THE HUNTINGDON GLOBE, A DEMOCRATIC FAMILY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS, &C.
Democratic party from the shame now sought
to be put upon it, and bring its Conventions—
State and National—back to the principles
with which it can alone succeed, and without
which it must forfeit its own self-respect, and
the confidence of the country, we shall have
performed a duty far more important to our
country than if we had assisted to elect a
President by false professions, or hurled our
opponents out of power upon a sectional ap
peal.
How, then, shall we escape continued de
feat, and how repair the shattered fortunes
of our once proud and conquering organiza
tion ? It is easy•to break down an Adminis
tration or a party unworthy of trust; but to
reconstruct such a fabric as will stand the
ravages of time and the continued seige of an
intelligent and vigilant antagonism requires
the exercise of the loftiest patriotism. Let
us address ourselves to this momentous task.
We are here, not for negative declarations,
but for positive and unequivocal action. In
the first place, we assert that there can be
no success in the future for the Democratic
party, unless there should be an instant union
against the aggressions of infatuated and
treacherous public servants, and the exac
tions of an imperious faction of Southern
disunionists, who distinctly claim to control
that party. No Convention, whether held at
Charleston or at Cincinnati, can ever wield
such influences with any hope of triumph for
its candidates. We must arrest the tenden
cies of parties and of power towards section
alism. Above all, we must set our faces
sternly and everywhere against the new and
scandalous dernana that slavery has become
the controlling power of the State; that it
shall be elevated above all other property,
and shall be forced into the Territories at the
point of the bayonet. This is the practical
question ; whether the people shall rule ac
cording to that which was nominated in the
bond—whether they shall control and regu
late their own domestic institutions in their
own way—or whether they are to remain the
abject creatures of a Congressional majority,
who, in defiance of law, shall sit in judg
ment upon their acts, accepting them only
as they come up to the new standard of in
tervention for the benefit of slavery ? The
principle of popular sovereignty and non-in
tervention is cardinal and first with us. We
can accept no candidate for any office who
does not accept that without reservation, and
we refuse to recognize any decree intended
to ignore or to set aside this fundamental con
dition.
The address was signed by the commit
tee, composed of the following named gentle
men :
I. W. S. Wiermart,
Jas. Gilliland,
S. C. Wingard,
Samuel Ringwalt,
S. E. Keller,
Dan. Kistler, Jr.,
Geo. W. Nebinger,
Samuel L. Young,
E. N. Willard,
John 11. Negley,
Thos. P. Campbell,
W. Whitton Redick,
A. C. Noyes,
John R. Breitenhael),
John Flanagan,
G. J. Higgins,
Bailey Thomas,
John W. Brown,
T. W. Douglas,
Wm. J. Hurlock,
L. S. Cantwell,
R. J. Nicholson,
J. W. Forney,
THE (LO B P,.
Circulation—the largest in the county
~11~~113~~~~0~~~ ~~p
Wednesday, April 27, 1859
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COMMON BONDS, , JUDGMENT BONDS,
, ARRA:siTS. FEE BILLS,
NOTES, with a waiver of the $3OO Law.
JUDGMENT NOTES, with a waiver of the $.lOO Law.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT, with Teachers.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES, fur Justices of the Peaco
and Ministers of the Gospel.
COMPLAINT, WARRANT, and COMMITMENT, in case
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COLLECTORS' RECEIPTS, for State, County, School,
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BLANKS, of every description, printed to order, neatly,
at short notice, and on good Paper.
View Advertisements.
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Sealed Proposals by John Fulton.
Proposals by the County Commissioners.
.List of School Books for sale at Lewis' Book. Sta
tionery and Music Store.
WANTED.—We understand that Mr. Bu
chanan's interested friends are in want of a
printer who will undertake the publication
of an organ in this place. There may be a
speculation in it—who knows. For a fine
large office, rent in advance, inquire at this
office.
TTLEalsrNo.—John Tyler, when President,
deserted the platform of principles of the
party that elected him—the party then de
serted him. James Buchanan, like Tyler,
spits upon the platform that placed him in
the Presidential chair, and has selected Bob
Tyler, son of John Tyler, as Chairman of the
Office-holders' State Committee, to do the Ty_
lerising of the Democratic party in this State.
