The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-08-20
letter From JelTrsOn Davis, Esq.
He Cancels His Agricultural
ENGAGEMENTS.

MEMPHIS, August l9.-The following
lettler is published in many papers;
Hon. P. Rimpale, SccretaryOf he WiRHeba-
go County Agricultural Societyo Of Rockford,
Ms. DEAR Sir Yesterday | sent you a
telegram announcing my revocation Of my
conditional acceptance ofa invitation to
address your association at their annual
meeting in Septembernext. A long time
has elapsed since the. receipt Of your first let
ter,and the considerate courtesy which has
marked your correspondence make it my
duty to the board, and to myself that a
sufficient explanation should be given OF
this change Of purpose and the objects
which mainly induced me to accept the in
yltation. lsLT hoped this personal inter.
course might remove some OF the
prejudiCes which had been generated
by partizan faction and nnrtured by in.
dividual and sectional hate. Anxious
now Us in former years to promote the
interests OF our great Valley OF the Mis-
sissippi, and believing that with mutual
confidence and co.intelligence much could
be done for their advancement, | only de-
layed my acceptance Of your invitation
until 1t became reasonably probable that
the engagement could be met.
The productive capacity Of the North.
west needs for its development cheaper
and safer transportation to the markets
Of the South and East, and also to
those Of foreign countries. In England
especial attention has been direct
ed for several years past to more
direct and economical trade with the
Mississippi Valley. In this connection
there was q desire 10 confer with the
patrons of husbandry in your rich and
prosperous sections, to discuss with them
tho questions involved in securing better
means Of transporting your farm pro-
ducts to the most favorable makets, and
OF providing agencies which should insure
larger returns to farmers by such con-
veyance; contribute to larger views Of one
member OF the family Of the Mississippi
Valley, n family, the chief interest OiGll
the members Of which Is agriculture, the
cultivation OF such various crops as to
make trade among themselves extensive
aud lucrative while II stamps upon
each and all the same interests and
the same policy rs to their foreign trade.
To render such q conference eiiectual,
there must needs be disposition to nj
tend to the subject under consideration,
surely not to propose to smother II by
the intcrpOSiti0n Of matters having no
Just relation toll A second object was to
recognize tile courtesy Of your Board, and
! was encouraged to believe that your
reception Of me would be beneficial rath.
or than injurious to your Association,
This was more suppOsable because sever
al other agricultural societies Of Illinois,
had in like manner invited me to address
their annual meeting. Yesterday also
received printed paper being protest Of
your fellow cOuntrymen against the &c.
ton Of your board In their invitation to
mu to make the annual address at their
county fair. Thereupon ISent to you tel.
egram Withdrawing my acceptance Of the
invitation, under the conviction that 1t
would net be useful or agreeable to par
ticipatc In the meeting, aud / now hope
that neither your association or its di-
rectors will suffer harm by the delay in
procuring an orator, or by the Corre-
spOndenCe which has caused 1t.
My object was to crafty wish long
entertained to see in It's cultivated state
n country known to me as n ttackless vii.
derness, but that hOing merely apersonal
qualification, II may he indnlged at my
convenience or postponed indefinitely. ]
may well believe that the cause which has
changed my purpose was as unforeseen by
you as by me, and you may he assured
that feel no dissatisfaction towards the
directors or yourself, md have suffered
no personal embarrassment from the
event, as the invitation was unexpected
and only accepted rs an expression Of
general good will. So my only regret Is
the loss Of an opportunity to promote
the public interest, with which the wei.
fare OF your community Is identified.
Again expressing the hope that neither
the directors or yourself may suffer in
jury or annoyance, and thanking you for
The kindness and consideration you have
manifested, I am respectfully yours,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.