Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-24
- d Lon Iehn Y. 1917

All letters ~.
EAsEAAS CO. and not personally to either Of the Prpe
4 II q
-'- address Of Hon. Joha V.rWright.-.
We copy from the #sss Tennessee Argus portion
Of Mr.. WRIeHTs speech before the Agricultural and
Meehanicsl Association Of Hickman county deliver
ed at Ceutreville on the 9Th inst The style and
mstter Of this speech display at once the excellent
taste and judgment Of It's author, who has avoided
the dull and uninteresti0g detail which constitutes
the ordinary material Of agrieultursT addresses.
while the topics upon which lie touches are both
attractive and sPPrcpriate. Mr.. FRiaHr5 has won
the reputation Of an eloquent and finished orator.
aud this address viii sustain the highest conception
that may have been formed OF his ability. ~
! I think hear some one fuquirs how are these ex
hibifions 70 prove so beneficial IS you have rspre
sentedi hemi I answer, that through. thsse eommu>
1 Oications Of farmer With farmer. and Of mechanic
| with mechanic, valuable items Of information win
I be impaired which would otherwise be lost And
surely, no man has more use fer inform alton
sound, practical information--thau the farmer and
mechanic l know that It is not So generally I'M
! derstOod am aware that in too many sisnees
parents think that The son who Is 70 be farmer
or mechanic needs no edueaiion-no training., But
my friends, it's a great mistake Why 90 YOU
send your son who is to be physician OF LAWYER.
to school and then TO college, and then place him in
the Office Of some skiful master Of the profession
before you regard him &c capable Of entering upon
The duties Of his vocation = Isis to prepare him for
those duties. Then, Why should not The boy who
is to follow the pursuits Of The farmer or mechanic
be educated also, and prepared for thedues Of this
profession! Nc class Of men has more difficulties
to contend with than the farmers. Il has been
said by distinguished man that che finds giants By
the Eayside of life He must contend With the ele
ments Of earth and air. Snow, storms, frost hail
aud even rains, d8Ws and the blessed sunshine are
his enemies Ehie he remains in Ignorance OF their
influences He who wages warfare with the ele-
meEts Of earth and air in order TO compel them 10
deliver up to him their rich treasures win, without
doubt question, suffer defeat disastrous in pro-
portion to ths ignorance Of heaFs BY which his sd-
Eeraaries are governed. But the farmer who under
stands these laws viii be able, under the favor Of
Heaven, not only to briug forth treasure from the
earth anuusly, but 70 explain the means BY which
hsaecOmPiishes this great work. F" &. as.I ss
I know that it is true that there are many men
whose lives have been devoted 20 scientific aEssti-
gaticns, who make but POOR practical farmers; but
yethe who combines 10 himself scientific knowledge
Of the component parts Of the SOIL and the di8er-
ent manures best adapted TO the growth Of the va
rious crops, together with practical knogledge Of
farming, will, in the main, Outsirip in the amount
and value Of productions him who relies entirely on
bis practical knowledge Bat laying aside the aim
pie question Of profit there are other aud more CO.
gent reasons Why every agrieu turist should be an
eiueated man The farming Community constitutes
the largest portion Of our citizens They are %
lged to bear their due proportion of the burdens Of
government, and they are frequently called on to
make the laws They are, to great ext ent the ex
pOnents Of society. In diacharging his various du-
ties cizen IL is greatly Necessary that the far
mer should be veil informed In keeping mis- ac-
counts, in surveying and leTeling for drains and
highways, acknowledge of arithmetic and engineer
ing becomes necessary. Geology comes, too with its
stores Of learning TO sid him in determining the
structure and mineral constitutions of his lands
AID chemistry, which teaches the value, quality,
nature, and application Of the various manures 70 |
each particular soil and plant is almost infispen
sable to the scientific farmer. IRdeed, might thus
90 through with the whole range Of Science and /
show that there is no department of knoWledre but
that may be made snbseryipnt 10 his use But as I
have already said it is not because Of the fact that
out Of scientific kRoHlsdge be may make profits,
that argue for the education Of the farmer. bu.
because Of his position and importance in society
From his iabOrs we do moi only derive our food and
clothing, but, constituting, they do the largest
body Of our citizens, in gOVerpment where major
lies rule we are dependent them for eur laws
and the rules and regulations Of society.
If the agricultural and mechanical interests Of |
the country are prosperous, every other trade and
profession aud occupation prOspers and when they
laugUish, general gloom hangs over all the rest.
Upon. these two eepartmentss we depend for the |
bread which snstains life for the clothing which I
protects US from the Geld, for the roof which shell
ters US from the storm, FOR all the necessaries and
comforts and Injuries Of life; and when life de-
parts, for the last humble resting place for NOR
tai clay While this is true. ID is als1 equally true
that the farmer is the most independent Occups.
ton Of all others, as wei as the most dignifed.
Surrounded By bis broad acres, aud made cheerful
by bis lowing herds he has but few faVors to ask of
men. he relies for rain and for sunshine, aud for
the due course Of the seasons, upon 4" Him who
tempereth the WiRd 10 The sborn lamb As no
profession is SO well caeula ed 10 impress upon the
mind full sense Of our dependence upon the Crea-
tor for all the blessings Of life inspires the
citizen with more love Of country There many
ilustrrous examples which 60 to prove the truth Of
this remark. lnlarge CT les, where he population
is Dense men are found to be more vicious and sell
fish, and less patriotic than IN rural districts, where
most persons aFe engaged in agricultural pursuits.
The early history Of our own State furnishes many
examples Iuured 10 cell, and daily ia the habit
of holding communion with forests and mountains,
and drawing valuable lessons from the volume Of |
nature a man Of iren Will when some have thought
man Of destiny, in the early history Of his adopt
ed State, won for himself proud position among J
his fellows In after years e astOnished the world
By his powers to comma1d-his cool determination
and his uudsunied courage Before his genius and
brave daring tBs lion Of Eogland bowed with sub
mission and left lin the proud victor Of the field
Elevated by the partalites Of his country the
highest hOaOrS 10 their GUT, ne eXh1oted the iOittest
Qualities Of The statesman comb Ret with the purest
patriotism. He has gone from US, but to day he
lives in the hearts Of his people, and his memory
will be revered forever
On the banks Of the Holster, in beautiful valley.
then a wilderness, was spent The esFlier years Of
another Of youF States distinguished children His
mind enlarged, and liberal like the mountains upon
which he looked in his youth, he filed the land with
his fame and died Upon his tomb stone have been [
written the impressive words ssThe JUST to con
vey TO the passer-by the sstimsion in which he was
held by bis eounlFymen- Towards the deep forests
of the 'dark and bloody ground" youth Of high
and noble ambition Eenied bis way, bidding long
farewell 10 the slashes Of his Wonderland. TTeading
the same paths trodden by the tal warriors Of the
wild West, aud devOting his esriier years to the
pursuits Of the farm his great miud expanded until
il resembled IN It's fair proportions the luge oak
which rears its head above the earth and bids def
ance to the storm 10 time he came TO be the rival
and competitor Of the greatest captain Of his age
By the power Of his eoquenee he filled the hearts Of
his followers with the widest enthusiasm. He may
be aptly compared to that bright and beautiful comet
which on every evening streams, like mighty war;
rior's plume, across yorEesteFn sky. He, too, has
passed away from the earth; but like the wonderful
vfsfksr van have Raen In tha havana he ef im-