Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-16
FARMERS CONVENTION.
ANNUAL SESSION LAST NIGHT
Governer Cameron Addresses the Body-Per-
maHent OrsanizatIop Perfseted-Prspara-
tien for Business.

Governor Cameron Addresses the Body-Per-
manent OrsanizatIon Perfeeted-Prspara-
tien for Business.
Last night at 7:30 O'Clock the Farm
ers' Agricultural Convention assembled
in the hall of the House Of Delegates,
and was called to order by Colonel
Beverly.
Rev. DR.. Moses ID. Hoge offered the
following prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God, Gre
ator and preserver Of men, to Thee we
owe all allegiance, love. and service ::
accept our humble homage. Without
Thee nothing is safe, nothing strong,
nothing enduring. Conscience Of our
entire dependence on Thee for all that
makes counsels wise and conduct right,
we feel it to be our first duty, as well
as our highest privilege, in the opening
Of this Convention to unite our hearts
in prayer for Thy gracious aid and
blessing.
Thou carest for all that Thou hast
created, and most of all Thou carest for
man. made in Thine image, and to
whom Thou has given dominion over
the works of Thy hand.
Thou has put all things under his
feet; all sheep and oxen, yea, and all
the beasts of the field, the fowl of the
air, and the fish Of the sea, and what
soeyer passeth through the paths Of the
sea. Thou has given to man the whole
earth as his heritage, to be cultivated
and adorned and made fruitful by his
industry and skill.
Thou hast put blessing in the heart
even of the stern decree which dooms
him to toll and to earn his bread with
the sweat Of his brow, for thus Thou
dost quicken and strengthen energy and
enterprise and endurance, and all the
hardy virtues which constitute the
truest and the noblest manhood.
Though it is to the earth that we
must return when mortal life is ended,
we would not forget that it is from the
earth that we derive our sustenance
while that life continues, and we pray
that the great interests of agriculture,
upon which all other interests at last
depend, and from which all other inter-
ests do spring and flourish, may be so
fostered and advanced that every other
art and profession and calling may be
enriched, promoted, and made prosper
Gus thereby.
Thou hast put honor on the tillers Of
the soil in making them Thine instru-
ments in developing the great resources
of nature, by which even the wilder
ness and the solitary places of the earth
may be made glad and the desert to re-
jOice and blossom as the rose.
And now that in Thy good provi-
dence Thou hast brought Thy servants
here from every part of our Common
wealth to consult together with regard
to the interests which lie at the very
foundation Of its future prosperity, we
beseech Thee so to guide them in all
their deliberations that this Convention
may be led to the adoption Of such
practical measures as shall give devel-
opmont to all the rich resources with
which Thou hast filled the hills and
valleys Of our land ; that there may be
seed to the sOwer and bread for the
eater; that mems hearts may be filled
with food and gladneSs. and that this
may be the era which shall mark the
birth Of new industries, new hopes,
new prosperity, and, above all, new
gratitude to God. the givcr of all good
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Colonel Robert Beverly said Cen
tlemen Of the Convention and Farmers
Of Virginia,-lt becomes my pleasant
duty as chairman of the Executive Com
mittee of the State Agricultural So
cietv to call this meeting to order and
TO welcome you to this great convention
of farmers. the first that has ever been
held in the State Of Virginia to my
knowledge. Such representative con-
yention from all parts Of the State but
betokens new era, trust. in the history
Of our State in regard to the agricul-
ture of it. 1t is certain that something
ought to have been done before this.
We are thankful to see you here to-day
TO do it now. We think that a greater
tie should be extended from one part Of
this State to the other through agricul-
tural means. We should be closely or
ganized. That is one object of this
Convention. 1t is certainly not the
province of farmer to talk. but to
work. and therefore say we will now
get to work and organize.
Major Mann Page moved that the
temporary organization be made perma-
nent, and this motion was put and car
ried.
Committees on Permanent 0rganiza-
ton and on Credentials were, upon
motion, appointed by the Chair.
On motion of Mr.. Gaines, of Halifax,
the Chair appointed committee Of
three to wait upon the Governor and
invite him to seat on the floor.
The Committee on Permanent Organ
ization made the following report:
For president, AbSolOm Koincr
Vice-Presidents, r. E.. Withers. of
Wythe; Edward Dromgoole, of Bruins
wick Paul c. Edmunds, of Halifax;
Major Robert Douthat, of Charles City;
II. l.. Davis, of Clarke w. II. F. Lee,
of Fairfax; C.. II. Reynolds, Of Bote-
tourt General Joseph r. Anderson,
Of Richmond; General Williams c.
Wickham, of Hanover.
For secretary, 6. W. Mayo.
For assistant secretary. Julian Pratt.
Mr.. koiner took the chair and made
a suitable speech, in which he referred
TO the needs of the farmer-what they
wanted in Virginia, and the best means
to be employed in order to develop the
resources at the command of the farm
ers.
A delegate offered resolution that
all resolutions be referred without de-
bate to committee which should con-
sist of one member from each district.
and this resolution was adopted.
Governor William +. Cameron came
in at this point Of the proceedings, and
his presence was the signal for generous
applause.
Mr.. Koiner said: Gentlemen Of the
Convention /. affnrdc mn nlaacura IN