The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-23


,,s-~&,sa usass Asrseussasae secsssx-
Sss- - n.seuee ~. q. wnsg0s - Ia
80 4. -. Dsewrys
sdifors Of ne Dssp0tcA: The comsaun.'
~.iicn n the Efuse q the ls'n instsns'
ecsn.a a n. Drvwry, profoundly aston
49, 10. The ofylcial relations Of MAJOR
nr~vrv and myself IN respect 70 the STATE
1ericn,tursl Society, 10 ssy notniog OF per
s.Asss.S rsisslons. increases this establishment
rs,ss ~ should put before he public such
: scmmuulcstiof, without henk and man
- ~cnserencc with me still further ADDS 70
-. sssonsshmeut, Does he think that q
ssxdstion Of his administrator Is SUM
~,srs srswer 10 an the troubles when pow
srr,cnrd the Agricultural Society," IL 10
sSs. 80 nscs he 4 self.spfscient. bis conceil
s Mi, ssii him upon . general principle OF
common sense that the past cannot smeno
W - siif rsnkuess and cspdor am inclined
a sren,nate Major Drewry from any pur'
ccse 70 do ,ne injustice, but bis commune
cssion is az such ap extraordinary character
- - demand . reply from me. can see no
occssion. or lust excuse, for parading n's
ssrv,ces 10 the Society before the puohc
INT Il lsudabIe vanity may be grained IN
that wsy. he should have been cautious mol
N step on the toes Of others. He has chosen
n spesk OF me, bis immediate predecessor
~ the presidential Office, because, per-
chance. OF The more direct contrast with
which be, in grace and efficiency, wore the
ofFiclsl robes. I had almost grown grey IN
the service OF the Society before he mao
connection with or, possibly, knowledge
Of Il: but yet with remarkable aptitude
he Tar outsfrips me 10 devotion ano
eficiency, Of which the public must Dc
An ANALYSIS Of his letter will show the
following points on which desire TO com
ment:
ciety. admitted TO be imminent, are "1aI
less embarrassing than In "1S76, at the
close OF Colonel Knights administration
2. II was then "dlffeult to find among It's
MANY friends one who was willing to accept
the position Of chief officer" and that under
these circumstances he was pressed Into its
service very much against his wishes.
q. One OF his "frst steps was to obtain
from the Legislature the passage Oh an ACT
releasing the Society from debt OF about
-. 600 due for back taxes and exemption
from future taxation on its property"
4. He carried the debt Of the Socie'
tv by bis own endorsement and du'
ring the first year OF his administration,
and had to pay per cent. Tor money. whist
be only charged the Society per cent.
q. The publication OF the Society's Jour-
nal of Transactions. admitted to be import
ant, vet "upon full investigation OF me
cost OF running 1t We were satisfied that II
would involve the Society In loss OF thou
sand or more dollars each year, and our see
retary, Colonel Knight. being more san
ruiue than the rest OF us, OF his own free
will agreed TO publish II at his own expense,
and take to bis use whatever could be made
ont OF it."
q. He held three very creditable fairs du-
ring three OF the hardest years In the history
OF the country, and at the close OF bis adj
mInistraiion was enabled to report the DEBT
Of the Society considerably reduced, and re-
ceived from the Society unanimous vote
OF thanks.
Following the order Of the subjects emu
mersted desire to say, first, that no perHs
threatened the Society at the close OF my
administration. The three fairs OF 1874
1875, and 1876. following Immediately on
the great financial panic OF 1873, from which
the country suffered for at least six years,
show better results than any other three
since the resumption OF the fairs In the
year 1869. During the years named, which
embraced my administration, there was paid
out in cash fer premiums $l9,272, as against
2l3,689 during Major Drewry's term. Per-
manent improvements, including the grand
stand, we're also erected ut cost OF Sl4,'
777.9l, as against 1915 26. The gate.fees
received during my term amounted to
s26. l65. O6, and to S27,223.SS during
Major Drewry's, but his embraced
the year OF President Hayes's visit,
when the receipts ran up several thousand
dollars above the usual average. The debt
OF the Society was increased during my
term about $4,000, but there were perma-
nent Improvements which cost, as before
stated, nearly S15, 900 TO represent 1t. These
improvements are never made at the will OF
any president, but by the authority OF the
executive committee, Of which Major Drew
~ was q member. The general meeting OF
the Society In October, 1885,. which term!-
mated my presidential term, In no way criti.
cised my official conduct or that OF the exc
cutive committee who acted with me, as the
following resolution, offered by Mr.. john
son Barbour and unanimously adopted, will
show:
"Reselved, That whilst the Society is
compelled to recognize the constitutional
provision which terminates the presidency
OF Colonel w. G. Knight, 1t cannot part
with him In that capacity without a
tender Of its heartfelt thanks for the
marked efficiency with which he has
discharged the duties OF his Office and for
the systematic aud diligent manner In
which be has devoted himself to the i'm
provement OF the agricultural interests Of
Virginia; and II feels authorized In tender
ing him, IN the name OF the whole farming
interests of Virginia, this expression OF
grateful recognition OF his distinguished
services in the effort to restore the fortunes
and promote the prosperity OF his native
State"
Where, then, were the persls to which
Major Drewry refers! They were only to
this intent: A resolution was offered au.
th0rixing the Executive Committee, in their
discretion, to fund the debt Of the Society,
and, II necessary, TO mortgage the property
Ct the Society to secure its payment. This
was very vigorously opposed by Mr.. L. E.
Hsrvie and other members, and very
spirited discussion arose, but the reso-
luton was passed by large ma.
jority: and tbereupon Mr.. Haryie
and.his friends filed and bad spread on the
records their protest. After this the meet.
ingswas harmonious, sad the ticket which
had been nominated Tor president and other
officers, embracing the Executive Commit.
tee last gear, was elected without dissent.
ing voice In this connection ii may be
remarked that Major Drewry, who was then
elected president, has stated tbe.case too
strong when he says II was difficult to End 9
person 'vhe was willing 60 accept the presi.
sdency, for there could act have been less
than dozen then present who would glad.
'iy have ACCEPTED II, and remember the re
ma& OF ope-and very fit ,one--to the
tadect that be had rather be the president OF
the State Society than Governor Of the
Stale.