Buchanan's first and most ardent friends
have nearly all deserted him, and in their
place, high in the confidence of the President,
may be found men who have either been
kicked or starved out of the opposition party.
Josiah Randall, but lately from the opposi
tion ranks, now leads the Buchanan Democ
racy in Phil adelap hia—an d Bob Tyler, though
ho failed to secure a second nomination for
his father, is expected to persuade or drive
the Democracy of this State into a second
nomination of Ring James. With such lead
ers, and Arnold Plumer, J. Porter Brawley
&- Co., as chief assistants, a full and complete
endorsement of Buchanan's politicolsins, by
the Democracy at the next State election, is
crimord a certainty.
Dauphin.
Centre.
Allegheny.
Chester.
Lancaster.
Westmoreland
Philadelphia.
Berks.
Luzerne.
Butler.
Huntingdon.
Fayette.
Clinton.
Montgomery.
Cambria.
Schuylkill.
Philadelphia.
Dauphin.
Erie.
Reading.,
Armstrong.
Jefferson.
Philadelphia
OF----
We have on file an interesting letter
of Attorney General Black, written shortly
after Mr. Buchanan took his seat as Presi
dent. This letter denounces Democrats who
favored the sale of the sinking public works
as in league with the " Know Nothings and
Abolitionists," to rob the State—and gave
them to understand that Mr. Buchanan had
determined to come down and proscribe such,
for daring to think that the State would be
better oil' if relieved of the management of
the works. Some Democrats may think it im
possible for a President to stoop so low—yet
it is, nevertheless true, that James Buchan
an did turn Democrats out of office, and kept
others out, because they favored a sale, and
appointed men to office who had no other
recommendation than that they were opposed
to the sale of the ditch, upon which such
honest men as old Arnold Plumer made for
tunes in a year or two.
The letter will be published.
The Office-Holders State Ticket
We neglected to notice in our last, that
Wright and Rowe, the nominees of Mr. Bti
chanan's office holders Convention, had ac
cepted the nominations. They did so but
two days before thelate Convention, and as
they stand fair and square upon a platform
repudiated by. the independent Democracy of
the State, they cannot expect to receive the sup
port of that portion of the party they justify
Buchanan and his chiefs in power in proscri
bing. The day for reconciliation and com
promise is past, at least for the present cam
paign. The Democrats who could not think
and act with Mr. Buchanan, were willing to
go half way at the first Convention--but
how were their propositions received ? Crush
out, and whip in, was the command from
Washington, and now that we are out of the
most corrupt organization that ever disgra
ced our party, we shall endeavor to serve
faithfully those Democrats who believe hon
esty can and should exist in a party organi
zation. Those who can endorse Mr. Buchan
an's treachery to our party, and the best .in
interests of Pennsylvania, will give his nomi
nees, Wright and Rowe, a warm support.—
Their names no longer occupy a place at our
mast-head. They are Buchanan's nominees
—and their success would be an endorsement
of his corrupt and tyrannical
Speech of Judge Knox,
Before the late Democratic State Convention.
Mn. PRESIDENT :—I. will now, if it be the
pleasure of the Convention, make a few re
marks relative to the address and resolutions.
[Cries of "Go on I We want to hear you."]
Well, gentlemen, I am glad of the opportuni
ty to address you. I approve, heartily of the
address and resolutions which we have just
heard read ; and especially do I approve of
that resolution which denounces the action of
the Convention of the 16th of March last, and
utterly repudiates its candidates. [Applause.]
It is not because I have any objection to the
men nominated. As citizens, I respect them.
I believe they are good men. With one of
them, I agree in sentiment on the great po
litical questions of the day. To the other, I
cheerfully accord honesty and integrity of
purpose, as a man and as a representative.
