The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-25
JEFF DAVIS.

f ar JEFF DAVIS.
Ills Withdrawal from the E,,,
ment for an Agricultural Address in
Illinois. II"
MEMPHIS, Aug. l9.-The FOLLOWING ,o+tor
is published in the morning nancrS
To Henry P. Kimball, Secretary Winne,aao
County Agricultural Society, Rockford. III
Dear SRI yesterday sent to Won
telegram announcing my revocation Of
the conditional acceptance of the invita-
ton to address your association
at their annual meeting in Septem.
Der next. The long period which has
elapsed since the receipt of your first letter
and the considerable courtesy which has
marked your correspondence, makes it a
duty to your Board and to myself that a
sufficient explanation should be given of
this change of purpose.
These objects mainly induced me to
accept the invitation: First, a hope that
personal intercourse might remove some
of the prejudice which had been general
ed by partisan f'ctions, nurtured bv in
dividual and sectional hate. ",~~-~
Anxious now as in former years to pro-
mote the interest Of our great valley OF
the Mississippi, and believing that with
mutual confidence and co-intelligence
much could be done for their advance
ment, I only delayed my acceptance of
your invitation until it became reasonably
probable it could be met.
The productive capacity of the North.
west needs for its development cheaper
and safer transportation to the markets
ofthe Southwest. and also to those of
foreign countries. In England especial
attention has been directed for several
years past to more direct and economical
trade with the Mississippi Valley. In
this connection there was desire to con-
fer with the Patrons of Husbandry in
your rich and prosperous section, to dis
cuss with them questions involved
in securing better means of trans
their most favorable markets and provid-
ing agencies which should insure large
returns; and for exchange of views of
members ofthe family of the Mississippi
valley, a family the chief interest of all
the members Of which is not only agricul-
ture but the cultivation of such various
crops as to make trade among them.
selves extensive and lucrative while it
stamps on each and ali the same interest
and same policy as to their foreign trade.
TO render such conference cffectual
there must needs be a disposition to at
tend to the subject under consideration
surely not purpose to smother it by
the interposltlon of matters having no
just relation to it..
Second, my effort was to recognize the
courtesy Of your board, and | was en-
couraged to believe that your reception
Of me would be beneficial rather than in.
furious to your association. This was
more supposable because several other az.
rlcultural societies Of Illinois had in like
manner invited me to address their an
nual meeting.
Yesterday received a printed paper
bearing the protest of number Of your
fellow countrymen against the action of
your board in their invitation to me to
make the annual address at the country
meeting. Thereupon | sent to you the tel
egram withdrawing my acceptance OF the
invitation, under the conviction that it
would not be useful or agreeable to parti-
cipate in the meeting, and l know that
nei Their your association or the directors
will suffer harm by delay in procuring an
orator or by the correspondence which
has caused it.
Third, my object was to crafty wish
long entertained to see in its cultivated
state country known to me as a track
less wilderness, but that being merely
personal qualification it may be INDUCED
at any convenience or deferred indefinite.
ly.
cannot but believe that the cause
which has changed my purpose was one
unforeseen by you and by me. and you
may be assured that feel no dissatisfac-
ton toward the directors or yourself and
have suffered no personal embarrassment
at the event.
AS the invitation was unexpected and
only acceptable as an expression Of gen.
eral good will, so nv only regret is the
loss of an opportunity to promote the
public interest with which the welfare of
your community is identified
Again expressing the hope that neither
the directors nor yourself may suffer in
jury or annoyance, and thanking you for
the kindness and consideration YOU have
manifested, | am, respectfully yours,
(Slgned) JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Frishtf"i locomotive Explosion.
A switching engine in the Fitchburg
railroad yards at Charleston, Mass, ex-
ploded on the afternoon of the 18th and
blew the sheathing, weighing 200 pounds,
through the side Of the freight car. It
demolished freig tear and scattered the
contents over the yards, bent and twisted