Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-19
FARMERS, STATE CONVENTION.
To the Farmers OF Middle and
West Tennessee.


The convention Of farmers re-
Gently held in the city of Knoxville, |
appointed the undersigned to COM |
municate with you on the subject of |
calling and holding a convention of |
the farmers of the whole State at |
Nashville, on the 18th day of Sep !
TENDER, 1873. Upon comforting with |
the President of the Bureau of Ag-
riculture, it was thought and be-
lieved that the 18th of September
would be a suitable time, and hence
the East Tennessee Convention pass
ed a resolution to this effect. If the
time does not suit, there is plenty
of time to fix upon a day, but until
further advise, the day referred to
will be settled upon.
We scarcely deem it incumbent
upon US to use any special arguments
why such a convention should be
held. There Is sufficient intelli-
gence on the subject to comprehend
and appreciate its Importance and
necessity. We suppose the only
difficulty in the case is the want of
interest, or the existence of apathy,
or, to come nearer the truth, the
lack of some one or more to lead the
movement. This was emphatically
| the case here in East Tennessee
The moment that some one had the
courage and the perseverance to tap
the question and to urge it upon the
attention of the farmers, it met with
a most hearty and active response.
The first convention was held in
May, 1872, and although new, there
was a large and enthusiastic attend
ance of the farmers from all por-
tiOns of the country, and the inter
est shown was intense. The next
was held in May, 1873, and was more
successful than the first. We, there
fore, infer, from the success of these
two conventions, that it was not
because the farmers were indiffer-
ent to the matter, but that all that
was needed was to lay it before them
and urge them to action. We view
it in the same light with regard to
the whole State. All that need be
done is to call specific attention to
the subject, fix upon the time and
request the different counties to
send delegates. You have already
seen a disposition among the farm
ers all over the State to organize,
and that disposition is increasing
and intensifying every hour. The
fame Is ready to burst out. a little
more fuel will produce prodigiOus
blaze. We have been forcibly inn
pressed with the silent but power
full feeling pervading the ranks of
| the farmers on this subject. Sim
ultaneously, without extraneous
causes or influences, or without any
studied and concerted attempt to
produce such a state of things, the
| farmers have all at once become
aroused to the necessity of organi-
cation and are thinking and talking
| about it in all sections of the State.
| This is significant. We are fully
persuaded that all you have to do is
! to sound the note and thousands of
farmers will respond with dispatch,
pride and pleasure throughout.
The farmers of East Tennessee
| are particularly anxious to meet the
FARMERS West of the mountains
! They have, for nearly a century,
| been cut off from them, have had no
communication with them, and are
utterly insensible of their move
ments. We are of the opinion that
State Convention would have an
excellent effect upon the farmers of
all the sections. A more intimate
acquaintance would be formed, a
better understanding secured, more
enlarged ideas on the subject of az
ricultuTal reform created, and a
! sounder basis of union and compact
| organization laid down. When we
can work and pull together, as a
/ body or class, we will have achieved
a signal victory. Then, and not till
| then, will we be in a condition to
| resist the entertainments daily and
hourly made upon our just rights.
! Already the politicians, railroad
monopOlies, middle-men and other
! tyrannical combinations, are sneer-
ing at our movements and Gliding
us with the insinuation that we are
| combining for the purpose of build
| ing up political organization. To
all this we pay no attention, and
claiming to exercise the simple right
of banding together for our mutual
protection. All other classes do it,
and why may not the farmers?
In conclusion, gentlemen, let us
by all means hold a State Conven-
ton at the time designated, or any
other time that may suit. We are
not particular. We must redeem
our State in an agricultural point of
view. We alone can do it. The
farmers of East Tennessee will meet
you and join you most heartily. In
this Switzerland of America we
have a body Of live men who are
alive to the necessity of an aggres-
sive movement, and all they want is
cooperation and encouragement
Let us hear from you.
&. w. CHARLTON,
PreSt. E. Ten. Farmers Convention.
o. z. Temple,
Late President.
&. L. DUNN,
Recording Secretary.
j. Hunter Nicholson, J. NJ. l..
Burnett, SamL l.. Tillery, IL. II.
Hubbard, james +. Beals, John l..
Cole, e. L. Carriger, j. NJ. Meek.