The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-10-11
The Proposed Cattle Show-Letter from Hon.
.Willoashby Newton.

r.... LINDEN, October y, 1850.
MyDcar Sir,-I have read with the most
respectful attention your polite letter, IN
which YOU earnestly request me, as presl'
dent of the Agricultural Society OF Vr.
ginia. TO lend my cooperation to " horse
and cattle show' and general fair, which
YOU and other gentlemen have notified the
bubble will be held during the first week
in November. / avail myself OF the
earliest possible moment to reply, and my
convictions as to the line of duty are 80
strong and clear that l trust you will par
don the frankness and earneStness with
which may express them. This subject
has already been deliberately considered
ibya!the Executive Committee. An in
telligcnt subcommittee, after full time for
inquiry. determined that it was inexpedi-
emit, if not impossible, to hold d fair this
fall.
concurrod entirely in the correctness
of this decision, and in compliance with the
views of the Executive Committee, and, as
| supposed, the wishes of the people OF
Virginia, issued the call for meeting OF
the Society, and of the farmers generally,
for consultation, on the 10th of November.
should be assuming great responsibility,
which could only be justified by the most
wcighty considerations, il were now TO
initiate any proceeding to change this de-
libcratcly formed arrangement. il see
nothing i'm the several articles from the
Dispatch and other papers with which l
have been favored to Justify my interpoSi-
ton. The statement in one of the papers
that we have called meeting of the So
cietv to assemble at the Ballard House is
entirely without foundation. The Messrs.
Ballard have politely rendered the use of
their halls and parlors, which may be
found very useful for committees and for
private consultation. but We design to pro.
cure for the meeting of the Society the
largest and best-lighted. hall in the city,
sufficiently capacious to accommodate the
largest audience; and cordially invite all
citizens of, every, class, merchants, me-
chanics, professional men, and farmers,
who feel an interest in the agricultural
regeneration of the State to aid Ills by
their co,msels. ...i ",.t t." ,.'. .sstI ~.
| I fear, my dear sir, that you and other
gentlemen who advocate this measure do
! not recognize the true condition Of the
farmers as a class that We are. are poor,
stripped of almost everything but our
lands, without money, without equipages,
and almost without decent apparel, strug-
Cling for very existence, and sustained
only BY strong will and firm trust in
Providence. People in such circumstances
are in no condition for public exhibitions.
Pardon me for quoting, in aliteral sense, the
sentiment of Latin poet, which comes I'M
hidden to my pen: Haud .fdCile emag'nt,
quorum uirt,ttiIus obStet, Res augusta dOmi.
The great charm of our fairs has been
the general attendance Of the families OF
the State, both from city and country,
mingling in affectionate and animated in
tcrcourse, and lending grace and attrac-
ton to the whole scene. A few from the
| cities and from the line Of the railroads
would probably attend, but the farmers
families must necessarily be absent. They
feel that their proper sphere of duty now
| is at home, in assisting the labors and light
eniag the cares Of their husbands and 70
Tiers. There is something always respec-
table and attractive in virtuous- pow
| erty, but there is sublime grace
in the cheerful, refined, and self-denyr
ing restitution which now distinguishes
the cultivated classes. Of Virginia. Let
us not destroy this charm by exposing
our families at thistime to the public gaze.
In such an exhibition, II IIfear9 with our
shattered coaches, faded finery, and nm
kempt steeds, we Should nlakeias sorry. q
figure as did the fismilyof the Vicar of
! Wakefield when they attempted to hold up
ttheir hcalls.' AuI aaEIAI4A AglKaai .2t
We have, l trust, yet left to us some
good stock and our: ingenious apd patriotic
artizans would doubtless be able to- make
a respectable show; but the greatcxpecta-
ton seems 10 he from Pennsylvania and
other States. Of course our premiums, If
offered, would befree to ak 4 Virginia is
4 not now regarded by PsnasylyMlial Us d
State. Wonld our State Society, If it sent
I representatives to the State Society OF
Pennsylvania, he recognized IN that cha
racter! Does it compOrt with our dignity.
to invite the Pennsy Hania State Society
to send representatives to u.s., For my
part, / indulge ne yindictiye feelings to-
wards the people of the North, and am
willing to meet them at any time as friends
when they consent to meet US as equals /;
but so long asiI represent the sovereignty
OF Virginia in py4ealaeity A will never,
4 bysany 'Rction Of mine, even seem TO admit
her inferiority. The premiums would pro.
badly be taken chiefly, by persons gut OF
the State, whose means and opportunities
are more ample than ours. Would il be
proper to ask the generous people OF Rich:
mond to contribute. out Of their diminished
! resources to encourage foreign Industry ?
Would IT be judicioas Orright' for the au-
thorities Of the State Society 70 lavish its
funds. which have, duri % all our troubles,
been carefully husbanded, on such an Oh.
ject? A.,
y But, my dear ar, ths work befbre US Is
too earnest 70, be-. Interrupted by 2 vain
| show. 10 is Tho moral and intellectual
power of the State that we wish 70 bring
into action, that ne may breast the dific ul-
ties Of our position Anda devise. means for