Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-06
UNION CITY.
Sixth Annual Fair of the Central Arri-
cultural and Mechanical Associate
of Southwest Kentucky and
West Tennessee.
Address Of Gen. w. B. Bate.

! fair of the Central Agricultural and Me
cllanical Association of Southwest Kentucky
and West Tennessee opened to-day under
very favorable auspices. The weather i,
fine and the occasion drew toeethera large
crowd of the citizens of Tennessee and
! Kentucky, who are interested in the indus
! trial pursuits of this section. The displav
Of articles on exhibition is highly creditable
to the ladies and gentlemen of this
| section who have entered into com
| petition for the premiums offered by the As
ISOLATION. Both AS to quality and variety the
| articles on exhibition will compare favorably
with those exhibited at any Fair in Tennes-
| see or Kentucky. This remark is particr-
larry applicable to the articles prepared and
exhibited by the ladies.
The Union City Brass Band is in attend
ance, and adds largely to the interest of the
occasion.
The address Of Gen Bate was the feature
of the day, and it was delivered in the Cen
erals most eloquent style. 1t elected
marked attention throughout, and the
speaker was interrupted by frequent out
| bursts of applause.
Address OF GEN. BATE.
am here to-day in response to an invita-
ton from your ''Central Agricultural and
Mechanical Association of Southwest Ken
lucky and West Tennessee" to participate
in ceremonies suitable to the occasion, which
calls together in generous competition the
products Of Agricultural and Mechanical
labor.
There is an acknowledged propriety in
the manly sons of % the Dark and Bloody
Ground" and those of ''theVolunteer State, y
meeting at Union City," in friendly ri
valry.
They have stood side by side on the field
Of glory, and snatched reputation from the
lannon's mouth, as they have, when, feeling
the sting of defeat, yielded to the adverse de-
crees of imperious fate. 1t is equally tasteful
that their Incompatible daughters should
likewise assemble, bringing with them their
beautiful and delicately wrought offerings at
the same shrine, and gladden. with their
presence, and brighten with their smiles,
scenes that rival those of Olympus, when
her gods presided, or the tournaments,w which
acknowledged woman "the queen of song
and star of chivalry."
The scene around me shows how deep an
interest is felt by you in all that pertains to
the first and natural vocation of man; an in
tereSt, which finds thrOb Of sympathy pull
pulsating from the great lObes of the COM
mercial mart, down the arteries of busy
trade, to those eXtemities where its life
blood is generated and sent back in its re-
newed and vivifying current. However
varied may be the taste, culture and mode
Of life of civilized men, or how widely diff
terent their geographical locality and histor
zeal identity, yet, each is as dependent on
agriculture for sustenance and success, as is
the river upon the fountain for the bright
waters that compose its deep bosom. Is it
not good fortune, in any man TO be in
partnership with the fertilizing atmosphere
and the teaming earth; and by "joint action"
produce a yield that brings life and joy unto
the worlds great household, and remunera-
ton to the weakest and most dependent
member of the firm? 1t was mine in boy
hoods life TO actively participate in this gen
eroUs partnership" where all the capital is
furnished by its ssilent members" earth
and air and light and heat and moisture,
whose drafts when properly drawn, are
never protested, but. in due course, are paid
with accrued interest, from the silent and
constant working, by day and by night, of
their inexhaustible investment. OF later
years, however, though always holding a
limited interest in this grand old firm, my
fate has been along the path that runs over
violated contracts and broken laws; one,
too, that is often darkened by the fierce con-
tiicts of social interests, and embittered by
the warfare of human passions. 1t has been
mine of late years to deal with man in
strife with his fellow, and with the law which
is intended~tO govern him. Occupying a
standpoint where the antagonsms of socie-
l.. ,. r.
is often seen under the guse of assumed
virtue, and craft and cunning ply their willy
ways to circumvent the unwary; where, be-
fore the dignity of the bench. the mOunte-
bank is made to leave off his brayadO, and
the rufian ceases his bullyism; and whittier
all the diversified interests of enterprise and
speculation tend, that they may find COM
mon arbiter-sOme seeking and others avoid
ing justice.
In seeking TO be qualified to represent the
rights Of those who have been wronged,
and to advocate the cause of injured limo
cence before this tribunal where human
strife prevails, my vision has Of necessity,
been partially shut out from the broad and
inviting fields Of nature, though always
painting for them, as doth the hart for the
wateT-brOOk.'
The laws Of vegetable life are not encOm-
passed by the narrow limits of the legal sci
ence, nor their action governed by rules
susceptible of different construction. The
most erldite Judge, the most brilliant advO-
cate, while they sometimes may, do not,
teach, and are not required to understand,
by what subtle process the plant doth grow,
on what it feeds, or, when whiting from sick
ness, what is the panacea for its restoration.
They look at soil from their professional
standpoint, only to determine doubtful
boundaries, and settle disputed titles. In
doing this, they ask not that soil to unbosom
its secret resources and analyZe its ingredi-
entS; nor the air, to discover its salubriOuS
and utilizing elements. The law has its
mysteries and its beauties; but the mystic
res Of the dew and rain, of the cloud and
the sunshine, of the heat and the cold, the
storm and the calm, are not of them, ex-
Cept, as the Act Of Cod they inCiden-
tally affect rights which have to be adjusted
between men.
Although thus cut off by professional pur-
suit from the daily contact and investiga-
ton Of these interesting questions, which
are the hand-naids to the study and practice
of agriculture, (for my mistress is jealous
jade and brooks no dalliance with other
beauties), yet | am deeply interested, as are
all men, in agricultural prosperity. The
culture Of the field challenges my admirs-
ton as the earliest and noblest occupation Of
man, since Adam stood all alone in the
recollection of his fall" Agriculture APP
peals to my interest as it does to yours, be-
ing interlaced with the vital fibres of every
interest in the land. As man, claiming to |
belong to an advancing and enlightened |
race, i appreciate it as an essential element |
in civilization; as patriot, regard it as the !
surest bulwark Of my country's liberties
liberties, too fast decaying by illegal traffic /
and corrupt speculations, as well as from the /
burthensOme taxation of her generous sub |
eCts; as a christian, l hail the study and /
practice of agriculture, as a cOunter-irri- |
tant' to that national disease, general de- |
which, of late years, has been
angendered by the unnatural excitement /
growing out of the civil strife, reckless ex-
penditure, and that artificial plethora Of the
public purse, that has lent itself to private
until, around our crowded marts,
Ill circles seem affected with the contagiOn,
and the good old lines of distinction between
ole11n and tenn are fast becoming but le-
yend OF. the past and myth of the present.
1t is alone i'll the quiet walks of rural life, in
he virtuOus population Of the agricultural
districts that We can, in this regard, hope for
'elief. With these more general claims am
connected with the occasion and its theme;
while you as ecchsirety agriculturists are
II