Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-01-13
State Agricultural Convention.

The State Agricultural Convention assembled
in the Senate Chamber at Columbus, on wedne.-
day last, for the purpose of electing officers and
considering matters of general interest 10 rela-
lion to the proposed Agricultural College, and
also TO consult on the varied processes and de-
velOpments Of Agriculture. The opening ad-
dress of President Ross, portion Of which we
copy, is singularly emphatic in relation to the
poliico economic sdtus Of farmers throughout the
nation. He claims that farmers do not hold pr, =
portonate share Of official honors and Of wealth.
In regard to the higher class Of Offices, the
speaker is unquestionably correct in his premi
ses, but who arc at fault? Simply the Agri-
culturalists themselves. Comprising, as they do,
two-thirds Of the productive population and pay
( ing very large proportion, both of the direct
and indirect taxes Of the nation the correction Of
that inequality of repres entation and Of taxation
is with themselves.
In regard to the force of production and also
! the accumulation OF wealth, it will be fonnd on
examination that the aggregate productions and
resources Of agriculture far surpass all ether
sources of productive enterprise in the nation.
1t is much the same with Developments OF sgri-
culture as with those of manufactures; it will
be found that the germ Of its prosperity does not
o much depend on aids derived from national
and from State resources as on individual tact,
enterprise, skill and unremtting labor. Let US
cease whining for protection, at the cost of other
interests, and apply that energy Of character and
those boundless national resources which we
possess to works OF productive industry, and Q
may compete favorbIy with any nation or peo-
Pile on the face'of the globe.
One of the motives to such results will be
found in the following resolution offerd by Mr.
LoSG, of Seneca county
Resolred, That all laws to furnish revenues
for the support Of the general government, which
operate directly or indirectly as protection to
manufactures, and to exclude from the American
markets foreign products, are injurious and de-
s,ructive to the best interests Of the great pro-
ducng portion of the American people.
The remarks of Mr.. Ross on the relation o
agriculture to other productive enterprises were
as follows;
The farming interests the most important o
all and yet the middlemen or eXchangers of the
country usually absorb all the hnnurs and Of
fees and a large share Of the wealth. 10 Con
gress there is not a single farmer from the
Northern States, and but one from the South
and there are but fifteen in the Legislature. The
national Commissioner OF Agriculture complain,
that the appropriations for that department arr
entirely too small And we need expect littl,
more from this Congress. The speaker wen
on for some time 10 complain that farmers do no
have enough influence in the councils OF th,
State and nation. The Legislature Of Ohio ha
been parsimoDious with the State Board Of Ag
riculture; has taken awav some Of the funds tina
formerly belonged to Us without making any ad
equate compensation. But the Ieglslatur
should do all possible to encourage agriculture
as it is the foundation Of all prosperity. 1t shou
be made obligatory upon the County Commis
sioners to aid in the purchase and improvement
of fair grounds to the extent Of one mill upon tn
dollar. AS it is, being left optional with them
some counties are wholly neglected, while other
are enormously taxed.