Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-14
GEORGIA'S FARMERS.
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE
STATE AGRICULTURISTs.

Arrival of the DeIegates-Their Wei
come to Savannah-Essays and Ad-
dresses by Prominent GeOrgians-The
Discussion of Agricultural Topics.
The State Agricultural Society opened
its annual convention in Masonic Hall
Tuesday morning with about 200 dele
gates in attendance, representing nearly
every county and agricultural association
in Georgia In the absence Of the Presi-
dent, Col. Thomas Hardeman, Vice Presi-
dent Col L. T. Livingston, OF Newton,
presided, with Col. [. c. Grier, Secretary,
and nearly all Of the officers and Execu-
tive Committee present.
The opening Of the convention was de-
Javed until 10 O'Clock in order to allow
the large number Of delegates who ar
rived on the morning trains ample time TO
reach the hall. As soon a. the majority
had arrived, the Citizens Reception Com
lnittee, with the Mayor, took seats on She
stage with the officers of the society, and
Acting President Livingston called the
delegates to order and announced the
convention opened.
An appropriate Psalm was read, and
prayer was offered by Rev. Charles ii.
Strong. rector Of St. Johns Church, after
which Mayor Lester, in behalf of the
citizens, extended to the delegates the
freedom of the city
R-. Prrstdegt and Gentlemen: 1 hidden
by the people of this city to extend TO you
hearty welcome to their midst. 1t Is a duty
which most cheerfally perform. The heart
of every son OF Georgia goes out TO lne people
who represent the vast agricultural interests
of the state, an interest upon which depends
the welfare Of the whole people. There are
no people 50 free: no people so useful; no peO-
pie so individually independent, and no peo-
pie 20 situated ane cIrcumstaneed as TO ad-
vance and promote the interest ana prosperity
of the State and pe-petuate our free lnstltu-
tons.
Georgia Ia an agricultural state; her people
are an agricultural people. Upon the sands
of her sea coast upon her midlands and in the
valleys among her granite hills the people tall
the soil and gather from her fertile yield the
means of life, productions for vast com
merce and the comforts OF home.
Georgia is z land of homes, or hospitahle
homes, where the people love to rear their
children. The people are a high minded, gen
erOus people, and rear their children TO i've IN
the good old WAYS Of their fathers. To TIL the
soil to love their BeighbOrs, to act justly, love
their homes and be hOspltable to the stranger
You have met. Mr. President and gentle
men. TO discuss the great questions which con-
Germ the material interests Of the state. feel
hOnOred that YOU have selected our city as
place for your delineratlOn. We claim TO be
a part Of the state Of Georgia, althOU Oh that
claim may be denied by the disposition of
some. We do not believe that the sun rises at
Tybee and sets in the canal; we rejoice
of Georgia. We rejoice and aspire to the
glory Of whatever concerns the honor ana
prosperity Of the people Of the entire state.
Your session we hope, Mr.. President, VIII
De harmonious and profitable. and that II VIII
rebound to the interest and utmost OF the
prosperity Of the entire state
1 extend to YOU the keys OF the city May
YOUR staV among be as pleasant ana agree
able a. it is our desire IL should be. Take our
KEYS as long. sir, as you May please to remain
and keep them.
The eloquent greeting was received
with enthusiastic applause, and. in be-
half of the convention, Hamilton ancey,
Esq, Of Rome, responded in acceptance
OF the welcome as follows:
Mr. Havor- When. a few days ago, I was
surprIseti by the request of our h0nOred Sec
Rotary to reply TO the address Of Welcome,
at the Savannah Convention, on behalf of the
Georgia state Agricultural Society, l was
embarrassed how 10 answer so supplementary
a request. Immersed in the busy work Of
practical life, / well knew how impossible II
would be for me to suitably prepare re-
Spouse on behalf Of so able body OF repre-
sentative men as constitute the membership
of this society.
But. sir. to decline would have evidenced
a want Of appreciation OF the grand WORK IN
which THE society is engaged, and how could
! DO otherwise than promise that my feeble
voice, should respond IN behalf OF an orgahl-
cation which all GeOrgians should earnestly
strive by every means il their power TO sus-
tain and perpetuate.
