Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-11-23
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.

thank you, gentlemer, for the honor Won
have conferred on me. You NAV feel assured
that my best endeayors shall be used to dis
charge faithfully and impartlally the duties of
the othce 10 which you have appointed me-
The objects for which we have associated
are of the utmost consequence they are de-
tailed ia the articles of our association cODy
OF which each member has. They demand our
pest reflections 10 comprehend them Alright,
ana our utmost zeal aud energy to carry ihem
INTO effect. w unjust not enter upon The work
with lnkewarmness and indifference Our
best eXertons ought to be used, and we NAV
then with wel-fOunded hope eXpect success
ShOnld we he so fortunate as to succeed in re-
snscitatins the dropping spirit of agriculture,
the blessings OF our pOsterity will rest upon us
We must not, however, at the outset suffer
ourselves tn be under any deuson Things
should be seen AS they are. 1t is the business
aud always the practice Of a good physician
TO enquire most assiduousIy into tie disease
before he attempts to apply the remedy, We
shalt do nothing OF any value unless we probe
the wound to the bottom, and use the actual
cautery. if necessary.
IL is fact, melancholy indeed hut neverthe-
less undenIable. that the agriculture of tile
lower part of Virginia is in a mast deplorable
state aud no where is IL probably worse than
with us.
Our ancestors found this country one i'm
meuse forest with them it was an obect of
primary Importance TO cut down and clear up
~ appeared to them that there could be no
danger that this could be carried too far TIE
land which they opened was exhausted by tie
hardest cropping when il was no longer ca
inbie OF producing they turned il out aud
cleared more. This course peTseverPd in must
necessarily terminate in the utter impoveTish-
ment OF the soil. Add 20 this, that their agri
| cultural operations were carried on hy tie
| labor OF slaves, directed BY the most incompe
| tent persons. generally speaking, under the
! name Of OyeTssefs. Thus the proprietor oil
| the land usually devoted themselves TO theit
| amusemeDts, until habits Of Incidence and ex.
| traVagance, utterly unfriendly to improve
ment, were too firmly riYetted on them easil,
4 TO be shaken of
| Ii has ever been found that the energies o
/ man rise ~ proportion 20 the difficulties of hi
| situation. The truth of this position may b,
| eXemplihed by comparison sf the Eastern
aud Western inhabitants of this state.
| When emigration commenced TO the West
| the man who settled beyond tie mountains
found his sole hope of III intenance for himsel
! and his family 10 rest on extracting il from
haTd, rocky, and often barren soil. He fonn,
| u necessary TO exert every nerve aud try ever
cxpedieuu; lie tOiledlat first without ceasin
| ana boarded with the most rigid economy, unit
| gradually his exertioDs we're crowned wit
| success Ills comforts increased industry an
| eXeIiiOn grewinto habits aud what at first h
was compelled 10 as the means of existence
ne voluntarily practised the sure road {
! wealth.
Not so with the old nhabitant near The wa
| ters of the Chesapeak. Very little exeTtioT
with the proceeds Of his sports, procured mi,
aud his family sufficient support. The rrouu
was easily cultivated; the water almost spor
'aneously furnished tie most iuxurious article
% wing and his Time was spent ~ amuse