Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-08-23
STATE CONVENTION OF FARMERS.
Circular Address Of Gen. w. HI. Jack
son, President of the State
Bureau OF Agriculture,
to the Farmers Of Ten
ueSSee.

ucSStts
The farmers of East Tennessee in
convention assembled, on the 18th of
May last, have, through their appro-
pirate committee, of which Col. g. W.
Charlton is the worthy chairman, invi-
ted the farmers of Middle and West
Tennessee, to meet them in general
convention at the State capitol, on the
10Th of September Dext-the time of
assembling has since been changed to
the 18th of September, In order to
enable delegates to leave home on
Monday, 15th-and they have also re-
quested the Bureau of Agriculture to
assist in giving shape to SO important
and we'll timed movement. /, there
fore, as President of the Bureau, rep
resenting the sentiments of the other
commissioners, approaching the i'm
mediate good effects upon the agricul-
ture of the State, and the ultimate
good effects upon the prosperity of the
farmers, do most heartily unite in
urging upon the farmers of the State
to send their best representative and
practical men, at least one or two from
every civil district, if practicable and
if not from each district, then send as
large a delegation as possible from
each and every county, to represent
you in this proposed convention. The
idea being to form a State 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, max
ing such slight changes in the wording
as to make it suit the farmers associa-
ton:
THE objects of such an association
are the preservation of a thorough and
homogeneous organization of the farm
ers in the State; for better promo
ton of those common and individual
interests which can only be subserved
by systematic and intelligent co-opera-
ton; to bring about more kindly
and fraternal feeling, which can only re-
suit from actual acquaintance and the
proper and persistent maintenance of
that most important of all interests,
which it is our mission to represent !;
to endeavOr to arouse that esprit du
corps, which, as farmers proud of our
most honorable and ancient calling,
we must feel. Such associations exist
in outer States, and there is no good
reason why the farmers of Tennessee,
equal in ability and influence to those
of any ether commonwealth, should
not be associated together in a COM
pact and homogeneous body, whose
status should be the most elevated,
and whose power shall be irresistible
As it is, we are wasting our strength
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
bond OF sympathy, fraternity and or
ganization unite us, of invincible
power-a power which would compel
respect and be of such dignity that no
petty legislator would have the effron-
terry, as has been the case within our
remembrance, to sneer at our demand
of simple justice, calling it an unne-
cessary gratuity proposed for the bene-
fit of them farmers. "
"All human society, government,
laws, religion and education rest on
the principle and practice of associated
effort" The theory of Grange, or
farmers association of any kind, is as
sound as that of church or college,
or any other organization in human
society" Let us go back to the first
principles: Every man, woman and
child has the right to do every lawful
and moral act that will promote the
well-being of such person" This is
personal liberty, for the equal and
common pursuit of happiness. But
what one farmer, his wife, sons and
daughters may lawfully do for their
own benefit, two families may do, or
ten thousand, or ten million. The
right of association for any GOOD
PURPOSE is alike unquestioned and
unquestionable. 1t is simply the ag-
gregation of mans physical and intel
lectual power, aided by whatever CAPT
tai he may possess. Thus says the
Atlanta (Georgia) Plantation, and it
Dug int to be received as good au-
thority.
Our good purpose in this movement
is to bring about concert of action and
unity of purpose among the farmers of
this State, having as 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 sustenance and support; and
whatever contributes to the prosperity
of this vast and important interest,
contributes 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, and to
continue to pay, rests not only on the
solyency of the State, but its existence,
it is certainly a good move which seeks
to lift the dark cloud which at present
threatens the very existence of the
farming population and all their in
terests.
This cloud can only be removed by
devising measures which will establish
more equitable relations, in the ex-
change of our labor for other labor,
than now exists, either by elevating
our own prices, or by using such means
and powers as we may possess in com
bined action to make other profits, sat-
aries and 1odqeS more nearly cores
pond with ours, believing, as We do,
that the prices of farm products should
ever be a basis for the establishment
of ali other prices, emoluments and
pay; and that the present disparity in
prices existing between farm products
and products of all other labor, (not
excepting the lowest grade) is one
great source of oppression to the
farmer and to establish the true
and just line between producer and
carrier. and fix the fair per centum of
commission as between the producer
and the middleman, and to take such
steps as will secure to the State thor
oughly competent and honest men to
fill the various offices-those who will
legislate fairly and impartially as be-
tween this important interest of ours
and all others, and men who can not
be bought up in the interest of these
monster monopolies, whose usurpa-
tons and exactions it is our duty and
mission to throttle. For every dollar
extracted from the Treasury of the
State or Nation by the influence of
monopolies and rings, has to be repaid
by agricultural labor, since the revenue
has to be raised ultimately from the
products of the SOIL
Therefore, in view of these facts
and the importance of the movement,
l would again urge upon the farmers
in every civil district to be represent
ed; also every Grange of the Order OF
Patrons of Iiusbapdry. every farmers