Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-01-09
VOL. xxx.
VERMONT STATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

Treasurers report was read and accepted, from
which il appeared that the expenses of the So
ciety during the past year in fitting up for the
Fair, paying help, &C., was Sl509,30
Amount paid on premiums, 1870
Total paid out S2S47,0j
The receipts for membership and from
other sources during the same time
was s2sj6,73
Leaving balance in favor of the So
cietyof s9,6S
The premiums on field crops yet to be paid
will probably amount to $40 or $50, which will
more than absorb the balance
The funds on hand belonging to the Society,
including interest due Jan. LIST, amount 20 the
sum of S377s,23.
Daniel Needham, Corresponding Secretary
of the Society made an interesting report which
is as follows:
4lL. President and Gentlemen Of the TeIpiom
State agricultural Society:
Our Eleventh Annual Fair was held at Rut-
land on the 10th, 11th 10Th aud 18th days of
September last. 1t was held at time of great
public excitement; when the whole country
South as well as North, was moving its armies
of soldiers to the field of battle when business
was completely prostrated and all classes of
men shocked by the horrors of a civil war
which was then upon us. The friends of our
Society, looked forward to the Fair with many
misgvngs and had it not been that the party
at Rutland, with whom this Society had entered
into written contract, to hold its next three
Annual Fairs. at that place, were unwilling to
allow postponement without a claim for
damages, the lth Fair of the Society would
have been postponed to the present year.
Sympathizing in the general feeling of dis
tress and regarding the Fair of 1861 ques-
tionable experiment, the Directors determined
that, as it must be held, no effort on their part,
should be spared to secure it success.
Approaching the fact, that the people enjoy
the intellectual entertainment of the Fair, the
Directors, at very early day, instructed the
President and Corresponding Secretary to pro-
cure an Orator. A letter was Immediately
written to the Hon. Cassius NJ. Clay, inviting
him to he present and address the people at
our annual gathering. Mr.. Clay promptly re-
piled, positively accepting the invitation of the
Society. But short time afterward. being
appointed by President Lincoln 10 Foreign
mission, he WI te a second letter, saying, "that
public business would oblige him to decline the
invitation for the present." A correspondence
was then opened with the Hon. Andrew John
son, of Tennessee. with the view of securing
the services of this distinguished patriot and
statesman. Gov. johnson replied, that it would
give him great pleasure to come to Vermont
and speak at the Fair of the State Society, but
that the distressed condition of the country
and particularly of his own state, rendered it
somewhat doubtful whether his public duties
would allow of his being present. Yet, he as
sured US, he would be with US, if possible
Getting no positive reply from Gov. Johnson,
the Committee in the latter part of July, invit-
ed Gov. Sprague and the Hon. Josiah Quincy,
Jr., to be present and speak at the Fair. Both
of these gentlemen, Internationally accepted
the invitation. But the official position of
Gov. Sprague, rendered his presence impera-
lively necessary at Washington, at the very
time Of the Fair A letter was received by the
Secretary from Gov. Sprague, regrettng his
inability to be present, which letter was com
municated to the press of the State for pubi-
cation.
The Hon. Josiah Quincy, Jr was present
and delivered most acceptable address latter
which, the Hon. James Wilson, of California
addressed the people; giving great variety
of useful information in reference to the golden
State. The close attention given to these
gentlemen for more than two hours. furnished
the strongest assurance that their addresses
met the wants and expectations of the people
Had not the second day of the Fair been
stormy and the opening of the third day of Q
5, doubtful character, the occasion would have re.
It suited satisfactorily to the public and the
Society, as any of our ten preceding ex.
\ hibitions.
l. 1t is but justice TO say, that the grounds al
Rutland. in all their arrangements and appoint
q ments, were far more convenient and elegant
y than any previously occupied by the Society.
} Not so much can be said Of the hotel ac
II co modations. k'Ihe hotels at Rutland furnish
, e ed excellent accommodations so far as the'
furnished any but sufficient preparation hat
not been made to accommodate the great mum
Der who usually attend our State gatherings
r. Had the second day been pleasant, there woult
- have been great Inconvenience experienced b.
IN strangers, in securing comfortable quarters
This is matter, which the public have a righ
= to expect will be properly looked after by tn
ID Society, before the recurrence of the Fair O
/ this year.
Since our last annual meeting, the State ha
~ repealed the law, which gave an annual Bount
a to the County Societies. What the niluenc
he of this repeal will be upon our County Socie
nu ties it will be difficult to determine. Th
. Bounty was small but small as it was, it un
doubtedly brought into life or stimulated to il
creased activity, many County organizations
1t is singular fact, that purely agricultural q
er er is our State; dependent upon its agriculture
at industry and the development of its capscit
"a, as a field for agricultural labor for its prom
nence and success, that this little patronage, Ii
N only evidence of paternal care the State man
er tested in the employment in which seven-tentf
'es of its population are engaged, should be take
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