Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-10
HUNTSVILLE, Ala.
AIabamians Arousins Up.

Last Monday we visited Huntsville, Ala,
by invitation to aid in organizing an assO-
ciation of the farmers, mechanics, mer-
chants and professional men, that shall re-
dound to the benefit Of all Of the people of
North Alabama, bringing about a more
thorough development of all their material
interests. This was once one Of the
wealthiest and most enterprising sec
tions in the South, whose population were
noted for their intelligence, refinement, hos
pitality and public spirit. But with the war
most Of their riches took wings and flew
away, taking also much of their native
energy and thrift, leaving the people despon-
dent, their farms now only too plainly show
ing lack of proper and active cultivation,
and that prudent care 80 necessary to re-
cuperate the soils too much worn with con-
slant cropping in cotton with no clover to
fertilize il. They find the labor, upon which
they now have to rely, almost worthless be-
yond bare subsistence. They don't raise
half supplies of the cereal grasses, while
their stock raising is wholly neglected. The
Oldest and most experienced farmers are so
disheartened that they do not give it their
personal attention; and the young ones,
having every thing TO learn as they go, are
realizing with the older ones each year that
the laborer works for his, and not his en-
pLOyers interest, by which many Of the
wealthiest citizens are forced to look to 9TH
er sources than their large landed estates
for the means Of meeting the necessary ex-
penses Of living. Profits are out Of the
question.
We found the people Of all classes fully
realizing the situation of affairs, and they
all seemed determined to take the matter in
hand, and by fully cooperating together or
ganize upon the plan proposed, making it
successful in repairing the waste places and
developing all their resources, till that sec
ton shall challenge Kentucky and Tennes-
see for the palm Of successful farming and
prosperous business of all kinds. We re-
iOiced TO see all classes, through their repre-
| sentative men, willing and anxious to aid in
every possible way the formation Of the As
sociatiOn proposed, and to make it success
| and we are satisfied when we see such men,
with such earnestness and determination,
| take hold of such matters, that success will
| be the result, and great good will inure TO
| all departments of business and TO all
their people. They fully realize now that
| the farming interests constitute the great
substratum Of all prosperity, and that the
| lawmakers and all others must In future
not only recognize this great truth, but that
the legislation of the country should be
/ framed TO foster and build up this most inn
| pOrtaut industrial interest.
| Monday was bitter cold, but they went
| forward, nothing daunted, in all their plans,
| looking to the best interests CT that inpOr-
tant section Of the State; and men, old and
| young, of all classes, We'd with each other
in seeing who could best work and best
agree in making the occasion one of success
The papers of that city, in noticing the
speaking of the day and night, refer to it in
very flattering terms. We take the follow.
ing from the AduOcGte of next day:
The meeting on Monday to organize an
| Agricultural, Mechanical and Commercial
Association, was organized by calling Gov
r. Chapman to the Chair, with Mr. John
W. White, Secretary. Mayor J. L. Cooper
introduced Col. Killebrew Of the Nashville
| UNION AND AMERICAN, to the audience
who addressed the persons present fol
about an hour, in an interesting, suggestive
instructive and practical manner. His re.
marks were very appropriate and well cal
culated to promote good, and they wert
well received. j. o. Griffith, Esq, Of tht
same paper, also made some happy ant
humorous remarks.
AT night very effective addresses wers
delivered by Messrs. Killebrew and Griffith
4 Of Nashville, and by Mr.. Newman, Of Lin
coin county, Tenn. We were glad to Sc,
50 many out, in spite of the extreme cold
nsz. We think cur people will take hol,