Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-11-11
Agricultural Address.

Agricultural Address.
The opening address at the Virginia
Agricultural Fair, Richmond, was deliv-
cred on Wednesday morning by the Hon.
William Ballard Preston, formerly Secre-
tary OF the Navy. 1t is production Of
great interest, elaborate but not tedious {;
presenting great array of encouraging
facts, couched in glowing and attractive
language. The subjoned paragraph
gives graphic and inspiring view of The
resources of the Old Dominion
"a kind and bounlifuI providence has
blessed us to an extent unsurpassed. Sit
uated in the heart of the conlederacy, Eir-
ginia embraces within her limits an extent
of territory greater than any of the orig
inal members of the Union. Fronting
on the Atlantic coast, her regions are
spread out 10 a great extent along its
shores, beautifully diversified with hills
and valleys, mountains and plains, that
reach to the Tennessee and Ohio on our
western border. Her climate is mild and
genial enabling our people 10 pursue their
labor in the open air for longer periods
than almost any on the continent; sub
Ject TO no extreme vicissitude of cold or
heat; watered with abundant showers du-
ring the whole year; maturing the crops
lis soil produces with rapidity, certainty
and perfection +; adapted to the growth of
corn, wheat, tobacco, vegetables, and all
the cereals common to temperate climates;
with fruit and flowers in perfection and
beauty with bays, rivers, and fountains
unsurpassed and, as the result of all,
blessing our people with health vigor, and
longevity"
In the concluding sentence Mr.. Preston
gives counsel far wiser than that which
too often flows from the pen and lip Of
the politician and partisan. He suggests
happily how Virginia may attain true IN
dependence by cultvating the qualities Of
self-dependance and self-reliance, and
how she may acquire glory greater
than that produced by clash of arms or
the clangor of the battlefield.
"Our resources, our capital, our labor
are abundant and adequate TO supply your
wants. Diversity your occupation as
you diversity your crops for security and
profit Bring the agrlcuItursl, the me-
chanic, the manufacturer side by side anu
increase the profits on the labor of all.
Shall we be told that the habits and oPln-
IONS of our people are opposed to it, that
the experience Of the past finds 1t better
and cheaper to purchase them from the
North Gentlemen, the painful expert
ence of the present is beginning TO tell a
tale not yet fully revealed. 1t begins to
tell of obligations violated, of anarchy and
confusion. 1t is teaching the lessons of
self-dependence and sell-reliance. 1t is
teaching the South to look to the South
Let us then resort TO our own mines, our
rivers, our workshops and factories, and
our own people. Let us stand on the
banks of The James, of the Appomatox,the
Shenandoah, the Roanoke, the Ohio,
and make them at our command and bid
ding to do the labor of ten thousand hands.
When you do these things then indeed,
will you have improved your agricultural
condition then will you have secured
permanent prosperity and repose then,
and not until then will you have establish
ed a commerce on your own shores and
in your own harbOr ; then will you have
at your command the treasures of the land
and the treasures of the sea"