Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-12
in all the elements of prosperity as well as
beauty and may soon congratulate ourselves

in all the elements of prosperity well as
beauty, and may soon congratulate ourselves
upon the fact that the American manufacturer
is supplied with wool from AMERICAN focks,
and that the people of Tennessee will buy no
more Irish potatoes, apples, mules or hay from
sister States.
Tennessee has already assumed high and
proud position in the rank of agricultural
States; she has successfully competed with
and triumphed over. the agriculturists of the
civilized world in the two great and indis-
pensable staples of wool and cotton. 1t may
not be invidious. (for it is certainly no dis
paragement 10 others,) to remark. that MARK
r. COCKRnL. ESQ.,, of the county of Davidson,
at the worlds fair in London, wrung from the
assembled wool growers of the civilized world.
the reluctant confession that Tennessee pro-
duces the finest fleece known to man. Thus
establishing. beyond controversy, (and con-
trary to the almost universal opinion pre-
viously entertained,) the fact that wool, supe-
rior in quality and equal in quantity, can be
grown in low ATTITUDES as well. or. indeed,
better than in a more rigorous climate
While, at the same fair, our not less distin-
guished citizen and agriculturist. Col. JOIN
PORE, of the county of Shelby, received the
premium for the best cotton known to the
world.
These were great triumphs, of which Ten
nessee, as well as those distinguished indivi-
duals may well be proud.
But will Tennessee maintain the high stand
she has taken 10 the line of agricultural
States? Blest as she is. with soil generous
and almost inexhaustible, susceptible of al
most every variety of crops-wlth a climate
at once free from the rigOrs of the North, and
the discomforts and epidemics of the South;
with bone. sinsw, and muscle, which has the
ability and knows how to labor-with
intelligence sufficient to direct that labor in
to the most profitable channels OF production
with railroads and navigable streams, Civ
ing easy and prompt access to the markets OF
the world. stimulating Us to renewed efforts
and increased production: will she make the
necessary effort to maintain this proud posi-
ton? Let the results of fhe future answer
If she fails to do SO, however, she will have
the humiliation of knowing that, with all of
those great natural advantages, owing to
want of proper energy and effort upon the
part of her people, she is retrograding and
failing to keep pace with the improvements,
spirit, and progress of the age.
But | fiatter myself with the fond hope that,
in the future, as in the past. her progress will
be steady, onward. and upward in every de-
partment of productive industry and improve
ment, and that her future may be even more
brilliant than her past has been successful
Let each one OF us, who compose the Junior
class of agriculturists, earnestly resolve, that
from this day, we will strive to improve upon
the lessons of the past, and each year we will
become better farmers. Let us emulate the
brilliant achievements of our successful Sc
niors; the field is large and ample for i'm
provement and laudable competition, and
there are laurels yet to be won as green and
as attractive as those so wOrthily worn by
our fathers in this noble vocation.
Our State, in the establishment of the
Agricultural Bureau, and providing for Coun-
ty Agricultural Societies, and State, Division,
and County Fairs, has taken an important
step in the right direction. l do not know of
auy other State in the Union, which has been
equally LIBERAL or to use better word, equal
" Just to the great industrial interests. And
if the design of the act creating the Bureau
is fully carried out, each county in the State
will have it's annual fair, at which all branches
of industry will be represented; comparisons
of excellence instituted. new theories tested,
and eminent success in every department OF
labor secured and acknowledged.
This should be so. would have these fairs
a weeks holiday for the people, at which all
classes should be proud to compete, and the
awards of which should be as eagerly sought,
and as highly priced, as was the palm of the
Olympic Games, or the laurel Of the Roman
cOnquerOr.
Inc sIOulu ny al means iui'J
appreciate the Importance and dignity OF his
vocation and position. They were farmers
who wrested these beautiful lands from savage
sway. They were farmers from the HOlston
and Watauga who fought the battle OF King S
Mountain, and checked the progress of British
power in the South. They were farmers
ave! Tennessee farmers!-whO. at Talladega,
Emuckfaw and the Horseshoe, saved the
feeble and helpless from the whetted toma-
hawk of the Greek Indian. They were Ten
nessee farmers who were foremost IN protect
ing the beauty and booty of New Orleans
from the ravages of the enemy, giving to the
second War of Independence its most brilliant
victory.
But will not pursue these themes. 1t is
unnecessary here, where all around me is full
of them. The presence of this vast con-
course is in itself tribute. more eloquent
than any / could utter, to the cause of
agriculture and mechanical industry. 1t re-
mains for me only, as the organ of the State
Agricultural Bureau, to welcome to these
grounds, the people of Tennessee. To the
jewellers among the romantic mountains and
smiling valleys of the east; to the cultvatOrs
of the prolific soil of the Middle Division; to
the planters of the fertile west; to the
mechanics and manufacturers of the whole
State; to every man who hOnOrs useful labor;
and last in the list, though first in our atiec-
tons, to the mothers and daughters of the
State, without whose presence the first
garden was "a Wild" and in whose absence
there could indeed be no tair-tO all, a cordial
welcome!