The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-11 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 11, 1865.

A grand affair took place last night in honour
of the celebration of the first anniversary of the
West Herts Agricultural Society. A brilliant
assembly appeared to do honour to the occasion,
and several interesting speeches were.made. Mr.
J. Lora, in proposing "The House of Lords," men-
tioned the Earl of CLARENDON in terms of well-
merited eulogy, and took occasion to observe that
the " House of Lords was as necessary to the well-
being and welfare of the country as that every loco-
motive should have its safety-valve for the security
of the traveller." There is great truth in this
remark, for, however the advocates of levelling

doctrines may sneer, there is a great protec-
tion in the representation of all interests, and
the country is not likely to be readily disturbed
in its institutions, nor injured in its prospects,
by sudden and startling changes, when some
of those who make the laws are beyond the influ-
ence of the sordid motives and prejudiced views that
very often actuate those who are struggling for
existence, and have not so much time for reflecticn.
The Earl of CLARENDON is one of those public men
who are independent of party and politics, for they
command the respect of all by their personal quali-
ties and individual characteristics. The noble lord
delivered a very interesting address, which bore re-

ferenee to many points of importance at present.
The noble earl commenced by making allusion to the
House of Lords, to which he had the honour to be-
long, and he remarked that the members of that
august assembly were recruited from time to time
by men of immense intellect, and whose industry
and great public services have entitled them to the
rewards of their Sovereign, and that it was in many
respects deserving of regard and esteem by the
country at large.
Lord CLARENDON made some observations upon
the position of the Government with respect to the
great cattle-plague now raging, and with justice
remarked that they were in a very awkward state,
for the wildest theories were propounded, and on
one side they were blamed for apathy, and on the
other for over haste to interpose. Very little was-
known concerning this malady, and the authori-
ties have therefore been compelled to grope in
the dark for the proper remedies and the necessary
modes of dealing with the disease. Stringent orders
were given respecting the importation of cattle, and
whole cargoes were detained if but one was infected.
Besides this, Orders in Council were issued, as cir-
cumstances seemed to require them, and more espe-
cially two lesser orders subsequently given are of
importance, one prohibiting the bringing to London
of animals except for immediate slaughter, and the
other empowering the local authorities to prevent
animals being brought to fairs and markets. These
efforfs cannot but be productive of great benefit, if
the effects are not immediately apparent.

The noble Earl spoke very forcibly
as to the
different measures which a despotic government
would have adopted, but which would not have
been in accordance with the feelings of the people of
England. A Royal Commission is at work to in-
quire into the particulars of this formidable malady,
and this is in every respect a wise step to take ;
and, on the whole, it must be admitted that, in
explaining the plans of the Government the noble
lord made out a very good case for them, and
showed that they had lost no time and neglected no
opportunity considring the scant information
that was in their possession on the sub-
' He said that his object in thus dwell-

ject.

ing at length upon what had been done
at head-quarters was to show how necessary it was
for people to co-operate with the Government and
meet them half way, or else the Orders in
Council and other attempts would be rendered
valueless and insignificant. In too many
cases selfishness and unwillingness have frus-
trated the wise efforts of the authorities, and
such conduct cannot be too greatly censured. One
instance was given in this spirit, which speaks
volumes as to the difficulties which impede the
road to improvement. The other day an order was
given prohibiting the holding of a fair, and in con-
sequence the town was covered with placards s'cat-
ing that the arrivals had been sent to different fa isms,
and thus the precautions for public safety were en-
tirely nullified. This conduct, which is truly stig-
matised as " selfish ingenuity," has done a great
deal of damage, and the community in general
cannot be too careful not to contravene, directly or
indirectly, the orders issued in such an emergency
as the present. Nothing can possibly excuse the
course pursued by those who thus trade upon the
dangers and difficulties of their fellow-men, and
spread disease about in a wholesale fashion. It must
be very disheartening to those who are striving to
do their utmost to mitigate the evils to find their
efforts circumvented in such an unscrupulous man-
ner. It is to be hoped that the earnest exhortation
of Lord CLARENDON will have due effect upon those
weak and indifferent individuals who do great harm
by their proneness to assist unprincipled persons,
and by their over slighting of due precautions. The
noble earl's speech was as appropriate as it could
possibly have been at this juncture, and he has done
his utmost to diffuse useful knowledge and impart
sound advice. As he stated, in conclusion, the mag-
nitude of the danger was his reason for insisting so
much upon co-operation with the measures of the
Government, and only by this means can we hope
for any lasting success or speedy deliverance.

