Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-05-06
Second Days Proceedings.

CpSOSh 20
it's close a motion to adjourn until 9 A. M.
Friday was made and prevailed.
Second Days Proceedings.
MORNING SESSION.
The Convention met promptlyat 9 o'clock
Friday morning.
A number of resolutions on various SUBJ
iects were offered and referred.
Several resolutions reported favorably by
the committee were then taken up for con-
sideration. They. recommend an amend
ment to the road law allowing 81 as a COM
mutation for road duty that prisoners in
the iails be worked on the public roads; the
creation of an officer to be known as Secre-
tary of Agriculture, who shall have a seat
in General Assembly making certain sug-
gestions as to the improvement OF the pos
tai regulations in this State.
Mr.. Shell, of Laurens, from the commit
tee to whom had been referred the resolu-
tions respecting the employment of attor-
news to prosecute suits against certain phos-
phate companies made lengthy report and
was discharged from further consideration
of the subject.
The following resolutions introduced by
Mr.. Prince, and reported favorably by the
committee, were then taken up:
Whereas, there exists a general depres-
sion of the farming interests throughout the
Southern States; and whereas, this depres-
sion is not confined to the agricultural inter,
ests, but prevades every interest ana is 1elt
more sensibly by the agricultural interests
only because they are in a position 10 o11er
the least resistance to the pressure; and
whereas, this condition is not SO much the
result of bad legislation or unWise admins
tration, but is directly traceable to our I'M
wise system of raising all cotton and buy
ing everything we use in foreign markets;
and whereas, the remedy is largely with
the farmers themselves, by abandoning this
hurtful system and diversifying farm inter-
ests, and instead of one, to have half a score
of money crops, and instead OF buying
everything in distant markets, to buy as
little as possible, and that little IN nome
market; and whereas, our section abounds
in iron and coal fields, having a forestry
surpassed by none in the Union, many
water powers sufficient to run the macnln-
ery of the world and whereas, the develop,
ment and utilization of these varied ana
vast resources would add hundreds OF thou-
sands to our population and millions 10 our
taxable property, thereby rendering the
navment of our bonds a mere form instead
of a burden: and whereas, on account OF the
timidity and sensitiveness of capitalists IN
entering upon fields of investment, the de-
yelopment and utilization Of these resour-
ces cannot be obtained without the encour-
agment and fostering care OF the STATE T;
therefore, be it resolved,
First. That we urge upon the farmers OF
the State to lessen the annual acreage IN
cotton and turn their attention largely to
the cultivation (along with cotton) OF tobac-
co, fruits, melons, all the grains and all the
grasses that enter into the forage OF the
country, and become producers OF What
they consume, instead of buyers, ana 10
give their attention to the raising OF STOCK.
Second. That we heartily urge upon our
farmers a closer connection n sympathy
with our State Agricultural Department
and make the monthly journal OF the de-
partment a means of correspondence with
each other. by communicating through 1t
advice. suggestions and experimental facts,
and thus cooperate with the Commissions
of Agriculture in making that department
all that it should be.
Third. That we urge upon our state
government the prime Importance OF en-
%couraging by wise, liberal and judlcious leg,
islation, the home manufacture OF raw ana
crude materials, the speedy development OF
our manufacturing interests, thereby crea-
ting home markets for all our productions,
and for the crude materials which nature
has. bestowed upon us with such lavish
hands, centupling our populations and tax,
able property, and making us q great ana
prosperous and independent people;
After some discussion the report OF the
committee was adopted by a rising vote. =,
The committee which had been appointed
to wait on the Governor and invite MN 10
address the convention announced ina he
was awaiting the pleasure OF the coh'eh-
ton.
The consideration of pending business
was suspended on motion and the Governor
was escorted to the platform AMID the 'o-
c~ifer0us greetings of the convention.
Addressing the convention, Governor
Thompson said:
No call could have come to him more un-
expectedlv and vet more gratefully than
that to address this assemblage CT the farm
ers of the State. 1t was unexpected, be-
cause he had no reason to believe that,
with the very limited acquaintance when
he had with practical farming, ne would
be expected to speak to or advise with them,
and his Judgment advised him that ne could
best RESPOND to their kind invitation by not
wasting the valuable time which belonged
to the practical duties of the convention.
He was sure that the gentlemen whom nc
saw before him had come here not 10 pro-
mote the interest of farmers alone, but
of the whole people, and in such an effort ne
could pledge the hearty and earnest support
of all the professions and all the people OF
the State.
It was but comparatively of a recent
date that agriculture had emerged from the
rude methods and brought to its aid the
principles of science, but it should be re-
membered that Sonth Carolina was among
the first States of the Union to form an Ag-
ricultural Society, and the farmers OF the
State to-day owed it to themselves ana
thew should for the honor OF the State,
keep time to the march OF the farmers
of the world in their grand advance.
This convention will have accomplished
q great work if it aroused the farmers OF
the State to a conception of their W true
needs and advise in reference to the meas
ures for their improvement.
He had not sympathized with the fears
expressed in some quarters that evil Would
result from this convention, for he knew
that the men who had so gallantly sustain
ed the honor of their State on bloody
fields and in times of even greater trials
could we'll be entrusted with her welfare
now. The deep interest which he felt in
the purposes and aims expressed and the
kindness of his reception had almost tempt
ed him to forget his promise not to make
them a speech, buthe would content himself
with expressing the hope that the meeting
would result in good to all the interests of
the whole people of South Carolina. The