Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-10-25
ADDRESS OF THE
HON. KENNETH RAYNER,
STATE AGRICULTURAL FAIR,
THURSDAY, Oct. 10, 1854.

North Csrolina State LigriculturdI Society:
congratulate you the favorable auspices un,
der which assembled, and oil the stirring anu
gladdening this day exhibited. 1t is sccl,e
we'll calculated to awaken emotions OF Joyous pr'.e
for the present. and cheering hopes for the future ia
the bosom ofevcry patriotic son OF the good o NORTH
State The promise held out by our last Fair, on
the same spot-our then first essay in an untried
ficd-has been moro than fulfilled. The seeds OF
industry, enterprise, and State pride, then soWh'
happened fall fruitful soil, and by diligcnt cuIti-
walton, have already ripcned into rich and aout'-
dant harvest.
What spectacle is better calculated to call into &C
tive play all the nobler and more generous impulses
of our nature, than scene like this? mist IN
our own country the elements of political dlScoru
in agitation throughout the borders OF otncr
States-whist two Continents of the old world
opposing hosts arc confronting each other, ready TOT
the work of slaughtcr-hcrc, meet together as
friends and Acknowledged, for the purpose Vi
making our common offerings around the affair Vi
concord and Of celebrating the achievements oil the
pursuits Of peace. calm survcJ of this living ana
moving panorama, is we'll calculated to supcrlnouce
reflections of moral as well as practical character
to stir up associations connected with our past
history and future destiny Centuries in the hsto-
~ of nations and the progress of peoples are out as
days in the lives of individuals. Carry your mlnos
but two short centuries back and contrast IN lmagl
nation the then presented on this spot, with
that which now greets our vision. The so!ltude OF
nature was then undiSturbcd by any sounds but tho
hum of the breeze amid the boughS Of primeval for
csts whilst now the joyous greeting and gratuia-
tons of thousands of reemen attest the presence OF
christian civilization. Then, the wild and tameless
beasts of the wilderness sought their lalrs or crept
stealthily to their prcy-wherc now standing IN
their stalls improved specimens OF those noble 40
mestic animals, whose usefulness ministers to hui
man wants, and whose docity cNactS the tribute OF
human kindness. Ihcn the surface of the earth pre-
scented an unbrokcn mould, the vegetable deposite
of ages-whcre noe, varied implements OF husband
Nv attest the efforts of human ingenuity for pcnc
trating deeply the bosom of the earth. Then, where
IL.
tive element of authority known to the government
of the red man--nouc proudly towers within our
vision eifice, erected by reemen for the govern
ment of themselves. Nom stand ill sight temples
vocal with praise to the great Dispenser OF these
manifold bessingS-whcre then, amid the silence of
solitude, the comnotion of the elements aionc pro-
claimed his majesty and power.
What has effected this mighty, this wonderful
changer The avocation of nineteen twentlethS OF
this vast assemblage readily answers the question
This great change has been wrought by agricultural
enterprise and tho mechanic arts-those concom
tans of civilizations which is the object of our as
ISOLATION to honor, encourage, and promote.
Nothing has been more clearly demonstrated by
the history of the human race than that mans ma
tural state is the social state This law of his being
adheres to him in all the varied relations of his
stcncc. tits the of his strength and power.
And it is remarkable that that animal, the highest
in the scale of finite being endowed with the high
est intelligence, made in Gods own likeness second
only to the angels should be the most dependent
his kind, for exerton, for strength and happiness.
This is the law of his being, matter what may be
tho phase of civilization under which he lives. Man
has never yet been found in degraded a condi-
ton to be able to dispense with it. The rowing
Indian the Fee-Jce Cannibal, the Papaun of New
Guinea, the Bushman of South Africa, arc as sub
ject to this decree of nature the most elevated
type OF the Caucasian race. This tendency of man
to the social state is the origin government itself
The protection Of the weak against the strong and
the security the ingenious and industrious of the
rewards of their labor against violence and oppres-
sion, first led man to seek for safety in association
the theory of the social contract being that what
consented to voluntarily afterwards cnforc
ed through constraiat by the repositories of power
Happiness, well security is another leading OBJ
ect of the social state. The private relations of life
also appertan to the developments of social life.
The relations of parent and child, husband and wife,
the great sources Of mans temporal happiness around
which cluster many hallowed associations and
tender sentiments, have their origin in the principle
of association and mutual dependence. The dis
charge of the duties which owes to his God, in
all highly civilized States, pertain to his social as
we'll as his individual character The carly founders
of the Christian Church ayaled themselves of the
social tendency of man, in organizing pure wor-
ship, and in disseminating pure faith. 1t on
the principle Of assocation-by the organization of
social communities recognizing correlatve duties,
benefits and burdens among their several members,
that the Christian Church was planted The closter
Of the monk and the cell of the anchorite are as
much perversion of mans religious, the cave of
the hermit is of his social nature.
This principle of association is the great clement
not only of mans security and happiness but of his
strength and power in the diffusion of knowledge,
and in subduing and controlling the physical world
1t is the striking feature in the rapid and unprece
dented progress of the civilization of this age. The
fable of the dying man, who presented to his sons
FL bundle of rods, which. when kept bound together
their united strength could not break, but which,
when separated each could easily snap pieces
contains the true philosophy of associated effort 1t
is associated wealth and enterprise fOstered and en-
couraged by government, that have elevated Eng:
land to her proud and lofty position 1t is this
which has Subdued empire of more than hun
drcd million Of souls in India, to her control-which
has covered the ocean with her commerce-enabled
her manufacturers to furnish the world-due her
canas-covered her surface with network of rail-
roads-and sent her missionaries into heather lands
upon the errand of peace and glad tidings Asso-
citation has been equally potent in the advancement
of science. Her royal societies, for the promotion
of science by combining and concentrating the con-
tributions of her wise men and philosophers, have
done more, during the present century, than the
scattered and isolated efforts of individuals for ten
centuries preceding in unfolding the arcana of ma
ture, exposing and establishing data as a
stand point, from which genius and labor promise
to achieve discovery, invention and knowledge still
more startling before the century shall expire Her
Society for the diffusion of useful knowledge has
done more in the last quarter Of century, to diff
fuse intelligence among the masses and to elevate
them in the social scale, than all the patronage of
men of letters by the wealthy and the great Since
"the revival of learning. 1t is this element of asso
citation which has placed France at the head of
Christcndom, in the abstract sciences. Her "Acad-
emy of Sciences has continued to exist and -four
ish through all the mutations of her government