Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-11-03
mr.. w. e, Rives's Address.

cultural Society, near Richmond, on fT!uay
last, by the Hon. Wm. c. Rives, of Va:
Fell0U- Citizens, Ladies, aud Genttemen:-
The occasion wnion has brought Us together
and Of which the various services are now
about to be closed, has been attended with
many satisfactons, and has rot, we trust,
been without useful and profitable instruc'
tions to Us all To Us of the "O.d Donnie
ion," it has been attended with both honor
and pleasure. 1t has given us the proud
and valued privilege of receiving on the SOIL
Of Virginia, and welcoming to our hearth
stones and our hearts, our brother farmers
and friends OF the othor States OF the union'
There has been no such family gathering
within our limits since the memorable ocea-
sion, Just seren!y-seven years ago, IN this
glorious month Of October, when our oreth'
rem from the North aud the S'uth, 1.-THE
Great West was then the ioiaot Hercules 10
his erade,) came troopipg in, with the
splcndid chvalry Of Our gallant European
a!ly, TO assist US to deliver our soil iron H.
yasiou, to devote it thencet0rward 70 the
peacetul labors of the husbandnan, ana
from the redoub,s of Yorktown, to wave the
banner of liberty and Independence over the
il is true, our sister States doPuted few OF
their distinguished citizens to j9ln US IN the
monumental honors decree1 By bis native
State to the great farmer chlc!tain, who led
our fathers 10 that eventiul scene; out now
we bail, as our guests, the sovereign people
in the persons Of those who, like ourselves.
are engaged in the quiet and industrious
pursuits Of private life, and who bring their
ou.ehod deities along With .hem.
No where, VIC fitter ourselves, could such
meeting have taken place with more oil
fitness and propriety than in this ancient
Common eal:h, now the central State, on
the Atlantic seaboard, Of our extended
Union, the theatre OF the closing scene OF
the Revolution which established our Ma
ti0na Independence, the parent OF the fede'
raj Constitution which made us one peonle,
and ever chershng with fidelity and ait'c'
ton, while they have been respected by 9TH
ers, those fraterual relations which belong
! to the mem bers of one great family OF con-
federated States.
Here, in the midst Of these hallowed and
eudearing reooilacsions, We have jOyfully
welcomed to this arena OF friendly c0mpetl
tign and kindred communion, our lellow.cltl-
zans from the North and the South, from the
East and the " est; ard even when any one
| of them has borne eff the prize OF excel
| ence and superior skill from our own neigh
| bors or ourselves, we have seen II without
envy or repning, tor il was brother who
won the wel.merited NEED. We all rcmem-
Der, in our early reading, how Hector Was
! incensed at the SUCCESS OF Paris 10 carrying
eff the prize Of the magnificent and coveted
bull OF Ida, so long as he supposed his lortu-
patc rival to be stranger; but the moment
! il was revealed to bin that the successful
competitor was his brother, his feelings OF
jealousy and rage were turned, not merely
into acquiescence, but into generous sent!'
meot OF fraternai pride and satisfaction.
10 that enlarged add comprehensive view
of American agriculture, however, winch
forms the provirce OF the National Society
now holding its annual festival here IN the
bosom of Virginia, in harmonious coaJunc'
| ton with one Of the Societies OF tie State,
the agricul tural Interests OF the different
States are rarely presented 10 any relation OF
rivalry. Nature has 50 beautifully endowed
the grand and teeming continent on WHICH
we live, with diversified apt!tudss and capa-
cities OF production, that the rural economy
of the United States embraces almost every
variety Of culture known to the industry OF
n9n; snd to each is assigned, Tor the most
part, distinct aud appropriate locality, SO
separated and defined hot only to AVOID
the danger Of il furious competitions, but TO
make The productions OF one minister to the
natural wants and deficiencies of another.
IT'S thus, that, 10 the benet,ent arrange
ment Of our great national heritage us an
agricultural people,
GAIL natures difference keeps all natures peace.
To one region have been given the staples
| Of Cotton and Rice, to another the Sugar
Cane. to another plant whose conventional
use has made it 90 article Of great and in
creasing commercial value, ToUucco; one Is
endowed with peculiar advantages for the
production of Wheat. another for the Grasses
and Live Stock, another FIR Wool, another
for Hemp, another for Mining, another for
| Timber. - all is common the great Amcrl-
can cereal, Iadan Corn; but as lis aJundant
production Is almost wholly absorbed 10 It's
lavish domestic consumption, 1t gives rise 70
no serious or disturbing competition among
the producers.
Never was the national agriculture of any
cOuntry so all sufficient in iteelf to supply
every want of its inhabitants, whether for
food, clothing, or Misunderstanding in over.
| Fl lwiug abundance the raw materials Tor
ma nuiactures, and multiplied and most val
liable OF jects for profitable exchange at home
and sbrOad--adaptcd by the diversity Of its
productions, to render the different sections
mutually tributary to each others wants -
thus enc ruragiog that dv.eion OF labor,
which uuder certain limitations, is as essen
tia to perfection 10 agriculture as in the 9TH
er arts-aud able to build up, by Natural ard
Spontaneous irfuences properly cultivated
aud wisely directed, the vastcst, the mes:
complete and harmonious system Of Internal
commerce which the world mas ever seen.
In this great scheme Of American agricu-
ture, no one branch pretends to any special
fasOr or peculiar prerrgative above the rest.
All stand upon the same broad platform OF
mutual liberty, and the security oi skill ehd
labor in the enjoyment OF their honest re-
wards Each seeks its development, under
the kind auspices of nature, il the soil and
climate fitted for 1t, seconded by the creative
powers of human industry and science CO.
operating with the free air, the DOuutcous
rain, aud pervsdiug light Of heaven.
We sometimes hear Is said that Cotton Is
King. But the agriculture OF America, AS
lis political constitution, Is Republican. /;
owns no dynasty OF privilege or power. II
any one OF those noble plants which const
tute the chosen vegetable races OF the new
world, could fairy aspire 10 'yaity. 1t