Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1875-11-30
EhC AkirCss.


{ Mr.. Davis spoke substantially as fol-
lows,
Mr.. President and Directors Of the
Agricultural Society of Christian
| county Ladies and Gentleman 1t
is with great pleasure, and | may say
with equal surprise. that | find my
self among You, received With this
cordial demonstration, which speaks
much for your hearts and little for my
merit. Never before did a people rise
up in such majesty TO show their at
lection for man V no happened only
to he identified with their misfOrtunpS,
and of whom they could only say if
he was our leader he led US TO dlsas-
ter" Then | say to you, good, great,
grand people, that glOTv to have sut-
fered for you. App ausc:l After
many a long and weary wandering, |
return now to the place Of my birth,
and come with those feelings which
ever cling around the heart of every
man who feels that he treads upon his
native soil. This is my own, my ma
tive land. TCheers. My friends, my
COZ dition Is not unlike that OF some
tempest toss e | mariner, who turns TO
his home with higher hopes. IS ship
wrecked upon the coast and 1nds NM
self stranded aud cast helpless upon
the shore, to which he hoped to return
aud bear rich treasures and gifts Tor
his loved ones. But it would indeed
be ungrateful in me, if | were to dwell
on such sad thoughts, when before me
is presented this grand galaxy of hap
by, friendly faces.
NV friends. for such you are TO me,
| trust, by all | see, that the sI"I M
has passed lightly over you; that
prosperity is in your borders; that ev-
erything la the futur" tells of vel
fare 10 this blessed land OF Christian
county and the great commonwealth
Of Kentucky, And you, gentlemen
of the Agricultural and Mechanical
Association, il is to you that L nov
propose to address the few remarks
that | intend to make to-day. AL
though much of niy life has been
spent in those political contests which
have troubled our country (and
trust it has not brought dIshonoTl. YET
there is a time and occasion when eN-
cry man should lift himself above the
flame OF strife, and when ali should
look with the simple desire to what
will promote the welfare, prosperity
and honor, permancy ana endurance
of their country. Such is my pa pose
to-day. and running back over the re-
mote period just embraced i'm the years
Of my life, nothing is so striking as
the great change wrought in your own |
country.
At the early age of seven years, l 1
rode through what was then known !
as the "barrens" of Kentucky. Then |
YOU had no trees. il was country /
growing out of its prairie condltl"h. /
1t was barren because it had shrubs |
upon ii. and not barren on account oI /
ITS soil, because. like its people u Is /
all that God could make desirable
Then il was that you could see while |
legged horse. turned out in the morn
ing and wandering through the bar
reus. come back with his legs all SIAM
ad with strawberries. Laughter. |
The fields were covered with grass,
and they did not produce the various
Kinds of cereals that they now 90.
And equally great has been the change
in the capacity to reach those markets
in the world that belonged to YOU
Then YOU had wagons To haul your
obacco TO the port of Clsrksvllle'