Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-08-20
Letter from Jefferson Davis.

MEMPHIS, Ienu., August Is, lS15.-HeDry
2. kiubal, secretary of the Wiuoebago County
Agricultural Society, Rockford, Ill.-Dear Sir:
yesterday sent to you telegram announcing
my revocation of my conditional acceptance OF
the invitation to address your association at
their auoual meeting in September next. The
long period which has elapsed since the receipt
OF your first letter. and the cousiderate courtesy
which has marked Your correspondence make
II my duty to the board aud to myself that
sufficient explanation should be given of this
change of purpose. Three objects mainly TO-
duced NE to accept the Invitation:
First. The hope that personal intercourse
might remove some of the prejudices which
had been generated by partisan factions and
nurtnred by individual and sectional hate; anxi-
Gus as 10 former years to promote the interest
OF our great valley of the Mississippi, and be.
llevlng that with mutual confidence and coin
telhgence much could be duue for their ad-
Vancemeut, only delayed my acceptance of
your invitation until it became reasonably prob
able that it could b. met The productive ca
| pacty OF the Northwest needs for its develop
mont cheaper and safer transportation to the
markets OF the Southwest and also to those CT
foreign countries. 10 England especially ear
nest attention has been directed for several
with the Mississippi valley. Iu this connection
| there Was desire to confer with the Patrons
OF Husbandry 10 your rich and prosperous sec
ton, to discuss with them the questions iDvoIv-
ed IN securing better meaus OF Transporting
your farm produce to the most favorable mar
kets, and of providing agencies which should
Insure larger returns to farmers, and by such
conference to learn the views of one member of
| the family OF the Mississippi family, family
| the chief interest OF all members of which ia
agriculture, but cultivators of such various
crops as to make trade among themselves ex-
tensive and lucrative. While it stamps upon
each and all the same interests and the same
policy as to their foreign trade, to render SUI h
conference eHectual there must needs be d :
position to attend to the subject under conside
| ration, surely not purpose to smother il by
| the interpoSitiou Of matters having no lust re-
| ation to it.
Second. 40 effort was made to recognize the
courtesy OF your board, and was encouraged
10 believe that your reception of me would be
beneficial rather than Injurious to your asso-
cation. This Was the more supposablc because
several other agricultural societies of Illinois
had 10 like manner invited me to address their
annual meetings Yesterday received print
ed paper, 1t being protest of a number ofyour
ieslew-countrymen against the action Of your
board 10 their invitation to me to make the an
nual address at the county meeting; thereupon
| sent to you telegram withdrawing my &C
ceptance Of the invitation, under the conviction
that it would not be useful or agreeable to par
ticipate In the meeting, aud | hope that neith-
er your association nor the directors will suffer
harm by 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 in its cultivated dress the
country known to ue as a trackless wilderness.
but that being merely a personal qualification
1t may be INDUCED at NY convenience, or post
poned indefinitely. can well believe that the
cause which has changed my purpose was as
unforeseen by you as by me. You may be as
sured that feel 20 dissatisfaction towards the
directors or yourself, and have suffered no Der.
soma embarrassment from the event. as the in-
vltatlon was unexpected and only acceptable
as 40 expression of general good will So my
only regret is the loss of opportunity to pro.
mote the public interest with which the vel
fare Of your CON immunity is identified.
Again expressing he hope that neither the
directors nor yourself may suffer injury or an
noyance aud thanking you for the kindues
and consideration you have manifested, | au,
respectfully, yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS.