The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-11-01
THE DAILY DISPATCH
MORNING, NOVEMBER i. ia5s

STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The following is the Report of the Presi-
dent of the Society read and submitted by
him on Monday night last, and referred to a
committee of thirteen as before reported
GENTLEMEN OF THE SOCIETY: Another year
ofthe existence of our State Agricultural Soei'
ETY. having passed, you sre assent iedto VII.
ness at your second Exhibition and Far the
evidences of an improving agricuiture-to
receive from your executive officers reports
of their administration OF the Society az
fairs since your last annual meetng-and TO
deliberate upon and to ADOPT the pest meas
ures for securing the successful future opera
tion of the Society," and for advancing the
great interests of agriculture.
l congratulate YOU upon the concurrence
of the many happy circumstances under
which you meet. Abundant harvests and
high prices will repay the industry and en-
terprise of our farmers. "a decided spirit OF
agricultural Improvement pervades the com
munity. Peace, prosperity and plenty pour
their unmeasured bounties throughout our
happy country and the enjoyment of so
many blessings claims our unfeigned graft
tude to the Author of all good, who has
vouchsafed to US such unparalleled benefi
cence.
The report of the Executive Committee will
set forth the transactions of that body during
the past year. 1t only remains for lne in the
discharge of my duty as your chief executive
officer to present to you the results OF my
own observation and experienee-and to re.
commend to you such measures ofpohcy and
reform as the most careful reflection have
convinced me that the intense, if not the
very existence of this Society, imperatively
demand.
Your first exhibition and your last great an
nual meeting impressed the minds of all with
the conviction that the permanent establish
ment of the Virginia State Agricultural socie-
ty sh ould no longer be q matter of experiment
or of doubt. They demonstrated that we
possessed all the material, the mind and the
spirit, necessary to the building up of the no.
blest institution of this kind. But the most
difficult task by far yet remained to be &C
complished: it was that of giving direction
lead to useful results worthy of the Society
and commensurate with the great interests of
agriculture.
In the report of the Executive Committee,
which had the honor of submitting at your
last annual meeting, it was distinctly announ-
ced, that ''the collection and diffusion of use
full knowledge connected with agriculture,
should thenceforth constitute the leading OBJ
ject of the Society"
ricultural Society which did not contemplate
as its highest object the collection and diffu-
sion of useful knowledge, although it might
hold the most splendid exhi billions, and over
flow with numbers and with means, would
nevertheless, in the end prove to be nothing
more than an expensive, vain and empty pa
rade, useless in fact in effecting any improve
ment either in the science or the art of agri
culture
Val hoe &c &c
ciety, and which views are more fully set
forth in my special report made to the Exc
cutive Committee-upon the objects of the
Society and the duties of the Secretary (see
appendix Al it will at once be seen that there
is here broad field for the development OF
all these great interests upon which the pros
perity of the State depends. In word this
Society has mission to fulfil inferior to none
in the limits ofthe Commonwealth Whether
it shall fulfil this mission or whether IL shall
have its day and pass away as have many
similar associations, will absolutely depend
on its administration, securing the hearty
confidence of the members of the association
as well as that of the agricultural classes
everywhere.
Iffavor or affection or desire, of personal
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT be thought to influence these
who from time to time shall direct its admin
istration-Or if the power be exercised, be
lclt W tu6 lTTcSpOuslUl6 lu6H-u matt6rS mol
how pure or how disinterested their official
conduct may be-distrust will sooner or la.
ter spring up-unity will be destroyed-int
est in its operations withdrawn, and the cher
ished hopes of its friends be ultimately de-
stroyed. To prevent such results, it becomes
necessary that your organization should BIZ
so constituted as to guard against the dan
gers to which l have beforehand to thai
end would respectfully suggest the follow
ing measures of reform:
LIST. That hereafter at each annual meet
ing of the Society, it shall organize by the ap
pointment of Chairman to act during tha
meeting.
p That the nomination of the President
Vice Presidents, members of the Executive
Committee and the Secretary, shall not be
made as heretofore by the Executive Com
mittee, but by committee of thirteen to be
chosen from your own body, after the follow
ing manner, viz
8. From each of the four grand divi
sions of the State three members of the nom.
mating comittee of thirteen shall be elected
upon nomination of majority of the mem
bers present in the general meeting from
these grand divisions respectively. TIL,
Chairman of your meeting to appoint th,
thirteenth member.
4. That to the committee ofthirteen thus con
stituted and appointed shall be committee
besides the duty OF nominating officers, all re
ports emanating from the executive depart
ment of the Society-with instructions to ex
anime and report on the same, and were gen
orally to prepare and report the business to
be acted upon by your general meeting.
5. That your President shall have author
ity to select and nominate all the assistant ex-
ecutiye officers including Agricultural Com
missioner, Chief Marshall and others, such
nominations to be confirmed or rejected by the
Society in general meeting-or ad anterem
by the executive Committee.
.. That the Secretary shall not be mem
Der of the Executive Committee.
Z. That the functions of the legislative and
executive departments shall be kept separate
and distinct
g. To the President as the chief execu.
tive officer of the Society all the subordinate
officers such as Secretary, Commissioner and
Chief Marshal should be responsible, and the
reports of all officers shall be transmitted to
the President and through him to che So.
ciety.
9. All Legislative functions to be discharp.
ed by the executive Committee of which the
President of the Society shall be Chairman.
A full record of all transactions to be kent
by the Secretary, which shall at all times Be
subject to the inspection and examination
of the Society.
If ever this Society is to rise, in its efforts.
above the mere secondary object of getting
up exhibitions, If ever it is to enter with sue.