Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-01-01
ADDRESS FROM COL. BEVERLY.

seeond-clss llatter.l
ADDRESS FROM COL. BEVERLY.
10 the Farmers Of the United States:
At the recent meeting Of tue National
Agricultural Congress at Louisville, Ky,
honored by election to @ presidency OF
that body, the duty dssxssYes upon me OF
issuing this brief address explanatory of the
aims and purposes of The organization this
earnest appeal TO every farmer in the Union
to extend to US his action and cordial sym
pathy and cooperation. Everything which
can affect the dignity OF prosperity of aSri-
culture is u subject Of national Importance.
and is entitled 10 the respectful attention oil
| the Government of the nation 50 often Vaunt-
inrIv declared TO be "the Government OF
the people. by the people and Tor the peo-
plc - vet the fact is utterly and scornfully
| ignored that the tiiers OF the soil are q
clear majority of all the pcoplc.
The ultimate aim and purpose Q! The
| National Agricultural Congress IS two '!od :
First 10 arouse agriculturisls themselves TO
a realization Of this great fact, and secondly
to enforce L recognition OF it upon the rep
resentatiycs OF the people who have been
| delegated TO administer the stale ana :!a-
| tional governments. 1t is 4 fact which ad-
mits OF no dispute that 10 prominent and
| influential Statesmen in any department OF
the national government either possesses o."
apparently desires TO possess even super
| fetal knowledge of agriculture in any OF It's
aspects, relations or interests. This great
| business by which Il majority OF all the peo-
pie live and through which all have their
bread is practically unrepresentcd III any
department of the peoples government. In
the Executive branch they have commits
sioner who ranks only with the clerks Of
other departments; in the Senate they have
one, and in the House Of Representatives
twentv-seven members in q body Of
more than three hundred. When we
| propose to remedy this improper, unreason-
able and unjust state OF affairs, we are scorn-
| fully told "tho word Agriculture is not in
the Constitution OF the United States. I'VE
might rctort, Neither is the word "lawyer.'
We might very properly reply, if, then, the
word agriculture is not in the Constitution
of the Government Of the people of whom
we are y majority, then we mean TO put 1t
there. Ifas a clss we possess no rights, as =
majority nevertheless we possess all risht:;
and ali powers under the Constitution ana
the Government as they stand.
In order that agriculture may be placed
upon an equitable footing in the Executive
branch ofihe government it Is believed, autt
we should demand, that it should be repre-
sented in the Cabinet By Minister oi
equal influence, honor and dignity with any
and ali other constitutional advisers OF the
President. 10 the end that lis true relations
otaxa,on 10 commerce, to finance, and all
| ind .trip. lp
studied and understood. and presented and
defended with proper dignity and force in
the councils of the nation. That such is
now the case it is but idle to pretend. Far
merS of America, wc put it to you that il
is vour bounden duty TO yourselves and to
your prostcrity to Use the power which be.
longs to you to enforce this just recognition
of YOUR dignity and your rights If the
word "agriculturcn is not in the Constitu.
ton, YOU have always found, you will ever
find. when votes are wanted, it is in every
politician's mouth. We make no war upon
any profession, calling or pursuit; we know
full we'll that the prosperity OF each Is
the prosperity of all in any well
ordered community; VIC simply ask OF
our representatives Il reasonable and prop
er recognition Of our rights and this, let
us cause them to understand, is what we
are resolved to have. We arc fifty.
seven per cent. of the population Of the Uni
ted States we need such organizations as
shall awaken us to comprehension OF the
habtua subordination of our interests to
those of every other class, producing and
non-producing. Such organization and
such intelligent comprehension of our situa-
ton as will secure Il proper representation
for us in the Executive and Legislative
branches of the Governments, national and
State. under which we live, is one Of the
prime objects of our organization. 1t is on
ly bv and through effective organization in
every county in every State that we can
hope to act intelligently together to obtain
practical recognition OF our political powers
and our political rights. Let your present
REPRESENTATIVES be made to know that some
ofthc most extensive and important inter
es1s of agriculture are to-day seriously inn
periled by their failure or refusal to provide
remedies adequate TO the danger; that you
look to them and expect Of them TO provide
proper and sufficient appropriations OF the
bubble finds to protect the great animal in
dustries of the country from perpetual NEIL
ace and imminent danger by contagious dis
eases. constitutional qualms to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Let them know also, that
the agriculture of the country expects and
REQUIRES at their hands that the benefits OF
the Signal Service be extended to the farm
ing operations Of the country, as well as to
navigation, commerce and other pursuits,
and that whatever organization is required
and whatever funds are necessary Tor sucn
a purpose ought to be provided without fur,
ther delay, so that information OF approach
ing storms, cold waves and inclemencies OF
the weather, threatening and causing de-
struction to agricultural products, may be
timely sent to every community which rail
roads or telegraph lines reach, or to
which warning signals can be conveyed by
any means known to modern science: As
one result already matured ofthe benefcenl