The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1875-11-17
ADDRESS
NOVEMBER aath. Ia1r


ssW
. GEN a. VI. wEsr, upon being apprc
: Priately introduced by Col. L. f. Mont
gonery, President of the State Fai
Association, addressed large aud atten
tive audience as follows:
Dir President, Lqdies md Geaaemeo-
| am happy to avail myself Of the hon
} or OF your kind invitation to deliver on
this occasion, the annual address tonchin.
the primary pursuits Of society. 1t MAY
be well, in the beginning, to state that
have been, from my earliest youth. more
or less, identified with the cultivation Of
the soil In early life / adopted, from
choice, agriculture as pursuit and devot
ed myself to the same, up to the close OF
the late war since the war l have been
identified with public enterprises shall,
therefore, address you from the stand
point OF experience and observation.
Its gratifying to know that agriculture
and the mechanic arts are receiving, at
your hands, with the sanction of the State
Government, that consideration which
aecords with their importance. The entire
citizenship of this State, without reference
to race distinctions, should unite with Won
IN giving to these subjects paramount con
sideration, since their interests are indis-
soiubly united with yours, and the welfare
of all common object of governmental
concern. The restoration of cordial rela-
tons, as is evidenced by the late peacea-
| BILE election, and its other characteristics
/ give assurances that our entire citizenship
will do so, and act for the welfare of all
and in harmony with the march of mind.
| the present improvements and the progress
of the age. According to these signs of
the times agriculture and the mechanic
arts are being revived and will soon in
.augurate career of prosperity and con-
tentment.
The late war and its inevitable results,
| revolutloniZed our entire agricultural
and industrial interests conflict of ideas,
confusion, desolation, want and financial
ADVERTISEMENTS followed as a conse-
qaenee.
These sudden aud rapid changes, af-
fecting, as they did, society, in all of its
varied relations, were unprecedented in
the history of communities and nations;
hence the past furnished no known, we'll
defined rules to guide us in shaping and
directing our domestic concerns in har-
mO1y with the necessities and require
ments of the same. Therefore We were, of
course, compelled in the main, to apply
our former ideas and rules of agriculture
and business to the new condition of
things, and to continue them until taught
by experience and observation rules
better suited to our changed relations.
We doubtless made some mistakes and
r., Ill l.
the circumstances are dispassionately CON
sidered, the wonder is that so few were
made. The truth is, that the impartial
historian must give to both races credit
for marvellous capacity for adaptation to
these circumstances, and for unparal-
lelled recuperatlve powers. 1t now be-
comes our duty to reorganize our agri-
cultural and business interests in harmo-
ny with that new phase of civilization
wrought by the war, and in all things
recognize, practically, the logic of events;
and to the extent of our capabilities
evolve the remedies for present evils.
These duties and far-reaching RESPONSE
biIities should inspire among all of us the
noblest ambition, employ the best prac
teal intellects and rouse into ac-
ton the most determined eXertions.
In order that we may successfully
conform to the requirements of this new
phase of civilization and to the memorable
logic of events, we should remember that
habits long INDUCED become SO deeply in
terwoven with all of our social and business
relations, that it becomes hard to change
them even when required by imperative
necessity. Let rs then examine ourselves
upon this subject with great care, that
we may have the command of all of our
faculties, and organize them for ageneral
success IT this determination devel-
ops the fact that any, or all, of our past
habits are inconsistent with our present
and future prosperity, We should, without
hesitation, abandon them at once, or
they will be continued obstacles to success. 4
Before the war we raised cotton as a
staple, and only portion of our bread
stuff, meat, horses and mules, and man
ufactured but small part of our clothing,
furniture and implements of husbandry,
paying annually, in the main, the pro
ceeds of our cotton crops for articles OF
home consumption, which we should have
raised on our farms. This most rninous
policy of the past was resumed after the
war. and has been continued by most of
US to the present time, Notwithstanding
the i1raetice of the opposite policy, by
few. hasdemonstratedt the folly and waste
fitness of the former.
We have thus impoverished ourselves
for the benefit of Western farmers, stock
raisers and manufacturers, merch ants,
railroad and steamboat companies, and
actually subordinated the agricultural
and the other like interests of the State
to theirs. How humiiating to thus see
all the primary pursuits of life subjected
to their mere agencies and to foreign
interests. We have almost become sup
plants at their doors. as the phrase is TO
* run US the present year, We giving
mortgage on our possessions and crops.
This policy, but for our almost fabulous
resources, would have literally beggared
us. A State that IS so fruitful as to sur
vive the practice ofsueh policy no more
demonstrates her great natural resources
than she does the folly of her inhabitants.
Many of the elements of civilization,
comfort and wealth, are now, or can be,
cultivated with profit in our State, cotton,
smear. Indian corn, wheat, rice, rye, oats,
peas, vegetables, grapes, berries oranges
bananas, peaches, pears, apples, ounces,
and other fruits, wool, beef-hldes, pork
sweet and Irish potatoes, clover, nmotny'
herds. orchard, bermuda, and other yalu-
able grasses grow and flourish IN luxu-
| RANT abundance. Our lands are fertile
l and well watered and timbered, with q
vast pine forrest ON our seaboard OF great
.eammercial value These lands are va
| RED by hills, Vallies, plains, swamps and
prairies. The ailuvial lands of the MIS-