Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-14
A ID ID II Z s S .
Delivered at the Fifth Annual Fair OF
he Tennessee State Agricultural
Bureau, October 18th. 1858,


vitation which has conferred on me the honor
and happiness of being present with you to-
day; and especially do thank you my fellow
citizens. for the cordial reception which you
have Just extended TO me. .rl--
| return, fall of gratitude-never dying
gratitude for all the kindness. personal. social
and political which, through long FIFE yOu
have never failed to bestow upon me. ! re-
turn to mingle in no political contest whore
each party is struggling for ascendancy and
power. but to witness, with joy, your cOntin-
ued zeal and progress in the most ancient,
useful and honorable profession ever fol-
lowed by mantle profession of Agricul-
ture.
Four years ago. when assisting my fellow
citizens of East Tennessee to inaugurate their
first annual Fair, | proclaimed that the spirit
which animated that large aSsembly-the
spirit that had animated the seven or eight
thousand persons at Nashville and Gallatin
on similar occasions, gave unerring assur-
ance of a triumphant victory over every OBJ
stacle.
In the next year. had the honor of meet
ing my fellow-citiZens of the Western Dis
trct at jackson, at their great annual Exhi-
bition of that year. Looking over the vast
assembly and gazing on the noble specimens
of Agricultural production. / could not with
hold the exclamation, Fortunate country!
Happy people! In all this, who does not hail
the future greatness of Tennessee! Who does
not see the hand of wise and overriding
Providence. reckoning her onward to the very
highest destiny among her sister States of
the UniOn!"
If these were my sentiments and opinions
at the opening dawn of this great enterprise,
you may well imagine how joyous must be my
emotions on returning once more to Tennes-
see. and standing in the midst of her farmers
and planters. the proud compeers of those of
any other State, in the noble work of Agricul-
tural improvement.
The Statesman, tOiling and laboring for re-
nown. wins his way to the gratitude and add
miration of his country; the soldier painting
for glory. amid the smoke and carnage of bat
tie is crowned with the laures of victory; the
man of science, stretching his cable from con-
tnent to continent, snatches the lightnings
from the Heavens and sends them flashing
around the world. speaking the language of
every people who inhabitit; but none of these
can fairly outrival the patient, dignified and
enlightened cultivator OF the earth. Such has
been the Judgment of mankind from the re-
hottest ages. The name of Cincinnatns Is as
much hoBOred in the page of Roman History
by his devotion to Agriculture, as for having
driven back the invaders of his country.
The villas Of Cicero and Hortensus at Tus
culum attest their Yeneration and attachment
to an occupation which the Georges OF Virgil
have rendered immortal" So of our own
great Washington in modern times. He was
called from the corn and wheat fields of Nir-
ginia, to command the armies OF the RcVOlu-
ton; Jackson was conducting in person, his
planting operations in the fields of the Her
mita9e when he was summoned to the com
maad Of that army, which soon covered him,
rs well as itself, with immortal honor Mr..
Webster and Mr.. Clay, when walking amid
their flocks and herds. and the great Carulin
ian at his simple homestead, exhibited more
true nobeness of character, than when pour
ing out their matchlcsS el0quence IN the for
um or the Senate House.
In the United States we have every reason
to suppose that this appreciation Of Agricul-
ture is not destined ever to lie less than at the
present period. In the early years of the
Republic it was strongly impressed on the
public mind that the nations of the old world,
and more particularly that from which we
had separated, were i'll at ease under the
new form of government which we had estab-
lished.
The apprehension could not for a long time
be resisted. that one or more Of them might
seize on any favorable moment. arising out
of our discussions or other exterior cause, to
extinguish the light of our free institutions,
which, flashing over the regal governments
of Europe, might reveal the dissatisfaction OF
their own subjects. II ,nce ii that all
that related to our national defence, our
army. our navy, and the Notifications on our
extended line of sea coast, received our
marked and especial attention, as far as our
limited resources would admit. Even when
Louisiana was purchased, the acquisition was
hailed chiefly as an increase OF national
power by which, in future times, we should
be better enabled to resist aggression and tn
maintain. unquestiOned, our new position
among the Independent nations of the earth
But the United States have long been assured
against all those apprehensions. They now
proudly repose on the firm conviction that
their liberties and the form of government
which they have established can never be sue
cessfully assaied. They feel and know that
whilst they will never ask of other nations
anything but what is right, they can
never be compelled to submit to that which
is wrong.
In our vast accession of territory in Texas,
California, and Oregon, no considerations OF
increasing power. in any possible collision
with foreign nations. ever mingled III The
slightest degree into the negotiations When
these and other new States, formed out OF
our own territories, came teemlng into the
Union. the all-absorbing idea was more
States and more territory for The future farms
and homes of the sons and daughters OF free
dom-cheap and abundant subsistence for
them aud their descendants for ever. No one
ever thought to enquire how many new
regiments they could bring into the field,
or what fleets could float on their magnificent
lakes and rivers. Climate, soil, minerals,
adaptation to manufactures and to the me-
chanic arts were keenly enquired after
and were the sole elements that entered into
all these grand expansions of our country.
when these acquisitions of territory shall
| be fairly analysed and the facts connected
| with them shall take their proper places ii
| history. the American character will stand
| fully indicated against the charge of inordi
| nate lust alter power and dominion. Sh'
! will not only stand indicated against thu
| charge of aggression. but she will stand on
| foremost among the nations OF the earth a
| having done more than any of them in pro
noting the good of mankind by the encour
agement of agriculture and its dependent art
, and sciences These are the solid foundations
on which must be built the happiness an'
! prosperity of every people. Let Englan'
have it, if she Wilt, that she possesses tbs
| largest fleet that sails or steams on the ocean
! let France truly boast that she has the hes
appointed and disciplined army in the world
let Russia exult in her battlements and tow
ers that frown defiance to all Europe-but lie
il be the pride and glory of America to hav
done more TO promote the happiness and pros
perity of the general masses of mankind tina
any nation of the old world: more, by tn
establishment of a just and equal form c
representative government; more, by the law
full acquisition of territory, best suited 1
furn shng them with the most abundant, an
even elegant, subsistence; more, by the EN-
couragement OF manufactures and the mt
chauic arts essential TO their comfort and cor
venience; more. by the diffusion among al
classes of the blessings of IA sound, ihoroug
education. indus trial, moral, and intellectual
Let my country excel in these, and | al
willing to concede to other nations 'ali th
pomp and circumstance of glorious war"
OF course 1 have DO opportunity TO discus
these great elements of national prosperis
Each of them is itself theme too vast fo
the present occasion. As agriculture Is th
o,. a. ,fcb thav ali rast 7 shaIt rnr