The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-11-10
Remarks Of Gen. q. ii. Peaslee,
Al The Slate Agricultural Far, at Manchester
A. H. October 9th

~. H., October 9Th
General Peaslee, after being loudly and repeat
eddy called for by the audience, was introduced
by the president, and spoke as follows:
am sincerely obliged to you, Mr.. President,
and to you, feIlow-citzens, for this kindness
you have shown me. came here TO hear, and
see, and learn, and have been grati6ed in all
| came here for the purpose of participating with
you, in the common festivities of the day, and
in that, | have not been disappointed. You
cannot expect me, in an assembly like this, CON-
posed of men, who unite practical experience in
agriculture, with intelligent observation, to say
anything which can add to your store of prac
teal information. But as a citizen of New
Hampshire, and one who aspires to cherish and
advance her interests, can say, that | am ex
ceedingly rel iced and gratifed at what | have
seen at this fair. ! am grati6ed and rejoced
that these agricultural conventions are being held
in our State, and that they are receiving the
counienance and support of the best and most
intelligent men in our community. Formerly
with US, the vast interests of agriculture, have
unfortunately received too little attention. Our
community has been engrossed so much with
objects of commercial and political interests
with interest connected with our manufactures
and our raroads-with interests connected with
ment-that we seem TO have had but little time
to turn our attention. by means of these conyen-
ons, successfully, to this greatest of all depart
ments Of human action. While the clergy, the
legal and medical professions, have had their
conventions and associations, for the purpose of
elevating their professional standard, and for
the interchange of thought and feeling and opin-
ion in their various departments, the farming
portion of our community seem TO have r. ceiyed
but little or no such aid and assistance, when we
consider the vast interests and importance of
agriculture. But circumstances around rs to-
day indicate better state Of things, and | can
but think, that these agricultural conventions in
different parts of our State, must be productive
of the happiest effects The periodical assemb
ling together Of so many men, interested in the
pursuits of agriculture, either as observers or
participators of so many men animated with
kindred views and kindred feelings and kindred
hopes-must inevitably have lasting and happy
effect upon our prosperity, and our success, both
as individuals and as a State.
Ii is a well known fact, that the agricultural
portion Of our community is by far the largest
part of il, numerically IL is large majority 1t
is clear then, that whatever tends TO assist, TO
alleviate, TO improve, and to better the agricutu-
raj portion Of our community, feeds at once the
fountain life of our society. But, Mr.. President,
If the cutting Of few more tons Of hay
the growing Of few bushels of heat or corn
or the raising of an improved quality of
stock great and desirable as these attainments
would be, were all that was TO be accomplished
by your conventions, they would want much of
the interest 10 the statesman and the christian,
which is now attached to them by the compre
hensiyeness of their designs and purpose 1t is
a charming and gratifying feature of these con-
yentions, that the direct and immediate effect of
them must be, 10 elevate in the scale Of human
avocations, the value and dignity of labor
There is no lesson, more important to be taught
TO our young countrymen, more important to be
impressed upon Them early in life, than that
which euforces and illustrates the dignity of la
Dor, than that which teaches them that the
curse" pronounced upon man in his exodus
from Eden, has become blessing-that the
penalty has become mercy" Yes, fellow
citizens, in the "sweat Of the face" man has
thus far fulfilled his mission on this continent
at least. And a noble and glorious one has it
been too And it speaks to us in trumpet tones
Of the value, the dignity and the Importance of
labor. For it has been only by perseyering, I'M
yielding and untiring labor, and that with the
hands, too, that we lave accomplished such
wonders In our State, and our America. 1t is
labor, Mr. President, that has achieved them all,
and that is destined in the course of Providence
to achieve more. Our past social position, and
our present social position, our past and pres
ent political positions, are all of them but
links in that great chain of Dor which COM
meneed upon the rock of Plymouth, and which
will not end, till the last sound of the wood |
mans axe stall be heard on the shores Of the
Pacific. Where, in the whole annals of civil. /
cation, can you find such an augmentation of re- I
sources and numbers, developed, too, under cir |
Gun stances of 30 much trial in the progress,
and success in the issue, as is developed in this
our Western world And does not this mighty /
agent which has raised this vast monument Of
has founded this great and
glorious nation-which has stretched this belt Of