Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-02-19
THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
inauguration Of Hen. Iasob Thompson ss
Prssidsnt-Hls Address.

The Agricultural SoCisty's Board Of
directors met yesterday evening, At
the hall Of the Chamber Of Com
meree, and We are gratifsd 10 an
nounce that Hon. Jacob Thompson
accepted the Presidency Of the soci-
ETY. In an address, replebs with good sense
and sound suggestions, which speak we'll
Tor the future prosperity Of the institu-
ton under lis administration. In read
ing 10, every n will be convinced that
he has taken hold Of the aff4irs Of the So
ciety a. the proper time. and that he -
the right man in the right plscs. But OF 9
mar can do nothing, unless be il sustained
DT the whole community. In 20 desira-
be an object as the establishment Of a
permanent q prosperous Agricultural
Society in our midst, we suppose there Is
no difference Of opinion, and there is no
interest which will not feel fts benefit.
If all interests viii cordially unite. sue
cess IS assured. The Directors will sus-
tain the distinguished President in every
EFFORT 90 give a new impetus to this organ
tzattOu, and We trust the Stockholders and
community generally will hold up his
hands, Tee following is his address on
taking the chair:
ADDRESS.
For the handsome manner IN which
you have called me to preside over YOUR
society, az well as for the position as
signed, i thank yOu. But I very much
fear you have mistaken yOur man. I have
no experience, no familiarity with the
operations OF such Institutions. If by
industry, application and fidelity 20 the
trusts COnhded, i could cherish the hope
Of giving success 10 your society, /
should not hesitate to undertake the task
imposed. But in looking over the whole
ground and ia weighing all the duties
required 1T my hands, I see how impos-
I aHLHa 90 g. L-a "a H~. 90
on and enerEsllc,t0 accomplish any good
or give any reputation to your Asslcia-
tan by and in himself. He must have
the warm, cordial and united cooperation
/ and assistance of all its msmbers. with
out it, failure is inevitable; with it, by a
long pull, g sJrOu1 pull and a pull alto
/ ge5her, we can do much, we can effect
Tar more than we expect. We certainly can
make our Association q success, pay our
debts, give value to our stock and confer
great benefits upon the community, as-
peCially to city and section Of the
country. Does this spirit animate the
minds of the members Of this directory
Does it exist with the stockholders Of this
society," Are We all willing TO give a
helping hand to the work, and 90 declare
that we know no suCh word as fail2 II
there be lukswarmuess and Indifference
on the part of the directors IN attending
its meetings, in performing the several
duties assigned them, in imprsssing upon
others the necessity, importance and ad-
vantage Of sustaining our association in
its labOrs, or on the part Of its members
and the community in cooperating cheer
fully in all our arrangements, we had
better disbsnd at once and divide our
property ~abandOuthe work and ackuOwl-
edge the incapaci5y of Southern geo
pie to accomplish the ends set before US.
But, assured as I have been on all sides, that
there is a determined purpose, both with
the directors and the members of the assO-
citation TO come up 20 the work with g hear
ty good viii, and 20 shirk no duty Imposed,
with an Unfsigued dIstrus5 in my own
fitness for the post, / accept i5 with
grateful feelings, relying implicitly upon
the ready, active ard efficient aid. drst
of all the members Of the Association,
then Of the press and the community.
Our position is most favorable for the
holding Of a successful Fair. Our grounds
are ample, and can be made beautiful and
convenient. Our agricultural and hOrti-
cultural products cannot be eXCellsd,
either in the quantity produced 90 agiven
amount Of land, in the quality of the arti-
Gle raised, uOr in ahe beauty richness and
variety OF O vegetables and flowers, and
their prCfusiUn. It is a mistake to sup
pose our section of the country is only
suited to the growth of cotton. All the
cereals grow as well and in great perfect
ness. lU is a stock country also. Hogs.
cattle, horses, mules, sheep, poultry of
every descriptiau-iu short, every grain
or vegetable Oh animal useful
for man-Can be raised with
ease and brought to the highest
perfection in our midst, and our Agricul-
Lural and horticultural Fair ought to
show IL. And i5 will show it if we can
suCcsed in Interesting the sgriculturists
of the country. ar0using their pride. and
proving to them that il is the interest Of
all to make the exhibition q Success to
convince every u who may wish to
make MS home in u section.
We have, TOO, mechanics among us,
skilled and faithful, aud all they need to
secure the full patronage of the country
Is to show that their work equals the very
best hat can be- brought TO cur market.
All they want IS a field in which to sX-
hibi5 their work, and thus convince the
consumer that by going away from home
to purchase be gets no bstter article. Our
ladies are as skilled in all the works Of
the needle, and in all articles Of taste, as
any in the world; and our artists are not
afraid TO place their productions side bv
side with those rt the most celebrated in
all tho county. In a word, there is
nothing in agriculture, or mechanics, or
art, in which we should decline to show
our hand IN order to assert our superior
ity when we may have it, and learn our
deficiency when we are indeed deficient.
To bring the country up TO this point, to
induce all classes of our CitiZ5ns to enter
this field of competition, and thus keep up
with the progress OF the age and contrib
ute our share to the advancement of our
country, and to the settlement Of the
South, is the task we have assumed; and
if we are true TO the cause and to one an
-MLa. go .gHH Aa--a-T