The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-10-21
ADDRESS

ADDhECS
OF Miller Pennington, deiirered before the Bel
mont County Agricultural Society at its 9th
Annual Fair, October 9Th, 1853.
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND Fellow CIrIzEas:--
The occasion which has brought us toge:h-
er is one Of great interest, practical impor-
tance, social utility, and we have reason to
believe, of lasting benefit When we COM
pare the advantages and privileges enjoyed
by us with that veteran race of pioneers who
with mattock and axe leveed the huge, dense
forest, braved dangers, cleaved the ground
and put upon the face of nature the marks of
civilizations; we should do as "Sthenelos is
made to do in Homer, return thanks TO God
that we are better off than our fathers."-
Better off in physical comforts, social enjoy
ments and the means Of education; but in
manly virtues, in great integrity, in firm re.
solves and moral courage, we will do well to
follow in the light Of the good example of the
first settlers OF our country. They nobly lul-
filed the destiny which awaited them--per-
formed with heroic courage the work which
was allotted unto them to do, and if we per.
form our part OF the great duties Of life as
well, posterity will rejoice and return thanks.
This Is world OF uses and effects, and we
should witness with pleasure every new de-
velopement in science, every new discovery
Of truth, every progress that is made for the
better condition and advancement of man.
kind. We should remember that we are all
born for some useful purpose, to some useful
end; that for man was made this rich and
beautiful earth, all things in the universe for
instruction, and may the influence we are ex-
erting, the examples we are setting, the ideas
we arc promulgating like the grains of wheat
in the hands OF the Egyptian mummy, bless
posterity though centuries after. Fear not
to cultivate your soil, plant your fruit trees,
improve your farms and decorate your grounds
with choice shrubbery, if you do not live to
enjoy it, there are those coming after you
who will wear your forms and your features
that will. The light of long experience is
before us and we cannot escape responsible
ty il we would. Calico was imprisoned for
proclaiming that the sun was the centre OF
our planetary system, Newton ridiculed for
his doctrine oi the laws Of gravi,ation, Full
ton denounced as worse than visionary for
his construction of the Steamboat which now
"walks the waters as u thing of lle." so it
has been in all the important discoveries in
science--in the invention of the best la
bor-saving machines, and in the promulga.
tion of the gren, principles OF civil and rclig-
ious liberty; have met in the beginning the
most determined opposition. We may boast
OF all the glory and learning Of antiquity, we
may bring it all in fresh review before us,
from the earliest dawn, down 10 the landing
of the Pilgrims upon Plymouth Rock and New
England shores in 1920
Yet there has been acc0mpli she'd upon this
American continent within the last two hun
dred years, more ol great intellectual achieve
ments--mOre o. sublime moral hcroism-morc
ol useful inventions and scientific discoveries
More of progress in the great business of ug-
riculture and social development. More for
the reign uf peace aud good will to men, than
in all the sixteen hundred years that prece.
ded. Tue application of steam to navign-
ton, and its other endless variety of uses.
the discovery of the "Spiunng Jenny" by
Arkwright the pcnny barbrroI NJ ,nchestcr--
the Improvement IN printing presses, the con-
struction OF railroads and telegraphs; /, say
nothing OF the other long list of useful nven-
OF nearly the lls' fifty years; have done more
for the spread OF knowledge, the progress Of
science, and the development of the worlds
wealth, and adapting il to the uses of man;
than any other four fold period in the worlds
history.
That this Anylo-Saxon race upon this A.
mericon continent are born to a great destiny
10 every day verified by the wonder and pow.
er of their achievements; whether in the pur-
suits Of peace, or in the bloody strife upon
the battle field, the glory and greatness Of
their deeds far exceeds oil Grecian all Ro-
man fSme. Our age Is one OF searching in
quiry. when nothing is taken upon trust but
every thing tested by the touch stone of rea.
son, and theories and practice must agree.
Our city OF refuge, that which dignifes our
country and makes her liberties secure, is our
Common School System. "Other nations
may boast Of their magnificent gems and
monster diamonds, this 10 our Kohiaoor--this
our mountsin Of light, not matched indeed as
. prize for a barbarous foc--not designed only
to deck royal brow, or 10 irradiate Crystal
Palace; but whose pure and penetrating roy
illumines every brow, enlghtens every mind,
and cheers every heart and hearths,one in the
land, and which supplies from its exhaustless
mines ornaments OF grace unto the head, and
chains upon the neck Of every son and dauph.
Ter In the land" There Is no avocation in
life where knowledge from well cultured brain
can be 50 usefully and advaniageously an.
piled as in the bu.ioess Of agriculture. The
Farmer should not only kaow The value, qual
ity and capacity OF the soil he eOItiVates. but
the anatomy and adaptation TO climate and
circumstance of every animal intended for
bis use. There il more force in his head thun
in his hands, and il isthe proper application
Of both that yields linn permanent prosperity
and Just reward for bic labor.