Yet, sir, they arg the candidates of the Con
vention of the 16th of March, and from the
friends of that Convention they must expect
their support, fur we, who oppose the tyran
ny and injustice of the Federal Administra
tion, cannot vote for them with any degree of
consistency. [Applause.] We must remem
ber that every vote given fur them in October
next will be counted as an endorsement of
the Administration of James Buchanan.--
These men have accepted their nomination
without a word against the platform made by
the Convention. They have made their bed
and so they must lie. As they have taken
their positions, so must they stand or fall.—
If they had declined the nomination and re
pudiated the platform upon which they were
placed, then the popular-sovereignty, non-in-•
vention Democrats would have supported
them cheerfully, always provided they had
been nominated by a proper Convention.—
[Great applause.] Hence, it is right for us
to announce that we reject both platform and
nominees put forward by the late Convention.
[Applause.]
Now, Mr. President, I desire to say a word
or two on the matter in issue between the Ad
ministration at Washington and the members
of this Convention. That Administration
and its supporters vilify and abuse us for our
opposition to what they are pleased to call
the Democratic party, whilst we denounce
them for deserting the principles of the Dem
ocratic party. Let us see which is true and
which is false. Is their charge against us
correct, or is' our charge against them cor
rect? Which has the deepest root in the
affections of the people—the organization of
the party or its long cherished principles ?
For one, I care not for the organization so
soon as it has deserted our immortal princi
ples. [Applause.] An organization with
out principle, is a tree without good fruit—it
ought to be cut down. It can only bo inju
rious—certainly it can do no good to any
body. And I say further, that when such
an organization aims solely to force African
Slavery upon the unwilling people of any of
our Territories, we not only have the right,
but it is our bounden duty before God and
man to resist it. [Long-continued cheering.]
It is then time that that organization was
destroyed and another was erected to guard
the principles and maintain the faith of a
living Democracy. [Renewed applause.]
In respect to slavery in the States, there is
no difficulty. The number is few that would
interfere with the institution in the several
States. But it is the question of slavery out
side of the States that has agitated this Union
for years past, and which will agitate it,
probably, for years to come. On this ques
tion we are divided into various parties.—
There is the Garrison-Abolition party. They
repudiate this Government entirely, and will
take no part in the administration of its af
fairs. Whilst willing to accept its protec
tion, they deny allegiance to the duties im
posed by the Constitution, and would glad
ly break the bonds which make us one peo
ple.
Then there are the voting Abolitionists or
Liberty Men, who believe in the immediate
and unconditional abolition of slavery in
States as well as Territories. Neither of
these is large in numbers. Comprising to
gether but a handful of men, their efforts are
as futile as their doctrines are erroneous.
Then we have'the Republican party, com
posed almost entirely of the citizens of the
non-slaveholding States. This party is in fa
vor of the intervention of Congress to prevent
the introduction of slavery into the Territo
ries, and in its National Convention held in
June, 1856, declared that though the people
of a Territory, might lawfully prohibit by
Territorial legislation the existence of slavery
within the Territory, they could not legalize
its existence therein.
Next in order, we may mention the pro-.
slavery Democrats, who insist that, under
the Constitution of the United States, slavery
may be introduced into the Territories, but
that neither Congress nor 'the inhabitants of
a Territory can interfere with its continu
ance durino• ° the existence of a Territorial
government. To avoid the effect of unfriend
ly Territorial legislation, as well as to reme
dy the absence of such legislation, these ul
traists declare that it is the duty of Congress
to provide a slave code for the Territories,
and that such a code when made, must be
enforced by the power of the General Gov
ernment. As extraordinary as it may appear,
the men entertaining these views, for the time
control the organization of the Democratic
party, and it is greatly to be feared, that they
will make the platform, and nominate the
Candidates at the coming Charleston Coven
tion. If they do, it needs no prophet to
foretell the result. Defeat, certain, deserved,
and overwhelming defeat, will inevitably fol
low such a base surrender of right and prin
ciple to the exacting, domineering spirit,
which appears of late to dictate the action of
the leading Southern Democrats.
It is true that at the present time there
seems to be a feeble opposition made by some
of the Lecomptonites of the North to this new
test of orthodoxy, but there is 'nothing in the
past conduct of these men to warrant the be
lief that this opposition will be long persisted
in. The Secessionists of the South know how
to manage their weak and timid brethren of
the North. A. little bluster, a few threats,
go far to mollify their remonstrances, par
ticularly if large promises are made of fu
ture patronage and power ; for these men be
lieve in future rewards, if they do not in fu
ture punishment. After supporting the Le
compton Constitution in all its - hideous defor
mity, surely they will not hesitate to assist
in providing a Congressional code for the pro
tection of slavery in the Territories. The
only drawback to their assistance will consist
in the fact that but very few of them, will be
in a position to vote fur or against the pro
posed measure. Lecompton is dead, and so
are the most of its friends and supporters—
politically dead. However much this may
be regretted by their personal friends, but
few will have the hardihood to deny the jus
tice of the verdict which has consigned them
to political oblivion.
