Year: 1875

He Rises to a Personal lExpianation--why


lie wanted To speak at Rockford. and


why He Cancelled the Engagement.


The following is the letter in full OF
JEFF. Davis capceling his engagement to
address the Winnebago County (Iu.)
Agricultural Society:


MEMPHIS. Tenn. Aug. 15.-H. L. himball
Secretary Winnebago County Agricultural So
ciety, Rockford, Ill.-Dear Sir yesterday
sent to you telegram announcing my revoca-
ton of a conditional acceptance OF an invitation
TO address your association at their annual
meeting in September next. The long PERIOD
which has elapsed since the receipt OF your
first letter. and the considerate courtesy which
has marked your correspondence, make IT
duty 10 the Board and to myself that sufficient
explanation should be given Of this change OF
purpose. Three objects mainly induced me to
accept the invitation.


First. The hope that personal intercourse
might remove some of the prejudices which
had been generated by partisan factions, and
nurtured by individual and sectional hate.
Anxious now RS in former years, to promote the
interests of our great valley of the Mississippi.
and believing that with mutual confidence and
co-intelligence much could be done for their
advancement, 1 only delayed my acceptance of
your invitation until it became reasonably proba-
bic that ii could be met. The productive capac-
ity OF the Northwest needs for its development
cheaper and safer transportation to the markets
Of the Southwest. and also TO those of foreign
countries. In England, especially, earnest at
tention has been directed for several years past
TO a more direct and economical trade with the
Mississippi valley. In this connection there
was a desire TO confer with the Patrons of Hus-
bandry in your rich and prosperous section, to
discuss with them the questions involved in
securing better means Of transporting your
fartR


and of providing agencies which should insure
larger returns to the farmer, and by such con-
ference to learn the views of one member Of
the family of the Mississippi valley-a family
the chief interest of all the members of which
is agriculture, but the cultivators of such va
rious crops as to make trade among themselves
extensive and lucrative-while it stamps upon
each and all the same interests and the same
policy AZ to their foreign trade, to render such
conference effectual there must needs be a
disposition to attend to the subject under con-
sioeration. Surely it is not the purpose to
smother it by the interposition of matters hav-
ing no just relation TO it


Second. Ny effort was TO recognize the
courtesy of your Board, and was encouraged
to believe that your reception of me would be
beneficial rather than injurious to your assOcia-
ton. This was more supposable because other
agricultural societies had invited me to address
Their annual meetings. Yesterday received a
printed paper being the protest of a number of
your fellow countrymen against the action of
your Board in their invitation to me to make
the annual address at the county meeting.
Thereupon l sent you telegram withdrawing
my acceptance Of the invitation under the con-
viction that it would not be useful or agreea-
ble to participate in the meeting, and know
that neither your association, nor the Directors,
will suffer harm by delay in procuring an ora
tor, or by the correspondence which has
caused it,


Third. The object was to crafty wish long
entertained, to see in its cultivated dress the
country known to me as a trackess wilderness;
but that being merely a personal qualification,
it may be INDUCED at my convenience or post
poned indefinitely. / can well believe that the
cause which has changed my purpose was as
! unforeseen by you as by me, and you may be
| assured that feel no dissatisfaction toward
the Directors or yourself, and have suffered no
personal embarrassment at the event, as the
invitation was unexpected, and only acceptable
as an expression Of general good will so my
only regret is the loss of opportunity to pro-
mote the public interest, with which the well
fare of your committee is identified. Again
expressing the hope that neither the Directors,
nor yourself, may suffer injury or annoyance,
and thanking you for the kindness and con-
sideration you have manifested l am. respect
fully yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS