Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-24

| do not hesitate to say that IL is periecJly
practicable for mankind TO know the proba-
I bilities of any particular crop throughout
the civilized world with much superior cer-
| tairSfv TO that with which man estimates
his crop. The layman of the scale OF OBJ
servation eliminates error, or they balance
each other. The proposed system is at
once SO practicable and so full Of promise
that we cannot but hope to see its substan-
tial fulfllment. Its influence would be
manifold upon the condition of mankind.
It would at once stimulate and inform hon
est industry. 1t would diminish that preda-
tory class of society which produces moth
ING. but consume the fruits produced by
others. It would enable men better to
foresee what to count upon. 1t would render
prices less capricious, and thereby diminish
speculation, which both robs industry and
tempts it from its pursuits.
The material and moral influences Of
such a system, generally adopted, would be
incalculable. 1t would enlarge the infor-
nation of mankind concerning each other
and their interest in each other. 1t would
thus be better than all peace congresses,
inasmuch as the interests and the sympa-
thies of men are stronger than their princi-
pies. To accomplish these great results, on
which we have scarcely touched AL we need
is nerve. In comparison with an Atlantic
cable, a Pacific Railroad, SueZ canal, it is
a mere bagatelle. Even private means
could accomplish it. The munifcence of a
Peabody or Cornell would suffice to estab-
fish the system. But the Department can
not make brick without straw. 1t should
be properly endowed and sustained. T. e
mere paper and pack thread--the necessary
machinery-should be furnished sufficient
ly, the Government only seeing to its ecc-
nomical and faithful use. There is no rea-
son why statesmen and men of science
should not have at their
command the immense area of
facts comprised in each years experience;
why they should not know what in the
whole civilized word God is doing for man,
and what man is doing for himself; Of the
Great inventory of natural wealth. Stock
can be repeatedly taken and its progression
or retrogression be known as a guide for
action. The Department should have the
means of furnishing to all parts Of the
country and to the people of foreign coun-
tries accurate and important information Of
the physical features and of the resources of
all the States and Territories. In the problem
of the best use to be made Of the public lands,
why should not the Department of Agri-
culture-(or broader one, the Department
Of Industry)-which is the head of all Or
gained means of improvement, receive ade-
Quate means of correspondence, tabulation,
and distribution of knowledge.
And in the education of the people let
their grand fundamental industry be in
structed and informed, both by schools of
science and the diffusion of knowledge
among the workingmen of the country. 1t
would be found that this is no exception to
the rule in all departments of life-that
knowledge is power.
His thoughts and arguments were highly
appreciated by the thinking and practical
agriculturalists on the floor, but condemned
by some gentlemen who had a great deal of
learning but very little sense.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES.
Mr.. Merrill, of Vermont, who has the in
terest of the colleges at heart, seeing the
want of practical wisdom on the part of the
majority, offered a resolution, not so rapa-
cious or greedy, but certainly more likely to
effect something, which at first was coldly
received, but upon second thought was
adopted. 1t was as follows:
''ResOlved, That, as the sense of this con-
vention, we deem it of paramount import
ance to ask of Congress, as we do earestly,
for an additional donation of land, or pro-
ceeds of land, sufficient to found profess
sorship of some of the branches of practical
science in each of the colleges now wholly
OF in part sustained by the previous land
graft of Congress, and also that the War
Department may be directed, at the earliest
practicable moment, to assign an officer of
the army to each of said colleges, in every
respect competent to give mathematical and
other military instruction"
An interesting report on experimental
stations was made by Prof Nicholson, of
Knoxville, which we do not embOdy, because
of its length, but send it to you, that you
may publish it in your Agricultural Depart
ment as a separate article. A long report
was also made favOring the extension of the
military feature of the Agricultural Col
leges, which was referred to the special COM
mittee of one from each State.
COMMISSIONER WATTS.
The Commissioner of Agriculture did not
win any popularity during the sittings of
the Convention. Indeed, he showed him
self too old, or too honest, to sympathize
with the large body of "schOolmen" pre-
sent, and characterized a good part of the
proceedings as ''fOlly." For this, he was,
as he ought to have been, fOrcibly reminded
on several occasions. Although the Con-
vention voted recommendation to Con-
gress to raise the department of Agriculture
to position equal in honor, pay and res
probability to the other departments, l
think it was not done with a hearty good
will, or desire that Mr.. Watts should long
enjoy the position. DR.. LOring, after
cOmpimenting the Convention upon
the thorough aud effective manner
in which the subjects had been discussed,
took occasion TO say that he thought the
remarks of the Commissioner were uncalled
for and entirely unnecessary. Had the
Convention been composed of mere men
who mingle with the great body Of farmers
and catch the fresh strength as il bubbles up
from them, it would have been productive
Of an immense benefit to the country, but
being composed for the most part of
"clOSet' men, who conceived their ideas of
the wants of the farmers from their own
Circumscribed horizon, | fear the action
OF this Convention will not touch the public
heart, and will therefore accomplish but
little good. The good effected TO the farmer
will be mainly from the adoption of Gen.
PattOn's resolutions in favor Of the Maury
project.
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.
Gen. Grant made his appearance on the
third day in the Convention and was vel
coined by the chairman in speech, emil
neHtly appropriate. Grant, the "silent,"
took his seat without a word by the side Of
the chairman, and staid for half an hour or
more. His waning prospects for the Presi-
dency admOnish him that he has too long
neglected the real power and CLING to the
mere vestments of authority. That he
win be beaten in the coming race, all men
not Officeholders, fully believe. The Libe-
raj Republicans are in favor of Judge Dav-
is, of Illinois, for President and Horace
Greeley for Vice President. They hope,
however, that Grant will be nominated by
the Radicals. Let us hope that some good
to the country Will grow out of the melee
that is now going on. 1t was interesting
and instructive to-day to see the immense
cOncourse that assembled to hear Carl
Schurz, the great leader ofthe Liberal Repub-
loans. The galleries were packed with peo-
pie like sardines. All the avenues of en-
trance, the cloak rooms, the space behind
the Senator'S seats were jammed so closely
that not another human being could crowd