Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-12-12
Declaration Of Principles.

The following is the decla ration Of princi~
Piles which wcro passed by the National
Grange last week:
We, the members of the National Grange,
desiring to define the precise objects of the
Order Of Patrons Of IIusbandry, and place
thcm before the membership Of the order
throughout the Union, do hereby set forth the
following proposition with our distinct dcclur-
atinn of purpose relating therefor
The industry upon which our ordcr is based
is agriculture-thc most important of all
industrcs--the foundation and support of all
o.hcrs--the true basis Of all our national
prosperity. We have observed tho condition
of our people and viewed with alarm the
cncroachmon,s upon their natural rights
agriculture is the hcfsourc ofall wealth
and therefore deserving of at least equal re-
cognitinn with ether vocations, it is deprived
Of its inst rewards and oppressed by methods
of law 1t is made to bear gricvons burdens
not its own, it ID compelled to pay taxes
Which an equitable distribution would place
elsewhere: it is forced by wicked cambina-
tons to hurtful determinations against its
products both in transportation aud in the
narts of sne it's yotarios haze been and are
now denied that consideration in public af-
fairs to which the magnitude aud the impor-
tancc of their calling cn,ile them. The laws
of the nation and of tho several States are 80
framed rs to divert from our great industry
the rewards which are the great incentives to
toll. and an earnest rcmonstrancs against their
injustice spurncd.
In view Of these truths. We are bound, in
defence Of our manhood, to assert our rights,
and we therefore declare our unalterallo pur-
pose to emanciputo agriculture from the bur"
dens uniustly hcaped upon it, ard the means
by which We shall seek to secure the desirable
ends.
|. We shall strive earnestly. within and
without our order, to extend the benefits of
education, which shall comprise knowledge Of
public affairs and tho methods uf self go varna
mcnt.
2. We shall demand admission in the
Legi> laiures Of the several States, aud in
both houses Of the National Congress,
for representatives. of agriculture chosen di-
rcctly from it's votaries rs the only means Of
relief.
g. We shall accord to other industries ali
tho rights, privileges and immunitics, which
we claim Tor our own, and join with their
representatives in earnest endeavnrs to i'm
press upon the government Of States and
nations habits of wise economy and frugality
ns essential to the thrift and prosperity of all
the people
4. We shall give constant care and atten.
tinn TO the public schools. in which tho youth
of the mntion are deeply interested, limiting
expenditures therefor only by their. useful.
ness. ot,iyirg always for ,hnt higher and
practicable enlightenment which shond
become the distinguishing feature Of free
people.
After the above had been adopted the fol-
lowing Was also presented and pnescd:
III accordance with the above objects of our
| organization, and tho methods by which they
arc to be obtained, wo pledge our uDycaing
devotion to the work marked out. We believe
the principles enunciated ia our declaration
are in full accord with Tie highest welfare nt
our country, and that they deserve support.
especially by all farmers The h:,inr. "I
! agriculture on this chniiHen, shows that no
organic ,,on in it's behalf has ever been a,-
tempted wi;hnnt direct cIfrt on tho part OF
those who prey upon its products to neuirn~
lize tho work; and tho lessons Of the past
establish tho conviction that our only hopo is
| in the full aud cordial cO-operution Of farmer.
wherever located, to insure that success whicl
is within their grasp.
Wo appeal, therefore, to good men ant
women, whose interests arc our own, to j0iI
their efforts with ours, confident, that. wtl
thoir support wc shall not wait long for tn
consummation of our hopes. Wo appeal t
tho agricultural journals Of tho land, asking
their grot influence in hid of the abov
object, as u potent means for tho attninmcn
Of great object. 10 these forces and to tn
intelligence Of our people wo present tn
purposes which animate many thousands q
farmers in every State Of our Union. an
rcvercn,ly trust in tho direction of the wis
Providence by whose decree we " ere mad
tllors Of the soil, TINT our efforts may be re
warded by tho full accomplishment of til
measures which justice demands in tho relic
of an industry oppressed aud tho higher on
lightcnmont of its votnries.
The State debt Of Virginia is $40, 1867 ,05,