Eastern times., 1855-10-11


and there the tints of early autumn, but vet
more impressed as the broader valley of the
Susquehannah opened upon us with fertile
fields on either side, with the picturesque gap
of the North Mountain, with the Blue Noun
tain in the distance, presenting sketch of al
most unrivalled boldness and beauty.
And now, sir, what shall say Of the gra-
cious manner in which it has been your pleas
ure to receive me in behalf of the Pennsylvania
State Agricultural Society," | am deeply
moved and deeply grateful.
Ii is gratifying to witness on any occasion
such representation of the patriotism, intelli-
gence, industry and high moral tone OF pow
full commonwealth which recognizes no dis
tinctions among its citizens but those which
merit and worth confer. But especially in
spring in such a scene as this, where the yeo-
manry-engrossed during the year in their
own pursuits, living upon their own acres,
cultiyating their own soil, experimenting the
interests oftheir own demain-honest, thought
full, reflecting-but much secluded by the very
nature Of their noble and independent vocation,
have come together for better purpose than
to criticise and condemn the sentiments and
opinions of others. Passion and prejudice are
left behind to-day Social spirit, Just judg-
ment and kind emotions rule the hour You
have come TO examine and compare the pro-
ductions, the stock and utensils of your neigh
bors, not to find fault with them, but to i'm
prove your own, and |, by your invitation,
have come among you 10 enjoy the occasion,
and with you TO be gratifed and instructed.
1t is remarkable fact that in this country,
where public law imposes no restraint upon
labor or lnnOcent diversion, We have fewer hol-
idays than any portion of the civilized world
Such gatherings are useful, in a social aspect,
and with our present knowledge of their prac-
tical importance, the only matter of surprise is
that societies like yours were nor earlier es-
tablished, and that they are not now more gen.
orally encouraged. Men engaged in other
great interests of commerce and manufactures
are, from the nature of their pursuits, brought
together in cities and dense communities, and
Independent of their chambers of commerce
and corporate arrangements. have almost daily
and hourly intercourse. There is with them
continual communication of thoughts and in
terchange of sentiments and opinions. Mate
rial facts are ELECTED and communicated with
telegraphic rapidity. Are not these advan-
tages most important to the two great national
interests to which l have advertedl Could
they thrive without themi Are they not, in
deed, Indispensable What bat this inter-
change of thought, rivalry, if you please, of
genius and invention, has whitened every sea
with your canvas' What but this, let me ask
the distinguished gentleman, (turning 10 the
Hon. J. P. Kennedy,) standing near me upon
the platform, who recently presided over the
navy department, has made your ships as
staunch and swift as any which plough the
waves of ocean, What but this has given a
velocity TO your spindles and a perfection TO
your fabrics, which enable American manufac-
lures TO compete successfully with the civilized
worldl And yet, let it be remembered, your
pursuit of agriculture is the basis, the founda-
tion. the only sure support of both the others.
Without it, their shuttes would cease, and
their ships would decay at their moorings.-
A very short crop throughout America for a
single year would not only cripple all the 9TH
er interests, but it would seriously affect the
commerce of the world. The agriculturists
literally teed and furnish the material of cloth
ing to our busy millions at home. and hasten
to supply the argent wants of suffering multi
tudes abroad when the voice Of humanity
comes to you over the ocean.
The cuItivator of the soil who does not real
ize these things lives unconscious of the true
dignity of his calling.
What agricultural societies have accom-
plished cannot be computed, but | think i; safe
TO say that IN examinations and comparisons
instituted on such occasions as the present, in
respect to the cultivation and gathering of
crops, the wants of the farmer have been clear
ly disclosed, invention has been stimulated,
and the needed machine, process or chemical
combination, has been discovered and produced
to supply the want. In proportion 10 the num-
bers occupied, the science of agriculture is
doubtless better understood, and the art more
skilfully practced in some parts of the old
world than in this, the new, but we are on the
march. impelled by the energies of young
and free people, with state agricultural socie-
ties leading the way, and they who will main
tain the advance must content themselves with
no slow movements Meanwhile we may re-
gard with Just satisfaction our improvement in
machinery and utensils applicable TO husband
ry, some of which have gained such distin-
guished consideration al the great exhibitions
in England and France.
Your vast territory, your central position,
your climate, your soil, your facilities for
reaching the great commercial marts, the
boundless sources of your mineral wealth con-
tributing to your general power, impose upon
the sterling population of the Keystone State
the duty of taking the lead in practical hus-
bandry and in agricultural art and science.
Nature and the events of history have inter-
posed upon you, in these respects, and in 9TH
ers, responsibilities which, under the provi-
dence of God, can rest upon no other state
You, my countrymen of Pennsylvania, consti-
tute the. political centre of this glorious union
Of states, an which you are an impregnable
empire, out of which you would be an empire
doomed 10 woe, distraction and decay. How
are these, your grave responsibilities to be
nett How are these, your solemn duties to
be discharged Ifever this noble arch of lib
erty shall be undermined, or shall crumble,
the crash of the Keystone will be most fearful
and falkland it ought to be.
can never touch the soil of Pennsylvania
without nvountarily recurring to the stirring
| incidents of her history, which, instead OF
being shaded or obscured by time. are inevita-
bly,, as years roll on, to be brought out in a
stronger, clearer and more glorious light
Within her borders the declaration of inde-
pendence was drafted, signed, and proclaimed
to the world. To the memorable convention
of the United Colonies on the 25th of June,
l776, she declared through her delegates met
in conference, in favor of absolute separation
from the mother country Within her bor-
ders the constitution under which we live was
framed, adopted, and signed BY the Father OF
his Country and those associates, whose pat
riotic labors, like his own, will never be for
gotten, though signatures may fade and
4 l.