The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1873-08-28
CONVENTION OF FARMERS.
Circular Address Of Gen. w. ii
Jackson, President of the
State Bureau of Agricul-
turc, to the Farmers
Of Tennessee.

State Bureau Of Agricul-
turc, to the Farmers
Of Tennessee.
The farmers of East Tennessee in
convention assembled, OF the 10Th Of
May last, have, through their appro'
pirate committee, invited the farmers
Of Middle ard West Tennessee, to meet
.hcm in general convention at the
State Capitol, on the 18th Of Scptem.
berthe timc OF assembling has since
been changed to the 10th Of Septem
Der, in order to enable delegates to
leave home on Monday, l5th-and they
have also requested the Bureau Of Ag.
r,cuIturc to assist in giving shape to so
important and well.tlmed Il movement.
|, therefore, rs President ofthc Bureau,
representing the sentiments OF the
other commissioners, apprcciating the
immediate good effects upon the agri-
culture Of the State, and the ultimate
good effects upon the prosperity of the
farmers, do most heartily unite in urg,
ing upon the farmers Of the State to
send their best representative and
practical men, at least ono or two from
every civil district, if practical and il
not from each district, then send as
large = delegation IS possible from
each and every county, to represent
you in this proposed convention, the
idea being to form a estate Farmers
Association" AS to the objects OF
such an association, take the liberty
Of quoting from the excellent address
Of Col. John G. Burch, before the
Press Association of Tennessee
making such slight changes in the
wording as to make it suit the farmers
association
1.-The objects Of such an association
are the preservation ola thorough anC
homogeneous organization Of the
farmers in the State for Il better pro
motion Of those common and individ
ual interests which can only be sub.
served by systematic and intelligent
cooperation to bring about Il more
kindly and lraternal feeling, which can
only result from actual acquaintance
aud the proper and persistent main
l%cnancc Of that most important of all
interests, which is is our mission to
represent to endcavor to arouse that
esprit ne corps, wich, as farmers, proud
OF our most honorable and ancient call.
ing, we must feel. Such associations
exist in other States, and there is nc
good reason why the farmers of Ten,
ncssc, equal in ability and influence to
those Of any other commonwealth,
should not be associated together in q
compact and homogeneous body
whose status should be the most clc-
waited, and whose power shall he ire.
slStabIc. AS it is, we are wasting our
strcngth-if, indeed, we are aware OF
it at all. Like the reeds in the fable,
we are disunited, and consequently
weak and impotent; like them, we
might be, did II bond ~ofsympathy, fra,
tcrnity and organization unite us, of
lnvinclblc power-a power which would
compel respect and be of such digni,
ty that no petty legislator would have
the etlrontcry, as has been the case
within our remembrance, TO sneer at
our demand OF simple justice, calling
it IN unnecessary 2ratuity proposed
for the benefit of "Mem larmerS."
Our good purpose in this movement
is to bring about concert of action and
unity of purpose among the farmers of
this State, having rs the end in view,
the general advancement of agricul-
ture, for the good of every class for
from this source every human being
draws his sustenancc and support and
whatever contributes to tho prosperity
of this vast and important interest. con.
tributes directly to the good of the
whole people; and since the financial
support of the State rests upon the
producing interests of the State and
since upon their ability to pay ard to
continue to pay, rests not only the sol
vcncy Of the State, but its existence, it
10 certainly Il good move which seeks
to lift the dark cloud which at present
threatens the very existence of the
farming population and all their in
tcrcsts. 4
Therefore, in view of these facts and
the importance of the movement, II
would again urge upon the farmers in
every civil district to be represented
also, every Grange OF the Order of Pa
irons Of ~llusbandry, every farmers
club, or farmers organization, by what
ever name, to send delegates. and let
every individual farmer who can, at
tcnd-to the end that perfect harmony
and concert of action be effected. Let
it be a Spontaneous outburst from the
population, in order to effect
the much needed reforms, and to cor
rect the abuses which bear with such
crushing weight upon the pack horse
Of socicty-thc farmer.
W. III. JACKSON.
E-ln Nm