Sir E. B. LrrToN made a short speech, which was
very well received, and in the course of his remarks
dilated upon the advantages of agricultural pursuits
in affording a neutral ground upon which rivals in
politics might meet. Indeed he said his flattering
reception made him almost fancy that " instead of
being a knight of the shire, I was one of those war-
like knights in the old days of chivalry, who, during
the suspension of arms, found the warmest welcome
among the heroes of the hostile camp." The right
hon. baronet dwelt upon the evils-of " indiscriminate
slaughter" in the cases of diseased cattle, now un-
happily so prevalent. Such a course will add famine
to pestilence, and cannot possibly produce remedial
effects. In pursuance of this topic he adduced a
very appropriate remark of Lord NORTH'S in the
American war, " I am sure I don't know if all
generals frighten the enemy, but I do know that
they frighten me." Now this applies to the present
crisis, the enemy is the cattle disease, and the gene-
rals are the veterinary surgeons. In the history of
the world, said the right hon. baronet, no one could
say that an epidemic has attacked man or beast
which has carried off all who are affected
by it. Well may Sir E. B. LYTTON affirm
that those who declare that there is no
remedy but slaughter argue against the universal
experience of history and against the laws of
nature. Altogether this meeting in Hertford-
shire was one of the most successful of the
many agricultural gatherings that have recently
taken place, and the chief topic of interest that
now engages public attention in such respects was
treated with becoming consideration, and all who
attended the assembly must have gone away con-
vinced that care and caution were requisite auxili-
aries with which to confront the great calamity now
threatening.

The State Convention of South Carolina appears
to have resolved upon adopting a very vigorous line
of conduct. The line which the members of the
Convention might decide upon adopting was a
critical matter. South Carolina is unmistakeably a
Southern State—Southern in its feelings and its
sentiments, and foremost in the stirring and heroic
history of the war. The siege of Charleston will
rank in history with some of the most thrilling nar-
ratives of endurance and fortitude. Though the
flag that was so often shot away from Fort Sumter,
to be as often replaced by the untiring spirits
that held the fort, was at length hauled mourn-
fully down, it was only when the final
collapse of the Confederacy rendered further resist-
ance useless. SHERMAN'S memorable march south-
wards was the signal of the close of the war, and
not until the close was unmistakeably at hand did
South Carolina abandon every effort. It is, therefore,
from no lukewarmness in the national cause that
she has frankly arraigned herself on the side of order
and reconstruction. It was an important question
which course she would pursue, as her example would
doubtless influence many who still clung to the dream
of independence. The Convention have come manfully
forward in this emergency, and have shown a degree
of sound judgment and moderation, which do not
always exist simultaneously with more warlike and
daring qualities. The Convention repeated the Se-
cession ordinance, abolished slavery, gave the elec-
tion of Governor to the people, directed a commis-
sion to submit a code to the Legislature for the
protection of the negroes, and endorsed the admini-
stration. The members did not shrink from an
explanation of their conduct, but plainly declared
that the people had been defeated both by the
sword and by political majorities, so that it was
hopeless to continue the contest, and they therefore
passed a resolution declaring the Union to be the
paramount consideration. The late war, they said,
arose from a belief in the Constitutional right of
Secession, and was, therefore, not strictly a rebel-
lion, so that the Convention suggested to the
PRESIDENT that he should not enforce the
penalties due to a rebellion. Further, the
Convention pleaded earnestly on behalf of JEFFER-
SON DAVIS, ALEXANDER STEPHENS, Governor
MAGRATH, and others, and their willing acceptance
of President JOHNSON'S policy gives them a right to
enforce the claims of mercy. The PRESIDENT is
supposed to be personally leaning to the side of
clemency ; and, if so, he must be much gratified at
the course adopted by the South Carolina Conven-
tion, which has materially strengthened the hands
of Government, and has given him an excuse for
extending his pardons. Further, the fact of South
Carolina having availed herself so promptly of the
opportunity to restore order serves as a conclusive
answer to those bitter partisans of an extreme
policy who urge that if favour were shown to the
South it would be turned against the Union. The
Alabama Convention has also repealed slavery and
recognised the Federal Government, so that the
Washington authorities have gained two important
points. The wise and moderate men of all parties
must, long before this, have become con-
vinced that Mr. JOHNSON is consulting
the real interests of the country, and is
adopting the surest method of re-establishing the
extremeUnionb Republicanyhisconciliatory policy. The Radicals and
party are naturally furious at
what they consider the] PRESIDENT'S desertion of
their cause. He whom they made their leader and
representative, " the MOSES of the coloured race,"
they now consider has entered the ranks of their
enemies. There is a strong opposition organising