The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-11-07
ADDRESS OF JUDGEFULLER-
TON.

lONs
The following is a portion of the
address Of Hon. William Fullerton
of New York, before the Piedmont
Agricultural Society at Culpeper
Court House. Virginia. at the annual
fair of tile society in September:
"What we want on the farm is
that energy and enterprise which
makes the successful merchant, that
talent which makes the successful
professional man, and that educated
observation which enables men to
unlock the secrets of nature, COM
prehend her laws, and appreciate
her wealth. No other calling opens
a wider field for investigation or a
grander Opportunity for useful ex-
pertinent. which may benefit not on
ly the individual, but all mankind.
It is desirable to accumulate
wealth. bat it is still better to be
useful. 1t is our privilege to be
rich. whilst it is our duty 10 be USE
full to our fellow>men. It is hack
neyed saying. that he who makes
two blades OF grass grow where but
one grew before, is a public bene-
factory and it is true. 1t illus
trates that great want that every
where exists for progress in the cul-
tivation of the earth, and the will
ingness of the world TO honor those
who contribute to it.
Who deserves to be more honored
than he who first discovered the
constituent elements of vegetable
life. or Laws and Gilbert of Eng
land, and Vile of France, who have
spent their lives in experimental
farming for the good of mankind. or
Johnson, Of eur own country, who
has written those wonderful books
entitled "Eiow Plants Grow" and
"How Plants Feed?" And who
will so effectually win fame as he
who shall yet discover some practi-
cal method by which that constitu-
eGt, composing ninety per cent. of
the atmosphere, shall be wooed into
an alliance with other objects, so as
to be used in enriching the earth ?
Whose names more readily occur to
US here to-day at this harvest festi-
val, as objects Of our gratitude. than
Ruf1in and Taylor, OF your own
State, who have left behind them as
monuments OF their usefulness, the
examples they set in improving ag-
riculture? Had their admonitiens
been needed, Virginia would have
been to-day far in advance Of her
present condition; and while all
may not expect to reach the same
measures of usefulness. yet there is
an opportunity for every one who
tills an acre Of soil, to aid in bring
ing about state of things which
will remedy The evils which now ex-
ist.
1t should be Ihe object Of every !
one, young and old, to cooperate in
making Virginia more attractive than
it is. The West, with all its boast
ed advantages. has no such claims
on the favors of the young. nor does
she present so many advantages to
thoseseeking new homes; and yet
when it is proposed to such that
they turn their faces toward this
State. they raise two objections
which are difficult to answer
First-That her lands are ex-
hausted, and cannot be resuscitated
except at great expense.
SecOnd-That her roads are neg
lected. and. at times almost impassa-
BILE.
For these reasons. hundreds Of
persons who otherwise would seek
homes here, are turned away
1t is in your power to remedy
these things, and in doing SO, you
will not only attract strangers from
abroad, but you will make Virginia
more attractive to your children at
home. There is no more important
object than this. Bind your soma
to the soil by every means in yonr
power. Overcome possible. any de-
sire on their part to leave the country
for city life. Let them compare the
preseAt condition Of the tillers OF the
soil with thatof the tradesman, and
they will see that the advantage is
largely with the husbandman.
A general wave Of commercial dis
aster has swept oyer the country.
ana what wrecks it has left behind
Fortunes. which we're accumulations
OF years or industry. have been
swallowed up in an hour Men
rich yesterday are poor to-day But