The republic., 1852-06-25
National Agricultural Convention.
[nEpourEp ron THE nrPuBLlc.l

assembled yesterday morning in the lecture room
| of the Smithsonian Institute.
On motion, Judge Frederick Watts, of Pennsyl-
vana, was called TO the chair. and Richard s.
Mercer. of aryland, and Daniel Lee of eorgia,
were appointed secretaries.
The States were called, and the following rep
resentatives were found TO be present; New Hamp-
shire, delegates; Vermont, ); Massachusetts 20;
! Rhode Island, 3; Connecticut, 4; New York, 20;
New Jersey, 2; Pernsy lvania, s. Delaware, 6; Ma
ryland, %; Virginia, 10; North Carolina, !; Lou-
| siana, 2; Ohio, l2 Kentucky, 2; Tennessee, 81 In
diana, Illinois =; Arkansas, Michigan, 4; Texas,
]; Wisconsin, 2; District OF Columbia, IL showing
the presence of one hundred and ffty-one dele
gates, representing twenty two States and the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
On motion, a committee Of one from each dele
cation was appointed to nominate permanent Of
ticerI Of the convention
After brief pause, The committee reported
lollows:
President- Marshall p Wilder, of Massachu-
| setts.
Vice Presidents. Henry Wager, N. Y: Frede-
rick Watts, Pa; Mr. Hunter, Ohio; Charles b.
A. Throc kmorton, Va; II. X. Burgwyn, N. c.;
II. j. Rusk. Texas; J. Duane Doty, Wisconsin.
Secrstayies.- lillian S. King, II. L.; b. p John
son, N. Y; j. ID. b. DeBow, La; J. A. Warder,
Ohio.
president, (M. p. Wilder,) taking the chair,
made the following address;
| "GEsTLEmss THE CoNvENTIoS: | will not
interrupt the proce esdings o! this body by any
| tended remarks from the chair but cannot for
bear, however, to tender you my heartfelt graft
tude for tho honor you have conferred upon Inc in
| selecting me TO preside over your deliberations
an hon or connected with pursut which has
| laid near my heart. Permit me, also, to express
| my great qualification that there present 80
|
| rests of this great epublic-gentemen coming
| from different and distant parts of the Union at
| great personal sacrifices; but whether from the
| North or South, the East or the West, extend to
each of you the right hand Of fellowship, and greet
| you as brothers in common cause.
| .'Gentemen, we come here with no sinister mo-
tivcs. We have no political arguments to advance.
We have no sectional or party purposes to promul-
gate. But we are here for far more important pur-
| poses. We are here to advance an art coeval with
| the existence Of the human race; an art which em
ploys eighteen millions Of our population, and four
fths Of all the capital in fair land art which
lies at the very foundation Of national ard ndvid
ual prosperity and wealth-the basis Of commerce,
manufac lures, and of industrial pursui,s.
eve are an agricultural people; our habits. our
dispositions, rural. rejoice that it is 30; and
l pray that 1t may ever continue to be so. Our
| country embraces every variety OF soil, and ia ca
pabe Of producing most Of the products OF the tor
| rid and temperate Eones, and with a suitable ap-
plicaton Of science to the art and wise division
Of labor. with proper Government aid there is no
reason why American agriculture may not sustain
competition with that Of any other nation Of the
| civilized globe.
"The progress Of agriculture, you all know I,
gentlemen, has been slow In the United States; but
| a new has commenced. The old worn-out sys-
| TENS OF agriculture, which have been followed by
father and son, and from generation TO generation,
| arc now TO be swept away, and science is TO take
its place in aid of honest industry. Irejocc. gen.
temen, that we live at this days rejoice that the
seed planted by the immortal Washington, and
which has been watered by thousands of other emi-
Naf
we are, in our day. to realize some of the proud
| results Of their hopes.
"Much of the progress shown, attained IN our
! country has been the result of individual enter
prise, aided by the agricultural press; but the
great national power 10 conederated action, l5
| concentrated effort.
1T is not my purpose to detan this convention
| by extended remarks; but may be eImtted fur
ther to say, in conclusion, that period in the
history of our country has there been such an as
sembly collected for the purpose Of considering
those objects for which brought together;
and there has been no opportunity which Id 80
! favorable to the interests OF the farmer.
"Permit me again, gentlemen, to tender you
my thanks for the distinction you have conferred
upon me. and to say. that in the course OF our de-
ibcrauons, may, with your permission, parhci-
pate In your debates'
The delivery Of these rema rks ELECTED occasional
applause
Mr.. Hocomb, of Delaware, moved the appoint.
! ment Of committee Of nine to draft a constitution
for the organization Of National Agricultural
Association, and other business for the considera.
| ton OF the convention.
Hon Humphrey Marshall suggested that the
committee consist Of one member from each dele
cation
Colonel George w. Hughes opposed 40 numerous
a committee, as calculated t0 embarrass rather
than facilitate business.
Hon. j. Meacham, Of Vermont, objected TO a
large committee.
Mr.. Marshall said there many interests
peculiar 10 each State, and he preferred that each
should be represented on the committee.
Mr. J. Gowen, Of Pennsylv vania, thought the fret
| part Of the motion premature, as II had not yet
| been decided whether the organization Of Ma.
| tional Association was practicable not. Tho
matter bad not Been maturey considered; and he
| Of opinion that National Association could
! not be maintained
Judge Watts was ofopinion that the adoption Of
| the motion could do no harm.
| Hon. :. a, Douglas favored giving each State a
representation on the committee; and as to the
other question, the convention, by its vote could
afterwards determine upon il.
Hon John L. Taylor Of Ohio, Hon. n. p. Hale Of
New Hampshire, and DR.. Lee, made come suyges.
tions
The motion was finally Withdrawn; when
On motion, i, was resolved that it is expedient to
! form a National A Agricultural Society
Mr. Holkham then renewed his motion for the
appointment Of committee Of one from each dele
CATION.
The Chair named the following as the com
mittec:
Delaware, Mr.. Holcomb; Illinois Judge Doug.
! lac; New York, J. A. King; Kentucky, Humphrey
| Marshall; Georgia, George w Dawson; Msssa-
! chusctts, B. v. French; New Hampshire, Mr.
sute; Rhode Island, Il. B. Thruston; Connecticut,
Mr.. Hubbard; Vermont, Mr.. Stevens; Maryland
Mr.. Cslvcrt Ohio, Mr.. Campbell; New Jersey, MIR
Hancock; District Of Columbia, J. r. Callan; Yir-
! ginia, G.. w. p. Gusts; North Carolina, Mr.. Bur.
| gwyn; Alabama, MIR. Tayloe; Louisiana, Mr.. De
Bow; Kentucky, Gibson Mallory; Tennessee. Hon
John Bell; Wisconsin, Mr.. Wcstcott; Maine, Mr.
| Pickland; Michigan, Mr.. Seaman; Tcxas, Hon. r.
J. Rusk
On motion Of Mr.. McElvain, the committee
instructed to report, far practicable, relative
] TO the productions Of each State.