Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-02-01
miscellaneous.
address, Of Henry Stevens, Esq.

A4ltstrIInnrclts.
Address of Henry Stevens, Esq.
Attbc annual Fair Of the Orange Comfy
agricultural Society, holden ut Chelsea,
Sept. 81 1913.
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen of
Orange County Agricultural Society
On Saturday morning last, | received
letter from an officer of your Society," re-
questing me to address you on this occa-
sion. Those of YOU with whom | am per-
sonaly acquainted have no reason to expect
any thing from me more than plain, home
spun address,
The great object of this Society is, to
advance the agricultural, mechanical and
manufacturing interest of your County, your
State and your Country You meet for
mutual benefit, for consultation, examine
ton, and advice. Your association has no
regard to sect or party, You claim the
privilege of expressing your opinion upon
all matters connected with your several cal
lings, as farmers, mechanics and manuiac-
turers. You will therefore permit me, a
homespun farmer, to express to you my
views as tovarous matters Immediately con-
UGClCu WIFI inc UGCHdulCdI
and manufacturing interest of our State and
Country.
Vermont is termed an Agricultural State.
Our territory is limited and mountainous.
Only about one-hfth of the territory of Yer
mont is yet cleared of the forest Yet
claim that when we take into consideration
the number of acres Of improved land, its
appraised value. number of inhabitants en-
ployed in agriculture, amount of production,
we far surpass any other State in the Am
ercan Union. | refer you to the Census of
1910 and TO our annual Grand List. From
the Census we learn that we had of Horse
kind G2 ,402: Neat Cattle 3S4, 34l; Sheep
1,63l ,9Sl; Swine $500; pounds of
Wool shorn 1869 ,235. The agricultural
products of industry of Vermont, A. d.
1910, compared with the New England
States, is
Vermont, 1910, 155
Maine, I5,S56,210
New Hampshire, ll,377,752
Massachusetts, l6,065,62
Connecticut, ii ,37l ,716
Rhode Island, 2,I90, 800
might from the Census compare the ag-
ricultural products of industry of Vermont
with any of our sister States for the purpose
OF Establishing lIle luCI 1puu Il uOuDt'-
Tic brief time allowed viii not permit -
Vermont in point of agricultural products
of industry, is more than two millions OF
dollars in advance of the State of Maine,
more than six millions in advance Of the
State of New Hampshire or Connecticut,
one million eight hundred aud thirteen
thousand five hundred dollars in advance Of
the old Bay State, more than fifteen mil
lions of Hpllnrc N oIyappn Of II hpIp Island
These statistics show the industry and de-
termined perseverance Of the Green Noun
tain Boys. The agricultural production.
of industry of Vermont, by pursuing prop
er policy, might with ease be doubled in ten
years. Our young men must clear one mil
lion of acres of our forest lands and bring
it under cultivation In so doing, all mat
tiers considered, our products of industry
would be more than doubled 1t has long
since become a proverb that Vermont is The
back bone--the hip-the shoulder--thc
kidney aud pluck of New En- gland. Yer
mont has pursued policy materially differ
ing from that of any other State. So mucl
SO that it has become proverb that Liber
ty delights to dwell among her mountains
; The Star that never sets.
Since Vermont was admitted into the Fed
eral Union, her delegates in Congress have
been the fast and firm friends in favor of en-
couraging industry and promoting domestic
manufactures. As people, we have from
the time our fathers declared the New
Hampshire Grants free and Independent
State-l5th January, l777-pursued thi
policy. It was the pursuing Of this polio
that enabled our fathers to meet the eXpen
SEES Of the Revolutionary War-to redeem
tlp then IsglpG at and W.
the only State that ever did redeem thei
paper issues even at discount of forty dol
lars for one. Not single bill of purchas
of wooden blankets or wooden garments, GU
of the State for our brave soldiers durin
the Revolutionary war, has yet been discov
cred
- Our mothers manufactured cloth for gan
ments and blankets for their husbands an
sons, when at home or in the field of action
Our mothers would say to their husband
and sons, on their leaving for the army
My Dear, if any thing should happen tina
you do not return, you will direct that m
blanket be sent back"
Soon after the close of the Revolutionar
war, our country was flooded with goods {
the manufacture of foreign countries, whic
soon drained the country of most of the ST
lid coin. Paper currency-State and Go,
eminent Securities-became nearly wortl
less Tender laws and appraisement law
became the order of the day throughout tn
Union. The General Assembly of th
State, as early as 1896, passed law, sayin
that, for the encouragement Of domesti
manufactures, the owner of sheep should
credited on hs-lst two shillings for ever
pound of wool shorn, and one shilling pc
yard of linen or tow cloth manufactured
This policy soon caused the balance
trade to become in favor of the State, papC
issues redeemed, private debts paid an
the State Treasurer soon reported baanc
in the Treasury of Sl4 ,000-in silver an
gold. In addition to the debt incurred b
the Revolutionary war, our fathers, des
GUS of having this Commonwealth admitte
into the Union, and for the sake of peac,
paid the State of New York further SUI
of $4,000. might with proprety ash
who earned this money! Who paid OF