The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-11-09

py the Hou. WM. G. RIvKs, of Virginia:
FsttoU Cdisens Ladies and Gentlemen:
The occasion which has brought Us together and
OF which the various services are now about 10 hs
closed, has been attended with many satsfactions
and has not, we trust, been without useful and
profitable iDstrrc,io to US ALL To us The sOld
Dominiou,' it has been attended with both honor
aud pleasure IL has given us the proud and vsIusd
privilege Cf receiving the soil Of Virginia. and
welcoming to oGr hearth stones, aud our hearts.
our brother farmers and friends of the other
States of the Union
There has been no such family gathering within
our limits since the memorable occasion iust
seventy.seven years ago, in this glorious month OF
october, when onr brethren from the North and
South, (the Great West was the iufaut Hercules In
ms cradle,) came trooping 10, with the splendid
chivairy Of our gallant European ally to assist us
10 deliver onr soil from Invasion, to devote il
thenceforward to the peaceful labors of the hus-
baudmau, and from the redoubts Of yorktown, to
wave tho banner Of liberty and independence over
the whole continent On more recent occasion
1t true, our sister States deputed few of their
distinguished citizens 10 join in the monumen.
tai honors decreed by his native State TO the
great farmer chieftian, who led fathers in that
eveGtful -cene but now we hail, IS our quests the
sovereign people in the persons of those who like
ourselves, are engaged in the quiet and industri.
ous pursuits of private life and who bring their
household deiies along with them.
Nowhere, we fatter ourselves, could such a
meeting have taken place with more OF fituess and
pEtpIlety tDaI III commonwealth, now
the ntral State, on the Atlantic seaboard. OF our
extended Union, the theatre of the closing scene
of the Revolution which established our National
Independence, the parent Of the Federal Coustisu.
ton which made US one people, and ever cherish
ing with fidelity and affection, while they have
been respected by others, those frsternsl relations
which belong to the members Of one great family
of coDfederated States.
Here in the midst of these halo cd and ebdear
ing recolections, have joyfuly welcomed to
this arena of frieLdly competition aud kindred
communion our fellow CitiZens from North and the
South, from the East aud the West; and even when
any one cf them has borne off the prize of excel.
ieuce and superior skill from our own ueighbors
ourselves, We have seen it without envy or re.
piDing, for 1t was brother who won the well
merited need. We all remember in our early
reading, how Hector was incensed at the success
of Paris in carrying off the prize of the
and coveted bull of Ida, 50 long as he supposed
his fortunate rival TO be a stranger; bot the mo-.
ment it was revealed to him that the success ful
competitor was his brother, his feelings Of jealousy
and rage were turned, mot merely into ecquesceuce,
but into q generous sentiment of fraterna pride
and satisfaction.
In tina. enlarged and comprehensive view Of
American agriculture, however, which forms the
province of the National Society, now holding its
annual festival here in the bosom of Virginia in
harmonious conjunction with one Of the Societies
of the State, the agricultural interest of the DIFF
iersnt States are rarely presented in any relation
Of rivalry. Nature has so bountifuly endowed the
grand aud tceming continent on which We live
with diversified aptitudes and capacities Of pro.
ductiOn, that the rural economy Of the United
States embraces almost every variety of culture
known to the Industry Of maD and to each is
assigned, for the most part, distinct and apprx-
priaio locality, SO separated and defined as not
only to avoid the danger of Injurious competi-
tiUns. but to make the productions of one minister
TO the natural wants and deficiencies Of another.
It's that in the Inefficient arrangement of our
great national heritage as al agricultural people,
"AlI natures differecce keeps all natures peace"
To our region have been given the staples Of
Cotton and Rice. to another, Sugar Caue to apoth-
er plant whose conventional u.s. has made il al
article of great and Increasing commercial value.
Tobacco one il endowed with peculiar adyau,n.
ges for the production ef Wheat, another EJr the
Grasses and live Stock, another for Wool, another
FOR Hemp, another for Mining, another for Tim,
ber To all is common the great American cereal,
luaian Corn, but as its abundant production j.
almost wholly absorbed in its lavish domestic
consumption, it gives rise to no serious or dis
turhiug competition among the producers.
