Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-09-16
Ma. PREsrDENT-Gentlemen Of the So
ciesy and Others:

MAX. i NI-VGUSSC"scWy G"C AZ
ciesy and Others:
INTRODUCTORY oBsERvATIONs.
As q general thing, no person has .
right TO call tor . hearing or undertake
TO write or speak to others unless be has
made the subject upon which be writes
or speaks . specialty,-one to which he
has devoted especial attcntion,--and as
to which, therefore, it may reasonably
be presum ed he possesses information
and facts not generally known. l had
the pleasure, q some present may rec
ollect, to deliver the Address at your
First Annual Fair, now some seven or
eight years since. While ! feel hOnored
in receiving another invitation Of q SIND
liar character, ! must yet be permitted
10 observe that feel unaffected en-
barrassment as to the manner in which
shall essay to perform the duty ex
pected of me on thi. occasion. Vague
generalites are seldom Of any practical
value. On the other hand mass or
collection Of dry statistics, however val
liable, would be inappropriate. How
ever, it may be with others, ! can truly
say Of my self that in undertaking to pre-
pare an address for occasions OF this ma
ture, am the subject Of two separate
and perplexing difficulties. wish, on
the one hand, to avoid mere talk-va
porting and valpeless gene, aIitles; and
on the other to avoid being SO entirely
matter Of fact, SO plethoric of details
that few, it any, would at least willingly
undergo the labor of undertaking to fol-
low me through the uninvlting course.
! shall esteem myself fortunate, there
fore, il | shall be able to blend and in
termingle details with observations of q
more general nature, in such manner
a. to say something which will challenge
your attention, and DO worthy perhap,
of more than merely passing consid.
eraion.
Except some limited attention to Ag-
ricultural chemistry, the studies and
pursuits Of my life have been appropris-
ted to subjects either wholly collateral
to, or in no intimate degree connected
with the science or practice of agricul-
ture.
The field which am expected to ira
verse is 10 INC, therefore, to very great
extent, terra incoynita. | will give
you my crude views and first Impress
ions, claiming for them no especial nov
city or value, for just what you may
think they are worth.
As Americans we like to know how
the workings Of our institutions, oul
manners, habits, views and modes o.
living, thinking and doing impress fol
the first time impartial observers from
other countries.
While we are FESTIVE under criticism,
and chafe at pictures whose chief faults
it is possible, may be that "thev are
drawn to Nature too severely true" we
will vet read, even if we deem them dis
torted, prcjudiced and partial, the let
ters Of Boz and the communications
of Russell. So, the views and opinions
which | shall venture to express are
those simply of an observer at dis
lance, or OF traveller through An unfa
miliar region take them at such dis
count as you please.
PEACE HATH HER vIcyoRIEs-HAPpY
CONDITION OF THE AMERICAN FARMER.
A long and unusually general period
OF peace, especially on the western COZ
tinent, has not failed to shower down
upon us its accustomed blessings. The
great mental nergy.and physical activ.
ity, which form such distinguishing tea
lures of the present age, instead Of be-
ing impressed into services of some am.
bilious monarch or tyranical ruler for
the destruction Of a neighboring gov.
eminent and the subjugation OF its PEG
pie, have been directed to tho cultiya.
ton OF the arts of peace. And the re.
suit has afforded to the world striking
exemplihcation Of the great truth uttered
by the poet:
Peace hath her victories not less than war"
and victories Of a more blessed and be.
nehc'ent character. Among the more
prominent Of these victories. is an in.
creased attention towards, and an aug.
mented appreciation Of the nature, dig
n'ty ana Importance Of the agricultural
vocation.
Truths can frequently be more str;k.
lngly presented, and more permanently
impressed BY contrast than in any othe,
manner.
But slightly over 200 years ago. the
feudal system existed in Eugland snc
most Of the countries of the continent
America was then almost an uninhablt
ed wilderness. BY that system, a sys
TEN Of military tenure, a few despot,e
oarons owned the great body Of the
iand' Who With the contempt which mil
itary habits arc too apt to engender to-
wards the peaceful pursuits Of agricuI.
iure' d'sdained to cultivate the soil
themselves, ard in consequence par.
ceied 1t ont to those whom we now call
farmers, but whom they denominated
UassGls. These vassals were under tho
control and dominion of their lords.
1ney d'd not own the land as you own
yours with the fee simple residing in
them and possessing an unrestr,c,ed
power to sell'or will it away: Init thew
lived upon the lands - tenants onlvE
subject to removal at the arbitrary
caprice end will of the lord, and
paying, in general, not a fixed rent or
compensation for their use,sbut . rem,
measured ont BY tho greedy hands Of
the landlord himself, and v hich usually
absorbed oil that was made except !
ocauty auhsistanee.