Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-10-14
SPEECH OF J. s. SKINNER.


and the company seated at the tables consisted OF
upwards Of FIVE hundred persons, large portion of
whom were ladies--the beauty, intelligence, and
fashion Of Boston and its vicinity. Among the in
vited guests was the veteran aborer in the cause,
JOHN 5. SKINNER, Esq, who made capital speech,
report of which will be found below, in response
to toast which was thus introduced by the Presi-
dent Of the Festival:
am happy to state that we have present with JoHS s.
SKINNER, Esq, of Phladelpha, the Editor OF the first Ag
cultural paper published in the United States;
Gently of the Farmers Library and other kindred works. and
Of the Plough, Loom, and Anvil All these have been
conducted with zeal aud intelligence highly honorable the
author and have received the appreciation Of the most eminent
of our country. Propose sentiment
JoHs S. SKINNER, Esq.-The uniform friend Of agrcul-
and rural economy the annals of country attest the
value OF his abos he lack the sunshine popular
patronage, and may his last days be his best days.
Mr.. SKINNER responded as follows:
Mr.. President have been often and sorely disap
pointed former occasions like this that determined make
an effort now, hit but, if had known that
should hit rather he hit by incident conoundng
this better for have remained at home, laor
ing at sThe Plough the Loom, and the Anvil" to which
you have kindly referred To be brought into such pro-
minence before such company of my might not be
perplexng but s only look at this brilliant assembly Of
ladies Whois there that might feel embarrassed And
yet SIR situated am as the man says in the play,
what e but to stand up and face the music" !" And,
besides something in the way of explanation brief shall
be- may be well enough for your Justification and for
that of my too partial friends your associates in bringing such
humble laborer in the conspicuousy befGe
audience SO distinguished.
few words biographical Of that first journal devoted to
agriculture may be necessary for Of these gentlemen
th;x
for the dies-why sir, every body knows that time itself
pile up many years their heads until all
Of time" and all other things drowned in the joys and
sponsbiies OF certain epoch TO with all
present, with whom it has not already. .
Yes, sir just about thirty years ago that he who has
been thus honored with your notice brought into existence the
old American Farmer which, contrary to the laws
Of physiology, grows stronger as II grows older.
Enjoying at that time and responsible trusts Of
which ambitious and deserving might well be
proud, they derived without solicitation my pa
the personal confidence and esteem of such Presidents
Mr. Madison and Mr. Monroe, yet those trusts left
opportunity for intellectual employment not TO be thrown
away question was, How little leisure they presented
could be occupied most useful 10 the country
and most congena TO my predectons and the thought
occurred again aud again. how is il that have newspapers
commerciaI and religious, and teraywe have law jour
mails and medical ournasand party journals n abundance
which, if believe both sdes would persuade ha, all
countrymen knayes fools, something worse if
any thing be, and yet have not organ
enlghen the course and vndicate the Of dgrc
t by which all other classes live and move and have their
being
Thus shall longer be- thought the humble individual
who has been here highly honoredone voice at shall
be raised for the benefit and the claims Of the cuvators Of
the soil though that be but ts; small voice in the
wilderness" The few friends with whom consulted il is
true doubted the Of the enterprise. The sub
iect was too dy-its dull round Of labors like horse
cider- neither possessed, could they be invested
they said, with any charms for the public. Well give
it coming into the world, the best chance that good
name could DO, or tiust ladies' there something Gin
name though for good and promising considerations
last prevailed TO change the they have
decided in this give the projected organ Of the plough
very broad catholic and comprehensive namet called
the AnERcAs Farmer, and thus made to cast its title
and It's regards the hoe confry-and IL further
more bapised in the Of "Agrculuye, Hotichurs"
(mnd you Mr.. President horticulture thirty years ago
s'Ineina Improvements, and Rural and Domestic Econo
my. Now thinks |, net spread thus widely must catch
some fish, "any how you can fix it,"
When the printer sent the first number looked at il
with something Of the solcitude and il may be feeling
akin the pride that young mother feels, when, with
tons various and all unspeakab she looks her first born
But sir, after regarding for time with hope not
mingled with doubt and anxiety in recollection OF the on
nous prognosics Of my friends, said to myself "wel,
upon the world ysu shall be cast and however may be
disposed receive and you you shall perish for
want Of susenance until you have drawn dry least"
While single shot remains in the locker will keep up
the FIRE defence Of the right and the honor Of the plough
True is there hut few shots there the pecunary
my the low Of his ammunition But 10, s, just
was going fling my poor inexperienced baning abroad to
seek fortune my horror found to bear date the
first Of Api-AH fools day. In utter dismay called to
the dewitt only printers devil, lades"Here take
il back TO your boss and tell him he must alter the date
make il the sccondmake any day Of the month bot the
first ddy of april My friends, TO whom mean to send
will cast il from them without examination saluaon,
mercy in the belief that skinner to make April
fool Of US" WE'LL sr il quickly back to on the
same day with forged date, for bore date, you
will see, the I'd Of April 1919 But here again, sir,
another perpexi,y not much less embarrassing than the FIRST
for the second Of April horribk dcu) happened 10 be
Friday; yes, sir, hmgman's day, What is 10 be done
said for, sir, you may with argument oppose
folly Of counenance but who hope for victory in
contest with superstition? Why, sir, have known good
housewives in the countryand let tell you that your
country housewives Of the worst: speak from
some personal observation In respect TO Maryland Virginia.
and the Caronas and along the seeoad to and along the
banks Of the Mississippi-yes, sir have known house,
wives otherwise sagacous and sensible persons utterly
refuse to put their cloth into the loom or their quilt in the
frame on Friday though every thing should be ready and
waiting to 90 ahead and as for putting their poultry on the
uoody and important work Of incubation hangman dny
hv Mr. President, would be accounted nothina short of
Gat buralary" TO think Of such a thing.
Well SIR after much and anxious cogitation-with the
pressman standing ready and the printer impsticntI told
them let the cur go, with my poor blessing its head
in the persuasion that, with careless and cruel world
might escape the oycr-anxous scrutiny Of the author Of its be-
ing and fortunately il did for ladies', can assure you
for your aid and comfort" should any similar event happen
nearer home the dear little thing apace and pospered