1t Is, therefore. with pleasure, sir, that on
ciety, an Convention assembled, l thank you
for your words of welcome, for the cordial
hospitality of your homes, and the freedom
Of your city, so generously extended to the
membership of this convention. The kindly
words you have fifty spoken will not alone
be cherished in the hearts OF those present,
but they will awake responsive echo OF kindly
feeling in the hearts of all who love GeOr-
gia and GeOrgia's soil.
Sir, it can but be a source OF infinite gratid-
cation to the agriculturists Of Georgia that
this great commercial and seaport city OF our
State has flung wide open her gates and eX-
tended to their humble representatives the
hand of friendly greeting so cordially
sir, though We have come together from
every section of our State, and some OF us, sir,
even from under the shadows of the Blue
Ridge, where we listen to the music of the
murmuring voices OF our mountain rlYulets,
as in their impetuOus How TO the sea they
mingle their waters through the channels OF
the beautiful OOstanaula and the cataracted
EtOWah, to enrich with their fertile deposits
and cargoes Of freight sister State. and.
though we have traversed hundreds OF miles
that we might council together in the pursuit
Of that knowledge which must rebound to the
good of our beloved State, we do not feel that
we have come among you as strangers, but,
on TIE contrary, that we are Of brotherhood,
nurtured by the same mother. united in our
common interest in the noble effort to lift
our grand old mother. Georgia, upon a
higher plane of prosperity IN the better de-
TelOpment of her economy and material re
sources, Of the treasures OF wealth in her soil,
in her mines, and IN the many and varied in
dustries within her borders.
And feeling thus, sir, we are glad that our
deliberations are to be he'd where they will
receive 50 cordial 3 support.
Sir, the history OF your city has filed and
must ever I'LL large part Of the history OF
our State. Since the planting Of the banners
of the philanthrOpic OglethOrpe upon the
banks of yOnder noble stream-mOre than
century and a half ago-has your city I'M
pressed the influence of its thought upon the
great practical and political questions of the
age, and largely aided in giving direction to
81 linz ffra al fQf AT n-Gn
sir, the people of Georgia rejoice in the pros
perity and progress OF your much loved and
queenly city.
The culture Of your people. the beauty and
refinement of your daughters and the genu-
inc hospitality Of your citizens are prOyerblal
throughout the limit and boundaries OF this
We rejoice to know, sir. that the many and
varied interests of your city have the infusion
OF new blood and vigorous life, especially that
of your shipping interests.is so rapidly growing
IN Importance, and that 4 healthy vlgOr per-
Yades all departments OF YOUR economic and
commercial Industries. we trust. sir, that
the ''ield days Of your shipping interest may
.multiply in geOmetrical progression TO all
the diversified pursuits in which your people
are engaged. And we feel assured, sir, that
YOU fully appreciate and realize that the agri-
culture OF the State Is the very foundation
and support of those varied industries, and
unOn its success depends their permanent
prosperity and the continued progress Of your
commercial Importance.
As the great centre of the trucking indus
try your city must be greatly benefited by
its growth and influence. 1 am not prophet
enough to predict its possibilities He who
few wears ago had dared suggest that the car
goes of your great ocean steamships would
have been largely of struck" and that the
great railroad lines Of the country could not
furnish cars enough nor engines of sufficient
power to convey the truck of Southern Geor-
gIa to the markets of the East and the West,
would have been ridiculed as q dreamer and
laughed at as a theOrist.
The present is pre-eminently an age Of pro-
gress. and the great heart of the Empire state
of the South is to-day throbbing with the pro-
gressiveness of her earnest working citizens.
Never were her people so much in earnest for
the development of the resources calculated to
advance their economic and social condition
and Of ayailing themselves of the wonderful
discoveries Of science and their practical ap-
plication for the advancement of their mate
rial prosperity and happiness. And in no de-
partment Of scientific research have there
been more wonderful discoveries or
greater progress made than in the science
of art ana agriculture" Ignorance and
prejudice have. since the world began. de-
cried the theories of science, and refused to
accept them until the sunlight Of truth has,
by the crucible of experiment, forced the
great mind Of man to accept demonstrated re-
sults and thus utilize the great forces of ma
ture for the good of the people and the ad-
vancement of future generations. And thus,