The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-20
t.sss By TRI,EdRAsPH.s
JEFFERSON sH4xvIs.
ais LITTER DECLINING 10 ADDRESS THEs
WiEsEBAGo COUNTY ILL.,, aeRIcu III,
TURAL SOCIETY. "a

Was.qisosos, August 10 The following
letter explains Itself e e.te,f II i1
MssrHIs, Tenn, August is, 1875.
Henry P. Kimibai, Secretary Of tie Winne
ba9o County dgricaiturala Society, Rock
ford, H.: 3,t II fs,y.es = '~s'si3E
Dear sir,-I yesterday sent to yon tele
gram announcing my revocation of my con
ditionalA acceptance OF, the invitation to
address your Association at their annual
meeting in September next. The long period
which has elapsed since the receipt Of Your
FIRST letter and the considerate courtesy which
has marked your correspondence make IL my
duty to your board and to myself that stuff.
cient explanation should, be, given, of this
change Of purpose. tes7 u$i .l5 ,.i
Three objects mainly induced me to ac-
cept the Invitation: st4f .:,g@itJ syfss s, :
+ First. The hope that personal intercourse
might remove some Of the prejudices which
had been generated by partisan factions and
nurtured by individual and sectional bate
Anxious, as in former years, to promote the
interests OF our great valley Of the Missis.
sippi, and believing that with mutual conf.
dence and cointelfigence much good could be
done for their advancement, only delayed
NV acceptance of-yeur invitation until it be-.
came reasonably probable thati could be met.
The productive capacity Of the Northwest
needs for its development cheaper and safer
transportation to the markets Of the South.
west, and also to foreign countries 10
England especially earnest attention has been
directed for several years past to more direct
and economical trade with the Mississippi
valley. In this connection there was q de-
sire to confer with the Patrons OF Husbandry
la your rich and prosperous section, to
discuss with them questions Involved 10
securing better, means of transporting
your farm products to tie most favorable
markets, and providing agencies which
should insure larger returns 10 the freemen,
aud BY such conference to learn! the vie VS.
OF members Of the family OF the mississippi
Valley a family the chief interest OF all men,
bers Of which is agriculture, but cultivators
of such various crops as to make trade among
themselves extensive and lucrative, while 1t
stamps upon each and all the same snterestsand
the same policy as to their foreign trade. TO
render such conference ettectual there must
needs bea disposition to attend to the SUBJECT
under consideration; surely not a purpose
TO smother it by the interposltlon OF matters
having no just relation to it. ....., II.
Second An effort was made to recognize
the courtesy of your Board, and | was en-.
couraged to believe that your reception OF
me would be beneficial rather than Injurious
to your Association. This was the more
supposabe because several other agrlcullu.
ral societies of llli0ois had in like man'
ner invited me to address their at
uual meetings. Yesterday l received
printed paper it being q protest OF
number of YOUR fellow. countrymen against
the action of your Board in their invitation
10 me to make the annual address at the
county meeting. Thereupon I sent you
telegram Withdrawing my acceptance Of the
invitation under the conviction that it would
not be useful or agreeable to participate IN
the meeting; and | hope that Delther your
association nor the directors willsuffer harm
oy the delay in procuring an orator or by
the correspondence which has caused It,.
Third. The object was to crafty wish,
long entertained, to see 10 its cultivated dress
the country known to me as trackless VIII.
derness; but that being merely personal
qualification, it may be INDUCED at my con-
veniepce, or post poned indefinitely. can
we'll believe that the cause which has changed
nv purpose was as unforeseen by you as oy
me ard you uay be assured that feel no
dissatisfaction towards the directors or your.
self, and have suffered no personal em oarrass'
ment from the event, as the invitation was
unexpected, and only acceptable as an expires.
sion OF general goodwill. So my only re-
greet is the loss of the opportunity to promote
the public iuteres', with which the welfare OF
your community IS identified.
Again expressing tue hope that neither the
directors nor yourself may suffer injury or
annoyance, and thanking you for the Kind
ness and consideration you have manifested,
am respectfully yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.