Never was The national gIicuiture Of any coun-
try all-suftlcent in taelf TO supply every want
of its inhabitants, whether for food clothing or
lodging-yi yieldiug in overlooking abundance the
raw materials for manufactures, and multiyl
aud most valuable objects for profit liable exchange
az hone aud abroad-adapted by the diversity of
ia productions. to render the different sections
mutually tributary to each others wants-thus
encouraging that division Of labor which under
certain limitations il essential to perfection in
agriculture az in the other arts-and able to build
Cp, by natural and spontaneous influences, proper,
y cultivated and wisely directed the vastest. the
most complete and harmonious system of inter-
ma commerce which the world hss ever seen.
In this great scheme of American agriculture
no one branch pretends TO any special or peculiar
prerogative above the rest. All stand upon the
same broad platform of mutual liberty, and the
security of skill and labor in the enjoyment of
their honest rewards. Each seeks its deyelope
ment under the kind auspices of nature, in the
soil and climate fitted for it, seconded by the
tive powers of human industry and SCIENCE coop
petating with the free air, the bounteous rain and
peIvading light Of heaven.
We sometimes hear it said that cotton Is King
But the agriculture of America, a. its political
constitution, is Republican. 1t owns no dynasty
of privilege or power. lfeuy one of those noble
plants which constitute the chosen vegetable
of the neu uFprld, could fairly aspire to Royalty,
it would bsfbat prince of cereals, Indian Corn, a
proud native of the soil, lifting high its imperial
form and tasseled banner above all its compeers,
and the universally of its and its presence
founding aim to universal sway. But the (ge-
nius OF American agriculture, whose vital principle
Is freedom, accords lnvidious pTeeminerce to
1t is ia this catholic and personal spirit of equal
regard for agricultural interests and pursuits CT all
the States, that the National Society, of which you
Mr.. President, the aonored represent and
organ, desires am sure; TO exercise its fostering
infuence Ithods it's great annual meeting il sue.
cesslon IN each one Of the States, seeks, in COOP
alton with the loca! societies Of each, and embrac
ing thus in the grand cycle of its progressive re.
volution, all the members of the c0nfederacy, 1t
| warns and WHITES them ALL like the bounteous
luminary above Us. by the rays its countenance
and encouragement.
Nor is it by its premium list alone, or, indeed,
any noticeable degree, that this beneficent in1u,
is egerted Ii is bringing together periodical
ly. at one cuianon point OF reunion, the sris
cuturists of the different States, enabling them
10 compare personally their different productions
their different sysiems of hnebsndry their differ.
ent modes OF culture; max ing them conscious how
much these diversities solve to unite them by rcn
dcTiDg them mutual customers and tributaries u
each others wants instead of jealous aud encrosch,
ing rivals that they are the children of great
and glorious country, engaged in the same pious
effort 10 make IL fruitful aud prosperous aud loVn-
ly, to whom seed time and harvest, the eariy and
the latter rain, the palmer worm and the canke,
worm, bring tue same Joys and sorrows and thp,
thsy have only to know each other aud to COM
mune with each other, to feel that they nll
brethren in sympathy and affection, as We'll as in
interest and duty.
There is oue other effect in these periodical a.r
somblages Of the agriculturists Of the Union,
which cannot forbear TO notice. They are thus
made sensible Of their collective power and ibdu
ence for good or evil, and for the consequent re-,
spoDslbiity, in all that concerns the des eD Of
the Republic. If there be any class of citizens,
more than another, constituted by nature aud
providence the guardians of a country, it Is those
whose daily pursuits and interests connect and
identify them with the soil of the country who ire
bound 10 the country by ties not readily or light
iy dissolved and who must meet inevitably what.
ever fortune, adverse or prosperous, may betids
1t.
Their tranquil employments too, in the constant
presence and communion of nature, and remote
from these conflicts and human passions which
agitated more or Iess the crowded centres Of pop
ulation, prepare them, in especial DER for
the calm and sober exercise OF those controiliu 4
functions which, in Republican governments de-
volve upon the great body of the people. The
history of Republics, both ancient aud modern
proves that the landed interest has, in all of them
been the conservative element Of which only libsr.
ty and order could be harmouous!y united. The
some of our cities, within few years past, have
been the theatres, beginning to teach the same
lesson here. and may produce the conclusion that
In America, as elsewhere, Republican liberty amid
the storms and tempests to which it is exposed
will find its only fafe anchorage, at last on the
firm foundation of the soil.
But however, this may be, the agriculturists Of