The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-08-23
A.rsE AN
A ID ID r e S S
DELIVERED BEFORE
THE LANCASTER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,
ON IT'S SECOND ANNIVERSARY,
BY H. P. CRAWFORD ESQ
BY M. P. CRAWFORD. ESQ.

Nothing is common on occasions like the pres
en than for the speaker to abour the very outset to
impress his audience with the importance his subject
The great necessity for this method of address in MANY
instances IS dscoverabe in the of interest SO fire.
quently manifested by the hearers even uuder the most
earnest efforts OF the orator to their attention
But while this is true of mny sectional I'd local sub
Ject which are calculated in themselves to excite only
feeble and transtory interest 1t is not true ofours
. As Agriculture is branch of industry coeval with the
history OF our its connection with the general wei
fare OF nations so intmat its reciprocal bearing on
manufactures so immediate both admitted to form the
base OF prosperity and power of people branch
of science the prosperity of which, in all it's resources
affects individuals of every order and without which
there could be no coummerce point oforder pre-
cedes all other industrial pursuits and is of the last i'm
portance to mankind 1t has failed awaken among
all nations OF the crh at early period Of their hsto
ry that interest and that attention. which their immed
ate wants and necessities required Pliny Gin his Natu-
raj History pays the following just and beautiful rb
ute to the earth 1t the earth that like kind mother
receives at BIRTH and sustains us WI en- born 1t
Is alone, of all tho elements us that
er found enemy to The b ody of waters deluro
him with rains, oppress him with hail. and drown him
with nundatlons the air rushcs storms prepares the
tempest or lights up the volcano but the earth gentle
and indalgent ever subse:tc.t to tn, wants of man,
spreads ms walks with Howcrs and his table with pen
ty returns with interest every good committed to her
care and though she produces the poison she still sup
plies the antdote, though constantly teased
hish the uxurics of than his necessities vet even to
the last she continues her kind indulgence and when
life over shepiousy hides his In her bosom
love tor the soil and poas reverenc, for the scenes
OIL our birthplace, Is feeling common to hu nature
"sach is the patriots whcreer roam.
Ills hrSt best country, ever a home"
To this feeling indebted for the singular
of peace and prosperity which. enjoy as a nation
more than to any thing else is this feeling in con-
junction with the rights of citizenship and abour that
secures to peace at home ami respect abroad For
this constitution seeks to remove every re-
straint TO ITS aahFu exercise by securing alike to all
the rights OF citizenship and the rights of property In
fact any change in either state federal con-
stuoa aft citing the rights of the citizen to the soil he
occupies or the honest rewards of his abour would be
attended with consequences awful in the extreme Civ
Al war, IN ITS worst form would at usurp the place
where peace and order reign Nothing less than
revolution, would be the inevitable result Of such poll
cy Other constitutional obligations may be disregard
ed1the law OF nations may be set at defiance treaties
vloated-compacts broIentheso, and many other acts
OF usurpation and wrong may be committed by gov
ernment towards its subjects, by nation against
another and yet peace be preserved by the timely inter
ventiOa of COMPROMISE. But only let a poyernn ,nt
stretch forth its hand from the subject his right
ofproperty in the sail or to the fruit Of his own toll and
all aileg betwixt the and the government
an end and struggle fr life cnsues 1t was recog-
milton OF this natural love ofa people for their SOIL that
induced lord Chatham to declare on the floor of the E
glIsh parliament III tho very teeth of oppressors
that the conquest Of English America by English troops
was an iinpossiby 1t this love Of country burn
ing in his own breast which animated him to espouse
our cause and to declare the very foot of the English
throne, that IF were American, as am an English
man, while foreign troop remained in my country
never would lay down my s4ncyer, never, never.
The same ardent feeling of patriotism and devotsn
the ofberty which, induced Pitt to espouse our
clsc gained US also the commanding eoquence of Bur
who seeing the obstinate resistance Of troops rid
culed the right of England America Yes gentle
men, it this natural love for the SOIL and early devo
ton TO the of liberty ardently manifested by
our people, which caused England pause in her
ofunast and unconstitutional oppression towards the
Colonies and which continued to sustain and animate
itwas this feeling ndapg the breast Patrick Henry
which msdc his secqucnce responsive TO that of Pitt
and which caused him in one and the same breath to
ask for liberty or death twas this love for tho SOIL