creditability in his letter better than Boudinot in his paper.

Emerson uses pathos very wisely in the letter to get sympathy from the president. He says that American people have shown

He says, “out of eighteen thousand souls composing the nation, fifteen thousand six hundred and sixty-eight have protested against the so call Treaty.” Although Emerson knows he is speaking to the president who has a good knowledge of these things, he still informs him that ten years ago the old counsellors would not have been able to follow through with this removal. The reason being the rest of the country would have opposed to it and neglect it. Emerson is still writing logically and with reason by also stating that the government should not be doing this. He says it goes against the law of America and how he stands up their