Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-11-01

credit OF the RumanS, that, unlike many con-
quernrS, and some in this age aud country,
a. Nirguiaus can attest,-they relrained from
desoaiins the countries subduel by their arms,
but rather slrove 10 civilize the people brought
under their dominion and introduced among
them arts promotive of their comfort and hap
piness, that Of skillful husbandry included.
Il might be interesting, did time permit 10
indulge more extended review Of the history
and modes Of agriculture in many lands. But
I fear that inmakiug the attempt, / should be
wandering beyond my orbit. since / am not
here TO indulge 4 homily on agriculture, but
rather 10 prUaounce few words Of welcome.
Restricting observations TO our oWa country,
we find that many of our leading statesmen
have been agrcuturists. Prominent among
these may be named Washington, Jefferson,
Madison, Clay. Webster; Calhoun and Jackson.
The Father Of his country, IN bis last annual
message to Congress, alluded to this pursuit Is
one Of primary importance tc individual and
national welfare" aud, looking to its improve
ment. said among the meaus which have
been employed 10 this eud, none have been at
tended with greater success than the establish
ment of boards charged with collecting aud
dfIusing Information, and enabled by promi-
ses and small pecuuiary aids to encourage and
assist a spirit Of discovery and improvement"
/ And this, my friends, is the great object that
I the Society for which | speak to-day has ~
view
Mr. Jefferson, that man of transcendent se-
( mus and culturc the FIRST among statesmen of
any use OF country, was, not only farmer, but
an inventor. In a communication 10 the
/ French Institute, he undertook to solve the
problem of the true surface Of the mould board
aud was the hrst to suggest Ineligible aud
practical rules for its formation. Afterwards,
/ in 1893. lie tested the truth. Of his thco'y 10y
inveuting pillow which lie used ON hiS estate
in our ncighboriug county of Bedford, few
miles from tbs city, aud at Moutce.lo also
10 him is accorded the honor Of being the tiist
in this C, TRY 10 improve the plow, and he l.
In ,wn AS the originator Of tha. used in cult
waiting slop 5 aud biIl sides. 1t is also stated
that Daniel Webster invented pluw To open q
lnrrow two feet wide and fourteen inches deep
It WAS made very strong aud intended for
field in his os'atea, MlrshhrlJ whose soil asful
If heavy roots lie diIe;ted. the movement Of
his mammolh plow, aud, speaking OF his great
eat, is reported s.sayIng substantially the iol-
lowiug. When have hold Of the handles OF
my biz pillow IA such field, with four pair OF
cattle to pull it through, and see the roots crack
md see the Stuups all g under the idrrow out
c sisht. aud observe the clean melicwed surface
+ the plpwcd aud, teel uore enthusiasm over
NV achievement t az cones from my encoun-
trrs in puI lie life at Washineto ~ Thus did
this man oi large brain and world wide reputa-
lrun as a statesman advocate and orator. real
izethetrue eujlymeut th1t springs from the pur-
>uit ftheodrst rs well rs the uoblcst OF a.i . :u-
c,tinus-that upon which the eyes OF all wait ,
.xIe tins To receive their meat IL due season.
In considering what numbers of warriors,
,taic,nicn. and patriots, whose names the world
Wil not willingly { die, have been engaged
Iu the cleyatiug pursuits Of agriculture, some
# whom were literally called from the plow t.
!elivcr their country, aud, this accomplished.
aid aside tie eub.ems of authority aud re-
turned 10 rtrd ltr.-the charming poet of
The Seasons might well cxcalm,
In ancient times the sacred plough employed
The kings and awful fathers Of mankindi
And some. with whom compared your insect tiiOes
Are but the b ilgs Of "A summers day,
/ Have held the scale Of empire, ruled the storm
OF mighty war; then, with unweared hand,
Disdaluing httle delicacics, seiz d
The plough, and greatly independent lived
Before the heaviug bellows had urged the
furnace, before a hammer hai struck upon au
anvil. before tie cleaning waters had flashed
uom an oar, before trade bad hung upits scales
1r gimsoI its measures. The culture Of the soil
! began" says one Of the most accomplished OF
our native orators and stat smcn aud 50 IL
, Nill continue 10 bc the uObcSt well as the
most ancient ol AL human ayocatluus until this
world shall have run It's course, aud earth aud
inc shall cease 10 be.
/ 7 you, farmers, whom we welcome heretI
! Nv. aud 10 those who shall hereafter t.l tue
il that Is now yours, will Gods gracious COW
e t endure: While the earth renancth,
ed-time aud harvest, and cold aud heat, aud
summer aud winter aud day and night, Shall
not cease.
But closely allied to the great industry Of
which have spoken is another that you will
fud represented at this exhibition. Gince the
DAYS ol Tubal- Cain, whose brawuy arm wrought
into implements ui busbaudry that most useful
Of all metals, which, considering the protean
shapes 1t Is assuming and the more than thous-
aud uses 10 which Is now being applied, might
give. very properly, designation 10 this as The
AGE OF lBoN; mechanical genius las kept T.
uual pace, gone haud 10 hand with the genius
If agriculture. 10 the skill that It la, dcyel-
opei You owe your improved pl0ws, your
threshing aud moving machines, your wheat
drills aud fans, with many other implements
Of farming unknown 10 the ancient world. To
It we owe tie printing press that muiuplieS
knowledge a thousand told and makes II in-
perishable To it we are indebted Tor the steam
engine, the spinning jeuuy, and the sewing ma
chIue that hghteus human toll aud yet Increase
tie demand Tor, aud the profits Of, skilllul la
Dor. Dy II are constructed those iron monsters
that plough their Nay against wlud aud cur
rent through the watery waste, bringing anX-
Ious voyagers with greater speed and less peril,
To their desired haven. For these aud a thous-
and other benefits that time would fall inc 10
mention. We are indebted to the mechanical &C.
uius of the world. All hail ye manly SONS Of
toll who have achieved such wonderful results f.
Gods workers are ye Tor he who set the stars
Oh their courses, wheeled the planets into their /
orbits, and adjusted the machinery oi the uni .
verse even lie, the great Architect himself 4
has ordained those laws Of mechanics by which .
forces are applied, equilibrium preserved, and .
given results accomplished.
And here indulge me for a moment while,
iu attempting 10 show The ultimate connection
between agriculture and manufactures, how
they act aud react upon each other IN aug
mcnting the general wealth aud promoting the
con.luou welare,-l barely suggest a propoal-
ton IN political economy, adverled To by Mr..
Jefferson Is long ago as 1916, wherein he SAID,
e The time has now come when we must place
al. b 4.