The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-10-25
Agricultural Societies.

AGTlCu4GUId4 d4 SOC1OG4O0e
The following article from the Lynch
burg (va9 Ne,os, on the subject of Agri-
cultural Societies, is quite as apppropri-
ate to this State as to Virginia; and we
commend it to the attentive considera-
tion of our readers:
While everybody is SO deeply concern
ed for the reconstruction of the Union, 1T
| is somewhat remarkable that so little at
tention is given to subject OF equal, II
not of paramount, importance-the recon
struction of the State in her social and
industrial interests. The impression
seems to prevail to great extent that
everything depends upon the admission
of our Senator'S and Representatives to
the Federal Congress, and national poll
tics, consequently, absorbs the popular at
tention to tho exclusion of domestic and
local affairs. Now, while it is conceded
that representation in the National Gov
ernment is very sacred and valuable
right, yet there are interests nearer home
of even greater practical Importance to
every citizen of the State-interests 30
intimately connected with our prosperity
as individuals and as people, that they
are really indispensable to it. The sue
cess of the Presidents policy, the admis-
sion of our Congressmen, and the restora-
ton of our State to position of perfect
equality in the Union with all the other
States-desirable as these things are, they
will not cure our worst ills, they will not
ynfn
pockets the money necessary to meet our
wants. It is not doctrine of sordid ma
terialism that the dearest interests of a
people depend upon the development of
their natural resources and the increase
of their wealth Money or wealth, as q
means is sine qua non food and raiment
for the body, education for the mind, can
not be procured without it. 1t is required
for building and keeping up railroads and
canals, for erecting churches, and for the
support of ministers and teachers.
a sage has said, "The greatest public
benefactor is he that causes two blades of
grass to grow where only one grow be-
fore" 1t cannot be disputed that agri-
culture is our chief resource as people /;
and to this fact are we mainly indebted
for the nobility of character for which the
South is distinguished. Whatever, then,
may tend to- the improvement of agricul-
ture has a just claim upon the attention
and active support of every one among
US. He cannot be wise or innocent who
looks with careless Indifference upon any
measure of enterprise tending to the pro-
motion of general prosperity. 1t is in
this view we urgo the propriety of resus-
citating the State Agricultural Society,
and the revival, under it's auspices, of the
annual Fairs, which created such whole
some interest in the popular mind before
the war. The industrial pursuits and in:
terests of our impoverished section need
every stimulus that can be applied to
them. Nor let it be supposed that the
necessities of the people are sufficient for
this purpose avarice is blind, and cannot
see beyond present temporary advan-
tage, often obtained at the price Of future
permanent injury. Especially in agricul-
ture, will it not do to labor with reference
merely to immediate gains, without re-
gard to the future. The worn-out old
fields all around us attest the folly Of such
q policy. What we want is, that gener-
GUS rivalry among the tillers of the soil
which the comparison of results at the
fairs naturally inspires, that intelligent
electism in farming which overcomes the
obstinacy of ancient prejudice, and COM
bines the elements of success drawn from
various and numerous experiments. The
system of annual Fairs is the most eff
cient agency for producing these results
that has yet been employed, and deserves
to be perpetuated.
But there are many more benefits re-
sulting from Fairs. 1t gives to the far
mer and his family an opportunity for
pleasant and profitable recreation, once a
year, in visit to them, where they meet
with a vast concourse of colaborers and
kindred spirits, have an opportunity Of
inspecting and procuring the latest i'm
provements in agricultural machinery,
and buying and selling superior stock and
seed and they learn, by the most infali-
BILE tests, the extent of the States resour-
ces, and the relative value of lands in the
different sections. The advantages of
these Fairs to mechanics are too obvious
to be repeated, and to all classes, indeed,
the benefits to accrue from them seem to
US perfectly apparent. We call upon our
brethren of the Press, then, in all por-
tions of the State, to raise their potent
voice in advocacy Of the early resuscita-
ton Of these powerful engines Of material
prosperity and enlightened advancement.
- The Richmond correspondent of the
Danville Register tells the following anec-
dote ahnnt Cen MAllarhanY" Johnston.