Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-11-06
ADDRESS
EDW'D COLSTON,
DsliUered n Martinsbarg On tAs spa 81 DC
foser, 1916, before fAe Berkeley County
Agrfenitarai Society"
GENTLEMEN

nual meeting oil our Berkeley County Ag-
lricuIinral Society, TO congratulate you on
the encouraging circumstances attending
our organ eaton. a iargs proportion ofour
most intelligent agricultural, proiess nal
and mechanical population, have prompt
1 " united themselves with as, in this Ell
fort to improve the condition OF our Couu-
~ and revive It's ianguishing agriculture.
Ia our community the lniluvnce Of such
an association on any subJe must neces-
sarlly be great, but when we seek, not
the excitement Of local or party prelude
ces, but the improvement OF our common
country, The promotion of our common
and individual but not selfish interests I;
when we desire to receive and eommunI.
perity and benefcial 10 mankind, we may
uphestaliugly challenge The aid Of The
patriot aud phianihfoplst and hope that
our influence will not only be Of great,
but of uamxed good.
II is an axiom, that all classes Of socie-
ty, are deeply interested IN The yrospe ri
" If agriculture; but as you descend
the scale ofenjoymentsi many community,
the poor are most benefited by whatev-
ef may render the necessaries If life ctea D
and abundant. Though not in classic Ian
guags can cordially say 81 am a man and
nothing which interests mankind IS for.
iegn to me-" therefore earnestly pray
Cor the success of every efioJtlo amelori.
rate the condition Of my fellow men and
perhaps no scheme OF benevolence put IN
10 operation by the active charity OF abe
age, ceuld be more dfiusive Of good, than
an extensive mproyem, nj 10 agriculture.
! There is constant tendency 10 society
TO press on the means Of subsistence, and
if these are not enlarged as population in.
creases, suffering and misery must be the
of the advantages ofireedom or education;
of temperance or even religion when they
are themselves the slaves at want: You
must first relieve the pressing demand OF
nature, and then whitley be disposed to bs-
( ton to reforms Of a less sensual character
| Rightly TO estimate the value of sgri.
culture 10 diffusng through society the
comforts of life, letus reflect, how grinding
would be that poverty, which, in our day,
would look So no higher luxury, ihan straw
changed once week for lodging; and
yet amongs: our ancestors but 300 years
ago even this could not always be. Com
manded by Knights and Gentlemen. Our
respectable farmers of the presen, day,
without exception, esteem clean beds and
carpeied floors, not only as comforts but
accessories :--luxures which then were
scarcely attainab!e by Mobiles and PIN.
ces. 1t is difficult to estimate the distance
in social comfort between the Englishman
OF the present day, and his ,Celuc ances-
tors woo preseptedthe!r painted, and a.
most naked bodies to the arms Of the first
civilized men who invaded Britain and
yet the philosophic mind, might perhaps
trace this mighty difference more to I'M
proved agriculture, than 10 any one cause.
Without agriculture there can be no com.
me roe, and without agriculture and com
merce, manufactures that other great
branch Of national prosperity, can never
permanently flourish. These are not an
.agouisucaI, but cooperating IN harmony,
are all essential: egrcu ture 10 produce,
commerce to d fuse, and manufactures TO
use the productions OF country; anal can
but view him with suspicion, who would
pursuade me that between these great IN
terests any real conflict can exist.
Bot gentlemen have been unwitlingIy
seduced INTO an euleglum upon agriculture
in general. Pleasing as tins subject may
be, it is my present object rather 10 CON
slider our own peculiar coudl'ion, wants
and interests. The county OF Berkeley,
containing about 200, 1000 acres, bounded
for forty miles by the Potomac rlver, run.
mig from N. West TO 5. East, hos
throughout that distance the Chesapeake
& Ono Canal, 10 convey her products 10
market, IN the most convenient manner,
and on the cheapest terms; whilst The
Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road, penetra.
ung her territory IN the middle and pas
sing through It's whole extent from East
to West, affords 10 every portion OF II,
facility Tor transportation, rarely en- Joy ed
by any part Of our extended country, so
distant from the sea coast as ourselves.
Blest Throughout! much The larger portion
of our country, with fertile Limestone
soil, adm rably adapted to the growth Of
gram; large streams furnishing TO every
part OF It abundant water power, tempe
rate climate, and salubfous atmosphere,
every thing which a bountiiuI aud gia-
cous Providence can bestow, seems here
combined, to make US prosperous and
happy people. II we are not so II Is an
evidence that we have somewhere failed
in duty. ... .-.....-....
The western part of our County, con-
tanning perhaps 80 thousand acres, is
mountainous, Astounding with IRON ore OF
the best quality, and with strong lndica
tons Of coal remains uninhabited and vir-
tuaIly unexplored as TO It's resources. |
have ridden there for ten miles, without
seeing a human habnatlon, aud although
from it's abundant heritage, Il might sus'
tain Tor its owners 10000 head Of sheep,
not single one is to be found grazing on
its surface. In this region may be- found
also, much land fiji for cultivation, with
fine meadows and abundant water yet all
this is worthless TO our community, and a