Year: 1875

AN EXPLANATION OF HIS DECLINATIoN TO At


TEND THE AGRICULTURAL FArR-No FEELING


OF DISSATISFACTION TOWARD THE DIRECTORS.


MEMPHIS, Tenn, August 49, 1875.


The following letter has been published in this morn.
ings papers Mr.. Davis gives his for the
cation of his acceptance of the invitation address the
Winnebago County Agricultural Society,"


MEMPHIS, Tenn, August Is, 1875
HENRY p KMBALI, Secretary of the winnebago County
Agricultural Society, Rockford ILL.,


DEAR SIR yesterday sent to you a telegram an
nouncing my revocation of my conditional acceptance Of
the invitation to address your association their an
nual meeting in September next The long period
which has elapsed the receipt OF your letters
and the considerate courtesy which has marked your
correspondence make it my duty to the Board and to
myself that sufficient explanation should be given of
this change of purpose Three objects mainly induced
me +. accept the invtation:-


First-The hope that personal intercourse might re-
of the preudices which had been generated
by partisan faction and nurtured by individual and
tonal hate. Anxious as in former years to promote
the interest Of great valley Of the Mississippi and
believing that with mutual confidence and cointei-
gence much could be done for their advancement only
delayed my acceptance Of your invitation until it be-
came reasonably probable that II could be met. The
productive capacity Of the Northwest needs for its de-
veopmen cheaper and safer transportation to the
kets Of the Southwest aud also to those of
foreign countries In England especially earnest
attention has been directed for several
years past to more direct and economical trade
with the Mississippi Valley. In this connection there
was desire to confer with the Patrons of Husbaudry
in your rich and prosperous section 10 discuss with
them questions involved in securing better means of
transporting your farm products to the most favorable
markets and Of providing agencies which should insure
larger returns to freemen and by such conference to
learn the views of one member of the family of the
Mississippi Valley family the chief interest of oil
members of which agriculture but cultvators of such
various crops to make trade among themselves ex-
tensive and lucrative while it stamps upon each and
all the same interests and the policy their
foreign trade. To render such conference edectua
there must needs be disposition to attend the sub
ject under consideration, surely not to purpose to
smother it by the interposition of matters having
just relation to IL.


.Second-An effort made to recognize the courtesy
of your Board and encouraged to believe that
your reception of would be beneficial rather than in
furious TO your association. This was the more sup
possible because several other agricultural societies in
illinois had in like manner invited to address their
annual meetings. Yesterday received printed paper,
il being a protest Of number Of your fellow. country.
men against the of your Board in their invitation
TO me to make the annual address the county
ing; thereupon sent to you a telegram Withdrawing
my acceptance Of the invitation under the conviction
that it would be useful agreeable TO participate
the meeting and hope that neither your association
the directors will suffer harm by the delay in pro-
curing an orator or by the correspondence WHICH has
caused il.


Third-The object was TO crafty wish long en-
tertaned to in its cultivated dress the country
known to me as a trackless wilderness But that be.
ing merely personal qualification II may be INDUCED
my convenience postponed indefinitely. | can
we'll believe that the which has changed my pur.
pose unforeseen by you as by me, and you may
be assured that feel dissatisfaction toward the
directors yourself and have suffered personal EN-.
barrassment from the event. the invitation was un-
expected and only acceptable expression Of gene
raj good will So my only regret is the loss OF oppor.
unity to promote the public interest with which the
welfare of your community is identified


Again expressing the hope that neither the directors
nor yourself may suffer injury or annoyance, and
thanking you for the kindness and consideration you
have manifested am respectfully yours,


JEFFERSON DAVIS