Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-02-26
success Of the New York and Maryland

The enquiry naturally presents itself
why is it that these ad, aniagcs have SC
long been neglected and no successful ef
fort has yet been made in Virginia, 10 es
tahlish, on permanent foundation.a State
Society.
propose briefly to discuss this qucs
ton, with the hope, that when the causes
Of our former fixtures are asceriained, The
chief difficulties in the way OF our success.
Viii be removed.
The dispersion Of our people over al
extensive territory, inden,cd by numer-
Gus rivers and separated by mountain ran
ges, has heretofore rendered it almost i'm
possible for hem TO meet in any consider.
able numbers at any accessible point. for
the Accomplishment Of common Object
Hence, most ofthe agricultural meetings
have been held during the winter. in the
hope Of making them respectable in mum
bers by recruits from the members Of the
legislature and such strangers as business
or pleasure may draw TO the Capital dur
ing the gay season. My experience in
public bodies satisfies me that this policy
has been injudicious. The human mind
is SO constituted that il cannot be occupied
by two exciting and important subjects at
once. and Of all things. politics and agri-
culture arc the most Incompatible.
These meetings have thus been subor-
dina,c, and not principal objects Of altrac
lion. and have consequently failed TO EXCITE
an interest in the puchc mind. This. per-
haps, has been heretofore unavoidable ;
but may we not confidently hope that the
increased facilities for extending her trade,
which the city Of Richmond will soon en-
joy, will stimulate the public spirit of her
merchants 10 engage largely IN foreign
commerce, and thus supply the people OF
the State with the important goods for
which they are nowin great measure de-
pendent on the North Should our hopes
il this respect be realized, and the magni-
hcient schemes of internal Improvement,
shadoue ed forth in the message olthe Gov
ernor, and more elaborately y developed in
the report of tie Board OF Public Works.
be carried out, we shall not only hlve uu
object to attract US to the Capital, but a.
bundaut facilities for reaching it from all
quarters, at all seasons OF the Year. We
shall then lie no longer under the necessity
Of holding our meetings in winter, when
the public mind is absorbed by polilcsand
The enthusiasm Of Tie larmer is chilled. A
more genial season will be selected wheu
Nature smiles upon the labors Of the hus-
bandman. and his hope is excited by the
promises Of spring, or his heart warmed
with gratitude by the glories Of autumn.
AT such season its meetings would be
largely attended. and the Agricultural So
cie,y Of Virginia become one of The most
useful and attractive in the Union.
Besides this mere physical difficulty.
which will probably soon be rcmoved,therc
have been other causes Of failure, moral and
intellectual, still more operative.
OF these, none has been more efficient
than the desponding tone III which it has
been the habit, until very recently, 10 speak
of the prospects Of agriculture, in Virgin
ia. Hope Strengthens the ieeblest, whilst
despair unncrves the stoutc.t arm. NoIh-
my good, or great. or glorious. was ever
yet achieved, without the inspiring inllu
ence. Many OF the agricultural conven-
tions Of Virginia have been held under
most depressing circumstances. In a
season of gloom. when the tJe Of cmigra-
tion seemed 10 threaten the depopula'ion
Of the Stale. our wise men and patriots,
terror stricken and appalled,, at the pros
peet ofupproaching dcsoalion. have come
up to the Capital, in the spirit Of the dis
heartened population Of a beleagurcd city
CRYING, All is lost! all is lost! What shal
he doncl what shall be doncl
Is il wonderful that they failed to meeI
with Cooperation! What motise could
there be for zeal in cause deemed utter
ly hopeless? What chance of concerted
action. in favor Of an employment ofcap-
iral. that it was confessed yielded only
half the ordinary rate Of profit We had
heen told from the chairs of political econ
omy,in in our colleges. that 3 per cent. was
the far rate ofagricultural profit in Virgin
la. You could scarcely take up an En-
cyclopedia, Gazctioer, Geography, or
any work on the progress of the nation. in
which the same doctrines were not taught
if not in terms, at least by implication. We
were told, that poor old Virginia, ospcci-
ally tide-wa.cr Virginia, was utterly ex
hausted, and "must be abandoned foi
years, until restored to vigor by the recu-
perative powers Of nature, or transferred
to another population, better qualified 10 re-
cover it by art and industry Our best
friends, at home and abroad, INDUCED il
the same tone of dependency. Dir. Cal
houn, at the festival at York, in honor o
Lafayette, when called upon for a senti
ment, gave. Virginia. like The mother o
the Gracchi, when asked for her jewels
points to her sons" He could say moth
ing, as he aficrw ards intimatcd. in favor ol
her public works. manufactures, or agricul
lure, all Of which he regarded as in hope
less condition.
trust the day is far distant when this
beautiful compliment shall lie undeservcd
that the time will never come, when III,
best product Of Virginia shall cease TO be
men, "high-minded men, that constitute .
State" Rather ihaa this, LEI her he redpc
ed TO utter barrcnness. Let it be said o.
her, as Of Switzerland
"No product here, the barren hills afford
But and steel the soldier and his sword
Yet, il does not the less become US to
vindicate her claims to other productions
to spread the truth before the world. to
encourage our people TO renewed efforts
and TO introduce the rising generation to
remain within her borders, to develop her
vast resources, and 10 reap the rich har-
vest which she bogntisglly offers them.
| therefore invite you to more cheer
ful view Of our affairs. Cast your eyes
upon the mapof Virginia, extending from
the ocean to ihe Ohio. penetrated by innu-
merable navigable rivers, diversified by
hill and dale, with climate mild and salu
brious and soil suited 10 the production
Of all the sfanles essential Ia the conf ri