Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-10-01
Mr.. WEBsTER,s SPEFCH

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Mr.. WEBSTER'S SPEECH.
! The first triennial celebration of the
National Agricultural Society of England
was held at Oxford, on the 18th of July
Earl Spencer presided. At the dinner near.
ly 5000 persons sat down TO table, under
an immense awning. Many good toasts
and speeches were elected, from among
which we select the remarks of Mr.. Web.
ster.
Bal. American.
The Chairman. Earl Spencer) 10 giving
the next toast, said they had aIreldy drunk
the health of a foreign minister who was
present, but they had the honor and advant-
age of having among them other foreigners
not employed in any public capacity, who
had come among them for the purpose OF
seeing meeting of English farmers, such
as he believed never had been witnessed
before, but which he hoped might often be
seen again. Among these foreigners was
one gentleman of most distinguished
character from the United States of Amer
lea, (cheers,) that great country whose
people we were obliged legally to call for
eigners, but who are still our brethren in
blood. Loud cheers.
1t was most gratifying TO him that such
a man had been present at that meeting,
that he might know what the farmers of
England really were, and be able to re.
port TO his felow-citi7ens the manner in
which they were united. from every class,
in promoting their peaceful and most i'm.
portant objects. He gave, "The health of
Mr.. Webster. and other distinguished
strangers" The toast was received with
much applause.
Mr. WEBSTER said the notice which the
noble Earl at the head of the table had
been kind enough to take of him, and the
friendly sentiments which he had seen fit
to express toward the country to whii:eh,
he belonged, demanded hi :, .oiei,'i
boz. Dy saying how gratified he had been
in having ii in his power TO pass one day
among theproprietors, the cultivators, the
farmers of Old England-(c heers1- tbat
England Of which he had been reading
and conversing all his life, and now TOR
once had the pleasure of visitiug.-(Loud
cheers.)
He would say, in the next place-if he
could say-how much he had been pleased
and gratifed with the exhibition of one
product, or branch of product, of that
RgGGssIaigHs ffgd which Zen PersoihEsG s 81 lust
ed with some pursuit, of whatever descrip.
ton, assembled in such numbers, he coul6
but look on them with respect and regard
But ne confessed at once that he was rnore
than ordinarily moved on all such occasions
when he saw before him great assemhl
age of those whose interests whose hopes
whose objects and pursuits were connected
on either continent with cultivation of th'
Esol. Cloud cheers.
Whatever else might tend to enrich anC
beautify society, that which feeds anC
clothes comfortably the great mass of man
kind should always, he contended, be re
garded as the great foundation of nationa
interest. He need not say that the agricI al
/ ture of England was instructive TO all tht
world as a science it was here better un
derstood; as an art it was here bette
practiced !; as a great interest it was herr
as highly esteemed as in any other part o
the globe. (Cheers.)
The importance of agriculture to ma
ton was obvious TO every man; but It per
haps did not strike every mind SO sudden
", although certainly ii was equally true
that the annual product of English agricul
ture was a great concern TO the civilized
world. (Cbeers.) The civilized and com
mercial states were SO connected, their in
terests SO blended, that it was a matter @
notoriety, that the fear or the prospect Of
short crop in England deranged and agita
ted the business transactions and CONNER
cial regulations and speculations of tn
whole world.
1t was natural that this should be tn
case in those nations which looked to tn
occurrence of a short crop in England, a
an occasion which may enable them
J dispose proftably of their own surplu
! produce; but the fact went much farthe
!. for when there was such an occurrence
: English capital, the centre of commerci
! speculations for the whole world, whel
the price of commodities was settled ar
:, arranged, where the exchanges betwee
! nations were conducted and concluded, i
consequences were felt every where |
none knew better than the noble Earl WI
:. occurred the chair.
II Should there be frost in England
y DAYS later than usual, Lif there be an unse
= sonabIe drought, or ten cold wet days j
: stead of ten warm dry ones, when the Ia
: vest shall be Teaped, every exchanges
: Europe and America felt the consequent
= oft. He would not pursue these remark
Z loud cries Of .sgo on, 60 on. He rnu
: however, say that he entertained not I
i slightest doubt Of the great advantage
= the interests of agriculture which mi
!; !. result from the formation and operation
= this society.
2 Was il not obvious to the most comm
y observer that those who cultivated the $
= had not the same convene nciess opportr
lies, and facilities Of dafy intercourse a
comparison 0fopinions as the commerce
and manufacturing interests Cheer
Those who are associated in the pursu
n. Of commerce and manufactures natufa
Sc congregated together in cities they
lg immediate means Of frequent communi
d ton. Their sympathies, feelings andoF
lis ions were instantaneopsly circulated
o. electricity through the whole body.
a But how was It with the cnltivators
re | the soil Separated, spread over II
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