Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-19
His Telegram and Letter TO BY p. Kim.
bal In Answer TO Invitation OF
WlnnebagO Agricultural
Society.
Bis Reasons for Accepting and Rejecting
the InVitaiiOn-A PIGin, Matter
Of-Pact AnsWer-NO
Politics In 1t.
other Invitations TO Mr.. Davis from
Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania,
Missouri, Iowa, Wl.cO1-
sig, Louisiana, and
Maryland.

lr Davis, requesting him to address ths
le association at the annual meeting il
le September, which was at first accepted
1t by the distinguished statesman, has, as
a viii be seen by the following dispatch
n been revoked:
n MEMPHIS, TENN, August IA, 1875.
Hy. Kimbau:
For unforeseen cause, must withdra "
o conditional acceptance of courteous in
!. Vitatlon. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
q Subsequent to the forwarding OF the
t above, the following letter, containing
s 8 full statement Of his reasons for declin-
o ing, was forwarded by Mr.. Davis to Mr..
J Kimball:
MEEPHIs, TENN, August l5 1875.
Hy. p. Kimball, Secretary Wianebaso Coun-
ty Agricultural Society, Rockford, Illinois ::
g DEAR SIR yesterday sent to you q
2 telegram announcing my revocation of
= the conditional acceptance Of the invita-
ton to address your association at their
Z annual meeting in September next. The
long period which has elapsed since the
receipt of your first letter, and the con-
siderate courtesy which has marked
JSAA Oi6hO AZ "a uuIH 10
the board and to myself that a sufficient
explanation should be given of this
change OF purpose. Three objects main
ly induced me to accept the invitation:
First, the hope that personal intercourse
might remove some Of the prejudices
which had been generated by partisan
fctions and nurtured by individual and
sectional hate. Anxious now, as in for
nlsr years, to promote the interest of cur
great valley of the Mississippi, and be-
lieving that with mutual confidence and
cointelligence much could be done for
their advancement, l only delayed my
acceptance of your invitation until 1t be.
came reasonably probable that it could
be met. The productive capacity of the
! northwest needs for It's DEVELOPMENT
cheaper and safer transportation TO the
markets OF the southwest and also to
! those of foreign countries. In England,
| especially, earnest attention has been
directed for several years past to a more
| direct and economical trade with the
Mississippi valley. In this connection
| there was q desire to confer with the |
Patrons Of Husbandry in your rich and |
prosperous section; to discuss with them |
the questions involved in securing bet
ter means Of transporting your farm
products to the most favor
able markets, and Of providing
agencies which should insure larger re-
turns to the freedmen, and by such con-
ference to learn the views of one men,
Der of the family Of the Mississippi val
ley. A family, the chief interest of all
the members OF which is agriculture,
but cultivators Of suchtvarious crops as
to make the trade among themselves
extensive and lucrative, while it stamps
upon each and all the same interest and
the same policy as to their foreign trade.
To render such conference effectual,
there must needs be disposition to at
tend to the subject under consideration,
surely not purpose to smother it by the
interpcsition Of matters having no Just
relation ID it. The second object was to
recognize the courtesy of your board, and
l was encouraged to believe thstyour
reception OF me would be beneficial
rather than injurious to your associa- I
tion. This was the more supposib'e, be-
cause several other agricultural societies
Of Illinois had in like manner invited
me to address their annual meetings.
Yesterday l received a printed paper,
being the protest of a number of your :
Dw-countymen against the action of '
your board in their invitation to me to i
make the annual address at the county
nesting. Thereupon l sent to you the
withdrawing my acceptance Of g
the invitation, under the conviction that
It would not be useful or agreeable to
participate in the meeting, and / now Z
hope that neither your association nor
the directors win suffer harm by the C
delay in procuring an orator, or =
by the correspondence which has 4
caused it. The third object was to graf q
fy wish long entertained to see in its o
dress country known by me !
rs trackless Wilderness; but that being +
merely personal qualification it may C
De INDUCED at my convenience or post g
poned indefinitely. can we'll believe I
that the cause which has changed my =
surpose was asiunforeseen by you as by =
ne, and you may be assured that feel D
40 dissatisfaction toward the directors 1
1r yourself, and have suffered no per- :.
Ional embarrassment from the event. Il
As the invitation was unexpected, and L
,nly acceptable as the expression ofgen-
sIal good will, so my only regret is the 81
oss o. opportunity to promote public
interest with which the welfare Of your ID
community is identified. Again ex- -
PRESSING the hope that neither the di- =,
ectors nor yourself may suffer injury a.
II annoyance, and thanking you for the "
kindness and consideration you have ~
1 am, respectfully yours, d,
JEFFERSON DAVIS. OF
LETTERS To WHICH THE ABOVE is A y
RESPONSE. re
The following are Mr. Kimball's let
ers to Mr.. Davis, to which the above is
n answer: H
ROCKFORD, ILL.,, July l6, 1875. ~,
Ion. Jefferson Davis: u
CENT am desirous Of securing your y
erviC 8 as speaker for cur next exposi- ~ ~
ion, September l4th. L will guarantee - -
bat you will be heard with pleasure, 10 10
nd that you will not regret visit with u u
). We compensate our speakers H6er- G' J'
ny. l will give you four hundred dol III "
srs to give US an hours talk on Septem- ~. "
er 18th, Thursday afternoon. Let me iit i
now Immediately. Yours very truly, us
II. Z. KIMB ALL. Secretary. ns
RccKFoRD Ills, August l, 1875. Ut
on. Jefferson Davis, Memphis, Tenn: re
Having addressed an invitation to
our honor before, to deliver q brief
slk to the PatrOEs Of our Industrial
ssOciation, and not having received
'ply-perhaps through miscarriage Of in