Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1844-02-10
M. President md Gentlemen Of he

AgricultatiSts and Mechanics Association
On the anniversary Of a day rendered i'm.
mortal by the heroic achievements of our coun-
trymcn in war, we have convened Tor the pur-
pose Of det1berating on the means MOST expe.
dent 10 advance the arts Of pace. We can.
not, indeed, more appropriately eVinee our
gratitude for the lion-hearted valor wbich has
emblazoned that day in our annals, than by q
liberal and pa riotie interchange Of thoughts
aud opinions on the topics involving the prr.
petuity Of those blessings winch that sailor so
nobly contributed TO secure to MS. In vain
have our liberties been defended againsl for
elgn aggression, if we fail IN a faithful dis.
charge Of the various and important duties
upon which our individual and nafiGuaihappi.
ness nan equally depend. In vain have our
armies been proclaimed victorious to the world
in A great and unequal conflict, # ne 'ssecure
mid trophies not our own" shall content our.
selves with chanting pRans to the martial he.
rDism of our gallant defenders, and cease TO
entertain an adequate appreciation Of those
civil privileges for the preservation of which
cnrre6ce Is was displayed. Let, then, a re.
more and more alive 5rtftea past render us
the future, and let the period Of prof0unda Of
pGse from tie ]turf1oils and disasters of war,
be eyer regarded as the season for the FeCu.
p~Gratiye energies of a nation to regain their
wonted vigof, and Titus enable it at all times
and under all circumstance to sustain the
shock of a future conflict. In time Of peace a
successful cultivation of the arts Of peace,
viii place US in the most formidable position
TO encounter the caiamities attendant upon
var and while wd d~eyei9pe the physical re.
sources Of the country, we shall not fail to
augment the weight Of our individual and ma,
tianal character in the scale Of moral excel.
lences
IN yielding a ready compliance with your
catering invitation to become YOU organ on
the present occasion, | have not been actuated
by any ~presutnptuous confidence or vain ex-
pectation OF being able to enlighten your minds
upon the various subjects which at present
engage your attention. It i not from one!whose
professional avocations allow but a limited
time for the study of agricultural andmechan-
zeal pursuits. that a knowledge Of sdch pur-
suits can be impaired to those who have made
them a subject of daily aud hourly meditation.
It is not 10 the Bench and the Bar that The
planter, farmer and mechanic are inclined to
look for instruction In the art of Guitirating
the soil; Of rearing stock, or for suggestions of
what improvements might be made in the
plough, the engine Of sugar mill, the rags Of
a cotton gin, or the complicated machinery of
a spinning jenny. ] come, then, for the pur-
pose. of reciprocatIng the signal manifestation
Of your kindness in assigning to me the inter-
estlng duty which | am now eBdeayoring to
discharge. / come for the purpose Of ming
ling my voice with yours in advocacy Of a
wide aud more general enquiry into subjects
so intimately connected WIZ tie permanent
prosperity Of our Common country ;-subjects
whichiu our immediate section of the Union,
have in my humble judgement, failed 10 at
tract that serious consideration which their
vital Importance most imperiously demands.
come, in a word. to bear my Bafti however
small and insignificant, with that mighty and
unconquerable agency, which is rapidly subju-
gatipg mankind to the dominion ofkn0Wledge;
AID to hail with high hopes aud ardent aspir-
ations, The brilliant progress oil improvement
on the scar OF time"
Yon may well imagine then, gentlemens
that / feel it 70 be both a pleasure and priUi-
Iege to be permitted to mittgIa with you on
this interesting occasion. / say a priUiLege-
for had l been originally a rI3ember of your
peaceful fraternity, | am not sure that should
have unconditionally assented 10 the introduce
lion t!iLO THAT fraternity vi d CERTAIN Dip5uf WIN
whom | am in daily intercourse, called a lat0-
yer. In times of protoundest rePose, if the
common opinion be correct, his approach is
generally regarded as a signal for the teclar-
atirn Of war; his presence is but too apt 10
cause the quiet and pacific relations Of socie-
ty 10 assume a belligeran ~ aspect; and it would
neither be strange nor unnatural # his presence
should create among you somewhat Of those
horrible apprehensinns experienced by the Ma
riof oia-the anxious deyotees OF he Persian
Theology, lest in the Iong and mighty conflict
of Ormusd aud Abrin ,u-the spirits OF bar
mony and of discord the latter might eventually
triumph, and The peaceful influence Of the for
mer be felt no more. May ] hope, loweyers
that the present position of hiU who has the
honor 10 address you will exempt him from
the suspicious to which his former aVoeattons
might Justly have subjected him. May he
ask to be admitted into your happy fellowship,
under the promise that he will assist in guar
ding with vigilance the egg Of Ormused against
the malicious assaults OF the opposing demon,
and thus prolong the harmony Of your deliber-
ations. He comes, not with the seord, bul
with the scales Of 1sTREA, and asks to be
| permitted to mingle with the throng Of happy
~yotaries who have assembled to present then
oblations attiIc affairs of CERES aud MINERVA
Permit me now, gentlemen, to ofef ynu my
sincere congratulations on the success which
7 has already attended your ezertions in th'