The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-11-09
AGRICULTURAL ADDRESS
HON. D. M. BARRINGER.

TURAL Sutlklt, Al NhAhLoiih, y. oCT.
27th. 1859.
Jfr. President, Lddi,s and Gentlemen, anil
me nbcrs Of the MeckienJurg agricultural
Society:
4 am glad to be with YOU here TO dav.
l rejoice IN The presence of this large lis
Remhly, brought together Tor common
patriotic purpose. and ac,uMed 10y the
same high Incentives. ! could not. in nv
heart, !iud satisfactory excuse to refuse
the very 1aueriug request made BY the
Committee of Your Association, 10 adj
dress you on the present occasion. My
Judgment caused me 10 doubt whether
could do either tho subject or myself even
partial justice. But my impulses forced
me To decide N favor of Welding 10 u
call made III such UbIig,ng terms, 10 speak
here to-day, 10 NV old friends, and neigh
hors and iormer constituents, assembled
from the old and renowned county of
MeckIeuburg, and from the fertile and
beautiful valley Of the Yadk;n and Ca
tawba-a people among whom and for
whom have spent the largest portion of
my life from whom have always re-.
celved the highest demonstrations Of con
hdence aud respect, and To whom, what
ever he my future destiny in life, | will
ever cherish and acknow edge the pro.
fouuIesl obligations Of gratitude, atmira.
ton and affection
From such an audience, familiar with
my whole course of hie, | may confident.
" claim liberal indulgence for any i'm.
perfe tons which may appear in an Ag
rlcul ural Address, from one, who, though
in early life brought up 10 daily wo,k in
the fled, (Which doubtless, proved to he
ns useful MS any subsequent education
ever re'ei,ed.) aud who has always been
proud to acknowledge the true dignity Of
labor, and 10 respect the cultivation Of
the soil as among the most honorable
and ennobIing Of human pursuits, has
not been in position TO follow it rs the
chief aul practical business of lis lrfe
| wish To attest, 10y my presence here,
to day, the high appreciation have of
htners life and character, and the lively
interest ] t,ke in the cause of Agricutu
raj and Mechanical science and progress :;
and especially To encourage YOU, farmers
of ol Mecklenburg, aud the rich valleys
OF IL" Ia!kiG and Carawba, in the pa.
trlutc aud Jealous efforts YOU are making
10 advance your prosperity and develop
Your rInmense aud varied resources.
congratulate you. members Of the
Mccklruhurg Agricultural Society. on the
success which has attended your organi
cation and subsequent efforts. Living
mrng 20" AT the time, remember the
difficulties YOU had ut first To encounter,
"nd he perSeverlng energy and patience
with which YOU overcome them. You
arc pursuing III the right spIrIi, the land
ahe Object Of the Legislature IN encour
aging even 10y small appropriations from
the Treasury, the formation uf AgriculIu
raj Societies IN the several Counties, As
well rs one Tor the State nj large. You
are thus giving additional interest and
support. and noble prominence to the
great cause Of Agriculture, in one OF the
most elective OF the many ways by which
ihrs good end can he accomplished. The
gteat value Of these Associations aud
Fairs, as generally conducted 10y us in
America, cannot Se doubted. Men, in
teIIigeni men, II public spirit and enter
prise, planters, Hrmer>, mechanics, manu-
cheerful presence Of Other classes OF socie
~, without distinction Of birth or fortune
are hrongh, together, to ace, to hear, to
think aud TO talk TO each other on sub
Jecis deeply interesting To themselves aud
of lnesIinable importance TO all. Thes
come and act together III u spirit Of com.
mon sympathy, Of high emulation and
honorable competition, aud nf the uuhiest
patriotism. They interchange ideas, re-
late their own experience, as we'll their
failures rs sue. eSses, report discoveries
and make suggestions on the cultivation
Of the soil and how To force our mother
earth TO yield in abundance, her hidden
and mysterious treasures. They show
Their imy rovements in the implements ot
huShand'y, and exhibit the hnudiwork Uf
useful art, not indeed, for sale and traffic,
as in The old world, where the wealthy
do not faternlze With the poor, and where
ihs titled, lay blrlh or creation, TOO often
do not feel aud think in common with
The lowly in life or humble station, even
though he lie natures true nobleman--
an honest man. A lively interest in the
chief and most important occupation Of
mankind is excited aud continued -men.
tai activity is aroused. knowled se is in
creased aud the inventive genius Of the
country IS simulated and encouraged !;
and no where in the world has it produc.
ed such wonderful and useful results TO
mankind, as in our own America; saving
the time. the motley aud labor of all who
toll in the fields or the workshops, and
chespeniug the cost OF production TO all
who are compelled to pay for the neces
saries OF life. How often this is called
the age Of improvement and progrt ss--
ihough progress is not always improve
ment. Still We learn wisdom even from
tho follies Of mankind. Here, too, men
are made TO feel that labor does not de
grade, but ennobles and exalls the labor
er, increasing his owu proper self respect.
and securing the good opinion OF those
~hose appreciation is worth having, either