Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-14
SKETCH OF GOV. JOHNSONS ADDRESS AT
THE OPENING OF THE STATE AGRICULTURE
AL FAIR.

Al FAih.
Governor johnson addressed the audience from a
table at the foot Of the steps of the Amphtheatre
on the right of the principal enlrence. When his
voice became audible ut the point designated for the
reporter he saying, that amidst the press of his
pGbic duties he had found no tine to prepare con
nected address, and that his talk would have to
be without method or order. But genius would have
TO be extremely barren if something of interest
could not be said a subject OF so much import
ance that suggested by the present effort to adj
vance the interests Of agriculture and the mechanic
arts. Ii Is true said he, but little has been done in
reference to this subject for the encouragement OF
agriculture and mechansms. hut when we regard
tire effort before us TO advance these great interests
IL ought inspire the heart OF every man and wo
man in the country TO prosecute this great work
with more earnestness and zeal. These gentlemen
who have undertaken this great work, certainly des
erye much credit for what they have done.
Ladies and gentlemen, what ! shall have to say
will doubtless prove dull and prosey to most persons
man cannot get up and make a speech on agricul-
turc as on most other subjects 1t is one of those
subjects not at all adapted off hand speaking 1t
is subject that has to do with facts and statistics
requiring clear examination, but when we come to
look the subject of agriculture in broad sense as
connected with the politics Of the country, we can
say something perhaps Of general interest," without
going into those analysis. l know that TO some
critical minds it will be deemed inappropriate for
me TO make an address of this character. But as |
aol wholly uuprepared for this OCCASION shall make
the best can of a few facts and deductions shall
speak in general terms.
Let Us look for a moment at the great interest of
agriculture Ii constitutes the leading element of
the prosperity and greatness Of this country. |
know we are sometimes 10 look to the ministry, the
lawyers the doctors for greatness But what we're
they without the agricultursts and mechanic: With
ont the agricuturists and the mechanics of the
country. what would your government be Itwould
be nothing All have to rest on the agricultural and
mechanic arts. They are at the base; they cOnsii-
"e The very foundation of every great Interest othe
government. Il Is eminently proper therefore, that
The mind should he directed 10 that foundation. for
without agriculture and the mechanic arts your gov
eIhWeh must ultimately give way fou g. 20 the
large '.ues OF our country, and in many INSTANCES
you see there that hey are subject the spirit of
me moo 10 flo. and miSrule, and all that sad des
crpug" Of things. Eur where do you go to find a
healthy people, sound ia mind and morals? Where
rural districts. amongst the agriculturasis
and mechanics Of the country Tn. re we find hon
est, inieugent energetic, viru0us men, and ever
sound in reference to all questions connected with
our governmental affairs
Ii has been said by of the greatest political
economist that ever lived that the man who makes
two blades OF grass grow where one grew before is
benefsctor Of his race" On the subinct oF cr.ss
then let us indulge in a brief examination Of facts
connected with that product of Agriculture starting
WIN tnl~ pnlOSOpulC lltA that he who kos two
blades Of grass TO grow where but one grew before i
a benetactor-following this idea where will il lead
u.s. In 1910 the amount Of grass cut and baIe8 for
market amounted 10 I3.OO0.OJO of tons Purs,lir,
this inquiry little farther and coming down from on
beginning Of two blades of grass TO the year 1850
We tuj by the best estimates that the croD If rss
cut for that year amounted 10 Is 600 coo of tons
setting this down at 80 cents per hundred or $40
per ton. what enormous result we have - one |
hundred and fifty million Of dollars worth of grass,
and mostly in four States of the Union We
talk about cotton, tobacco, rice and all that but
when turn to the simple product of grass we |
find that II amounts to more than sill the cotton to-
bacco and rice produced in the United States TAX |
ing the exports Of the last year Of the product of
rice cotton, and tobacco, and we find it amounts IN
about one hundred and fOrty-eight millions of dol
lars; whilst the simple product Of grass amounts to
one hundred and fifty millions But whilst we are
on this great product of agriculture grass we need
not stop here We have only estimated the value of
that portion Of this crop of grass which goes into
the market. We have taken into the account
the value Of the psstursge which it produces, and
which must be worth at least one hundred and fifty
millions mole to the people. We see then that this