Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-05-11
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
Session of the East Tennessee Farmers
Convention at the Opera House.

Largest Gathering in the History of the
Body---Interesting Meeting.
The East Tennessee Farmers Convention
assembled in annual convention at Staubs
Opera-House yesterday morning, Capt. J.
A. Turley, the president, presiding, and a
good attendance of representative farmers
from various counties.
The meeting was called to order at about
a quarter to 10 o'clock, and was opened
with prayer by Rev. r. N. Price, editor of
the Holston Methodist.
President Turley announced the fact that
the opera-house has been donated by the
citizens of Knoxville for this meeting, and
that they had provided speaker to welcome
the members of the convention. He then
introduced Col A. Caldwell, as the orator
of the occasion. Colonel Caldwell, in be-
half of the citizens of Knoxville, extended a
cordial welcome individually and collective
ly to the farmers from all over East
Tennessee who are assembled here
recognizing the great importance
of their calling and vocation, and the re-
suits of these gatherings. In a brief i'm
promptu address, delivered in Col. Cald-
wells eloquent and interesting style, he gave
many words of encouragement and approba-
ton to the assembled farmers
President Turley then called on Col H. B.
J Yearwood, who has always taken the deep
est interest in the deliberations of this body
. and been one of the pioneers in the work, to
| respond. Col Yearwoed, though laboring
under difficulties being quite unwel but, in
his own fehcitous and amusing style,
entertained the convention for few
moments, in response to Col Caldwelps
address, In winding up, he paid high
7 tribute to the enterprise of the citizens of
Knoxville, to which is to be charged the
present prosperous condition of our beauti-
} full city. With such magnanimity and iber-
t ality as displayed on this occasion,
t he said her people will always pros
per under Divine Providence. He ventured
the prediction that in ten years from now
Knoxville will not only be a great railroad
center, but her own citizens will be aston
= ished at the growth. He rendered, not only
in behalf of the members present, but all
4 those who should have been, hearty and
s warm thanks for the magnanimnity and
a liberaIty displayed by the citizens.
q DIR. A. NJ. Hawkins, State commissioner
!, of agriculture, &C., being present, was
q brought forward and introduced to the con-
vention by President Turley.
DIR. Hawkins expressed pleasure beyond
power of expression to meet with the
Q farmers of East Tennessee in this conven,
q ton, having always felt deep interest IL
i the agricultural interests of East Tennessee
:: He hoped at some time during the session
to have family talk on various topics.
: President Turley then read the following
- we'll arranged and encouraging address:
y. Gentlemen of the East Tennessee Farmers
4 Convention:
}; am glad that the time is here when W,
a. can take each other by the hand and warn
d, anew the friendships of other days, whicl
g, have always been of the most pleasant ani
! desirable character. Glad again, am I, tina
the most rigid winter experienced by US i
past and that balmy, hopeful spring Is here
IN and that benign Providence has graciousl
or smiled upon the efforts of the husbandme1
ht of East Tennessee in the promising appear
1d an CO of abundant crops.
We may think but lightly of the matter
in fact we may not think seriously about
at all, but the success or failure of our call
Lct ing permeates every sphere of life to glad
of den or sadden the minds of men. It is
de prime question to be carefully considere
he by business men. If crops are good sale
of merchandise will be corresponding
air good. If bad, expenses must be reduced
MS. clerks and employees are discharged, whic
W. not unfrequently carries want aud desponC
ge ency to their hearth-stones The commo
carrier companies, manufacturers, profe
sional men, and, in short, every avocatio
g's of life, is frightened by the light of yor
vim prosperity or darkened by the shade
of your misfortune. Even this gre
ed government of ours, which collec
lively embraces every phase of person
ny, interest within her borders, bushes
gladness with the strong throbbings
ex- agricultural prosperity as we send our srl
plus through her great arteries of trade al
ion commerce, or pales with disappointment
she learns that blight and disaster have la
their blasting hands upon your grown
en-. crops. DIR. johnson truthfully says, tn
rd, agriculture not only gives riches to n
ton, but the only riches she can call b
rt; own" Then the duty of making maj
ar millions of people, other than ourselve
prosperous and happy, rests largely up'
tie. us; let us faithfully discharge it. Whe
ue, obligations are great, honors are great, al
the day will come when the pioneers of
MS move that has in view the elevation of far1
ing, in all its details, will be revered a
rs honored.
A duty that I would not fail to direct 20
ng- attention to lies at our doors. Tennessee
real progress is but an infant compared Wi
zee. herself fifty years hence. She is now il
on emerging from the systems and habits of
her past history. A future bright wi
promise is Only dawning to her. The fou
dation stones are one by one coming il
ng, place, and you, brother farmers, compc
by far the largest influence engaged in t
og- work. Let us lay this foundation on
level of justice to the past, present a
on. future citizens of our State. Let US squi
it by a spirit of the broadest charity.
r,,s- I have now occupied more of your tin
in general way, than intended, and v
'yer therefore address myself more closely
the immediate affairs of this conventlon-
lah. now regard this convention as succe
De- Indifference to it on the part OF our TAR
ers is fast passing away. In addition to
large attendance that [ see before me,
Gal best wishes of thousand substantial far
ers who from, q ,,raoc of work could