Litchfield enquirer., 1853-10-20
SPEECH OF Q. s. FERRY, ESQ. ef BEFORE THE afa1 Fairfield County Agricultural Society.


 Mr. President P Men.5ers cfthe Agricul-
 turdl Society. and tsllosO citizens
 There is much that is pleasant. as well as profitable, in this annual assemblage. It seems appropriate now, when Autumn is in our midst, when the meadows and grain6elGs have yielded lheif tlibute to the industry of man. and the corn smiles upon him. through it's ripened covering. when the orchards are administering to his luxury with their fruits. and the hus> bandman is just gathering tue tinal re- walds of hls labors. Al such a iiGas. t seems peculiarly appropriate that the farmers of the land should come togeth. CT to join hands in mutual cnngratula, ton. to compare the experiences of the past, and to take counsel of the future. It is thus that you are assembled to-day; not with party banners over your heads, or party watchwords on your lips. but as the men of soil--bere, amid the hills and valleys of your own county. cultivated by your own industry. and made fruitful by your skill, you are congregated to do honor to tEe gseatpremeval Art. By your association you superada to the strength of labor the dignity of Knowledge; you tighten the toil of seed-time and harvest by the zest of general competition |; you impart to the winters ireside the wealth of intellect and the grace of refinement. Your mission is;at onceio enrich the soil, and to beautify the homes of your native State. ..
 Well may gather with you here. the merchant. the mechanic. and the profess sional man; they are in! measure your pensioners. and so long as they feel the necessities of food or laiment, they can, not be iadifsren. 10 your welfare. The subject os agriculture. too. in it's various bearings is so deeply interwoven with our State and national interests, it unders lies 10 so great an extent all our political questions and ombinations, it comes so directly home to our personal wants. and is 90 intimately connected with our pros- petty as people, that it is impossible for any, even the most ordinary observer, entirely to overlook it. Welt may wo> man, too, grace this occasion with her presence. and,with the proofs of her del> icacy and skill. God has made her, not simply mans ornament and pride, the delight af his eyes ands the joy of his heart. but his helpmaie and the sharer of his oils,-and whoever or wherever she may be, if she shrinks fiom this pri- meval position, with its labors and its cares. she shows herself unworthy of the high mission which Infinite Wisdom, has prepared for Ter. She may shine 10. q time in the circles of fashion. or the re- sorts of gaiety she may innocentiy in> dulge in the amusements. of youth, or rejoice in lhe admiration of society. but the sphere of her permanent usefulness and duty--which is ever the sphere of true bappiness--is empha.ically in the household and there. in the day of trou 6le, of sorrow LOT of danger. she can rest upon no earthly support more secure than the strong arm and stout heart of an American farmer. 5
 The simple statement of the fact, that three-fourlhs of tic freemen of this coun- try are engaged in the cultivation of the soil. is enough to awaken thoughtful at teniion. Here is the secret Of that noise less power which makes and keeps us a people and ea sDation.r In inc crowded marts of money and of commerce. busy rumor builds np or topples dosn adhou> sand fortunes in day i; in the Halls. Of the Capitol. legislation goes on with in, finite clamor and jarring of angry or am bilious men. in the field Of politics, par, tizan contention. amid hustle, dust, and din. threatens to shake the pillars of the confederacy but the true life of the Republic lies beyond all this even whore abroad, over our vast domain. five mil- lion farmers are at work, silently, but steadily binding together the foundations of society and government. with bonds. strong as their own eternal hills. To such men. some moments of reflection on what they are and what they can be, and what tley ought to be. will not be wi,h~ out it's measure of profit.
 propose, then, to devote the time al. lotied to me, in your transactions, to a general consideration of some of the aims and responsibilities of the Ameiican far. mer. t. sg sg- Let me rema,k in the first place, that the farmer should undsrstand The nature and character of the machinery which he ls 10 use. No man can engage ao advantage in any occupation requiring the use of material agents, without an adequate knowledge of the adoption Of the instruments he employs. Were one to undertake the management of asteau ergines without an acquaintance with It's construction, no good ,esults would be expected from his presumption. Bat complicated and wonderful as is that greatest of human inventions, it is as noth, ing compaFod with inc mighty machinery with which the faFuser woI Es. The earth.