Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-05
THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL
CONGRESS

NO06i I'm.
The meeting Of two associations national
in their character and scope, at st. Louis,
on the 9th of May last, and the CONSOLE
dation Of them int one compact body,
marks an advance in the history of associ-
ated effort on the part Of the agriculturlsts
OF the country, that is praiseworthy, and
justified by the isolation of the farmers as
class, and their weakness heretofore in all
matters that required united effort. The
spot selected for this marriage of the two
associations was singularly appropriate, by
reason Of its geographical position and its
superiority and prominence as market for
agricultural products. There are gathered
vast stores Ofthe farm products ofthe west,
broughE in By the Briarean arms which this
giant city of the Mississippi valley has
stretched to every point of the horizon.
We are sure that in no part of the world
has there ever assembled body of men
engaged in agricultural pursuits more
earnest, more intelligent, and more able
and determined to elevate the vocation of
the farmer. Participating in the delibera-
tions of the associations were men whose
fame is scarcely limited by the boundaries
of the civilized world and, what was quite
as Important, they were for the most part
men of practical thought and experience in
the pursuit, in the interest of which they
came together. Men from the rice and
cotton fields of Carolina and Georgia
counseled with these from the great grain
growing region Of the northwest, and with
the tobacco growers of Kentucky, Tennes-
see and Virginia, and the opinion was
general that an effort is positively neces-
sary on the part of the farmers to
place agriculture on basis which
its importance to the country, in
an industrial point of view, demands. The
action Of the body was entirely harmoni-
Gus. 1t was actuated by desire to do
something to dignity and make farming
more respectable; to treat of those interests
that are general, to consider agriculture in
its rational, net its local point of view; to
suggest and provide remedies for the many
disadvantages under which the farmer now
labors; to set on foot the grand project of
Commodore Maury, by which the farmer
may be informed as to the agricultural pro-
ducts in the several countries of the world,
and not be vietimized by relying upon the
partial and uncertain reports of spectators
and those whose interests are often in an
tagonism to the producing class.
Steps were taken to encourage organize
tions among the farmers, so as to have more
frequent comminglings aud more frequen:
comparison of ideas and interchange Of ex-
periences and opinions amongst them. An
earnest effort will be made to have the
farmers better represented both in our ma
tional and State Legislatures. Mention
was made Of the want of practical ideas
amongst our lawmakers; that the repre-
sentatiyes in Congress and in our State
Legislature were singularIy deficient in that
knowledge that make them CON-
petent to enact laws for the en-
couragement Of the farming interest,
and the fact was admitted and deplored,
that while bankers and merchants and pro
fessional men al over the country are in
prosperous condition, the men upon whose
shoulders the very foundations of the coun-
try rest are well nigh prostrated with bur
dens in the form of indirect taxes; that
while Others appeared to pay it, yet it all in
the end fell upon the farmer who, occupy
ing as it were, the ultimate vocation, be-
yOnd which it is impossible to 60, mediately
or Immediately sustains all the burdens of
the State. Some remedy, it was argued, is
needed; some associated effort is re-
quired. The first thing, in their
opinion, is TO secure a more thorough
organization, and then an effort will be
made to increase the general intelligence of
that class by diffusing through the local or
CARNATIONS the information collected by
such agencies and activities as may be set
to work. The next step will be to have a
larger representation in our legislative halls
to send men to make our laws that are
SATURATED and stepped" as it were with
agricultural ideas and agricultural thought
that know what the necessities of the
farmers are, and that are endued with
will and possessed of desire to give agri.
culture a rank and TO place it upon such a
basis that young men will seek to enter it
not only for honor but profit.
The forum and the pulpit and legislative
chambers have in the past been the only
theaters to display the facinations of elo-
quence, 1t should be the desire of every
patriotic heart to see the club room of tie
farmer productive Of as much thought as
the court room; to gee industrial ideas null
tiplying, and the opportunities for forensic
eloquence dlmenishing. 1t is not the prac-
tice of Law, as many seem to think, but the
Of law and the progress of indus
trial thought and formation ofindustrial hab
its that make individuals and nations pros
porous. In general, it may be sal / that the
business of courts is inversely as the pros
perity Of a communicable greater the
litigation the less the happiness and thrift.
By our own young men, especially in the
South, the honors Of professional merits
ha been exaggerated and the influence,
power, prominence and importance of the
industrial arts moderated. The result has
been an overcrowding of the professions
and great dearth of that peculiar talent |
hat sets the wheels of enterprise and pro-
yress in motion, that stirs up new activities, |
ltilizes new powers, multiplies inventions
md projects and that devises new methods |
# economy in time, labor and in power.
One purpose Of the Congress will be to |
correct these errors and stimulate the youth |
If the country to a higher appreciation of
The business of the hnsbandman by show
ing its independence, its field of through,
its conservative tendencies and the infu-
nee which it may bring to bear upon the /