The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-11-06

Investigation, was awarded to E. Whitman. OF
Baltimore. a.
MIR. STEVENSONS ADDRESS.
The award of premiums being concluded, the
Society repaired to the Capitol for the purpose
of listening to the annual address to be delivered
by the Hon. Andrew Stevenson. Here the crowd
was as dense and compact as could well be con-
ceived. Every available position was occupied
fand we were glad to observe large proportion
Of ladies present. The address of Mr. Stevenson
was truly able and eloquent one He began
by forcibly comparing agriculture with COM
merce and manufactures as sources of national
wealth and greatness, and while he did not seek
to depreciate the Importance either of commerce
or manufactures, he felt that the true basis of a
nations wealth in its agriculture. The
honorable gentleman then proceeded to show
that agriculture was the true source Of the
power of Great Britain. During her war with
France, said he, she derived from a tax upon
the products of her soil, the enormous sum of
six and half millions of pounds sterling, while
from all ether sources she realized but three
millions two hundred thousand pounds. The
reason for the superiority of Great Britain over
all the yest of the world in this department of
art and science-for agriculture embraced both
was mainly attributable to the early efforts
and interest manifested in that kingdom in the
formation and promotion of Agricultural Soci-
cites The efforts of Sir John ST. Clair, to
promote British agriculture was referred to- and
an extract OF letter from George Washington
10 that distinguished nobleman was quoted, to
show how much the cause of agriculture inter
ested that great statesman and patriot.
The honorable gentleman then proceeded to
speak of the Importance of agriculture, in
political point Of view and especially was it i'm
portant in Republican government like ours,
where yeomanry constitute the chief defence
from invasion. He spoke also of the great and
rapid progress of the age, the advances of sci
ence, and the peculiar character of energetic,
mixed population for inventions and discoveries,
applicable to the every day wants and REQUIRE
ments of civilized and progressive life. He al
luded to the application of steam to canal, river
and ocean navigation-to the discovery of the
magnetic telegraph, by which time and space
annihilated-the application of gas to the
illumination of our cities, &C., &C., citing many
evidences of American progress and energy, and
claiming it as a national characteristic of our
people readily and at once to avail themselves
of every improvement in the prosecution of their
every day affairs, as well as in the more exten-
sive enterprises. In view of these facts, he
asked, to what point is not agriculture capable
of attaining, if the proper means are employed,
and science be brought to its aid. He depre-
Gated the spirit of prejudice and want of fore
sight by which farmers are deferred from avail
ing themselves of discoveries, if he might so
call them, in the improvement of their stock,
and regretted that they so often contented them
selves with simply doing their fathers and
grandfathers had done before them-that there
should be so large a class of good enough" !"
men among them-when higher attainments
were of so easy accomplishment and so full of
advantage
The honorable gentleman in conclusion passed
an eloquent eulogium upon the art and science
of agriculture, which he said had ever been held
in the highest regard by the ancients, was the
stay and support of civilization, and the surest
source of national prosperity. The address was
quite long, occupying an hour and three quarters
in its delivery. He was listened to with pro-
found attention, and his sentiments frequently
applauded.
During the delivery of the address, Governor
Johnston sat on the right of the speaker, and
Judge Watts, President of the Society, on the
left All felt great satisfaction with the address,
and pride in the talented author.
The Fair has now closed, and tomorrow Har-