Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-10

Messrs holland, SouthaA, and others.
Gentemen:-Your note of March LIST is before ME,
questing for publication copy OF the brief address
had the honor to report to the Convention of Farmers
lately assembled in Richmond. Grateful for the terms
in which your request is eouehed, comply with it at
once; and wanting better place. beg leave to state
here by way of preface the objects had IN view when
l prepared it.
AS to patient who holds his life in his own hands,
physician will at declare his disease and its
remedy, thought to present to the farmers OF VIr
ginia their actual condition and the remedy tor IT. In
doing this it necessary to compare them with the
farmers of other States and selected New York and
Massachusetts, for that purpose Necessarily omittng
full comparison, and thereby, as CONCEIVE doing no
harm to Virginia, confined myself to very brlet and
imperfect statistical exposition of her agriculture and
it not my fault if documents official and therefore
presumably authentic, placed Virginia behind her con-
.temporaries. But would have been much to blame
had not endeavoured, l did, to point out how that
reproach might be wiped away.
The address, you know was adopted by large
majority of the Conventions was reconsdered and again
adopted-was second time reconsidered, and was
discussed by Messrs. Morson Seldom and Wiloughby
Newton the side, and myself and several others
the other SIDE and laid the table at the instance
of one of my friends who thought that in view of the
application meant to make tothe Legislature it was
best to present unanmity in proceedings 10 this
course a majority assented, influenced by the same
opinion; and though differing with them, very cheer
fully submitted to their decision This lett the address
at my individual disposal, and place it at yours;
Of the grounds, untenable in my opinion taken by
the gentlemen who opposed it, it is unnecessary to
speak. But think their sensitiveness will not be ap
preciated it be understood by farmers at large
If their apprehension be well founded that fanaticsm
will seize upon the address antslavery argu-
ment 1 ian only say what they and I am fully agreed
upon that fanscism is fool for whose vagarles am
not responsible. l am pro-slavery mani believe it
at this time impossible abolish it, and not desirable
if it were possible. believe that when the good God
established it here he placed such trust in the South
has been reposed in any other nation-that
signal mark favour, and that when in His own wise
providence He shall decree its extinction as am sure
He WILL that it will be done without convulson and
without injury white black and in which
be oretod by the wlses leaders of the Liberty
Party This ought to be sufficient on that head, and
cannot consent especially when asked by your re-
quest suppress important, wholesome truths because
bad men may make Of them. Reptiles will bask
in the
Finally let me say that the conception and execution
of this address is wholly my fits publication
produce displeasure, let it all fall on my head
l am gentlemen, with high respect,
Your friend and ob't. servant,
FRANK. G. RUFFIN.