All the parties which I have referred to,
are necessarily sectional ones ; and their
strength or weakness depends not so much
upon their merits or demerits, as upon the
particular locality where that strength is to
he tested. Hence whilst the New England
States send almost an entire delegation to
Congress in favor of Congressional interven
tion against slavery, the extreme Southern
States are equally united in demanding that
intervention for its protection.
But, in my judgment, the truth is not to
be found in either extreme. The middle
ground of non-intervention is, unquestiona
bly, the correct one. Let the people of the
Territories, as well as those of the States, de
cide for themselves whether they will or will
not have the institution of African Slavery
amongst them ; and let them decide this, not
merely when they come to form a Constitu
tion for State government, but also whilst
they remain in a Territorial condition. The
doctrine which confines popular sovereignty
in its application to the Territory, to the mere
right to form a constitution preparatory to ad
mission into the Union as a State, converts
all our Territories into slave-holding commu
nities, and makes the question in the end
turn, not upon the adoption, but upon the
abolition of slavery. I will not detain you
longer in discussing a question so fully un
derstood and appreciated as this question is
by the members of this Convention and the
people of this Commonwealth.
I desire, however, to call the attention of
the Convention to a matter which more im
mediately affects us all as citizens of Penn
sylvania.
Every - member of the Convention was
aware that the Governor of Pennsylvania had
been traduced and villified, upon the ground
of his conduct in the sale of the State canals.
In 1857, the Legislature of Pennsylvania
passed an act authorizing the sale of the
main line of our public improvements. The
sale was made to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company. When ;the legislature of ISSB as
sembled at Harrisburg, it was discovered
that there was almost, unanimous senti
ment in favor of the sale of the balance of
the canals, the three branches, but there was
a difference of opinion as to the manner of
the sale.
Some were in favor of selling them at pub
lic sale fur the highest price which could be
obtained, without regard to the purchasers ;
whilst others were in favor of disposing of
the branch canals, which remained as the
property of the State, in such a manner as
would insure the completion of a great public
highway then in process of construction—the
Sunbury and Erie Railroad. After a long
contest, the Legislature passed an act author
izing the sale of the branches to the Sunbury
and Erie road for $3,500,000. That bill was
passed without interference of any , kind on
the part of the State Administration, and,
up to the time the bill came before the Gov
ernor, he did not believe that his friends knew
what his action would be upon it, whether it
would be favOrable or otherwise. There had
been no interference•by the Governor or the
members of his Administration, either in fa
vor of, or against the bill, whilst it was be
fbre the Legislature.- It was signed. It gave
aid to an important work which passed
through the section of country in which the
Governor resided ; the road ran through one
hundred miles of the district he had repre
sented in the Senate; his 'own personal
friends, his own people, the men he had
known intimate, and the country he knew
well, were deeply interested in the measure,
and he gave his sanction to the bill, which
had already been sanctioned by large major
ities in both branches of the Legislature.
The bill contained a provision that if the
company should resell the canals and realize
over $3,500,000 by their sale, that 75 per
cent. of the excess should be paid to the
State, and it also provided that no resale by
the company should be made without the as
sent of the Governor. Under the sale, which
was completed to the Sunbury and Erie
Railroad Co., the company had an absolute
right of property in these public works. It
was not -bound to sell them but could either
keep them and operate them itself, or could
lease them .to other parties, or sell them.--
There was no power given the Governor to
make a contract for their sale ' • .there was no
power given to him to force the Sunbury and
Erie Railroad Company to sell; the property
was the company's with the simple provision,
that if it did sell for over $3,500,000, seven
ty-five per cent. of all such excess should go
into the coffers of the State. A sale was
made of those public works, and particular
objection has been made because the Governor
approved of the sale of the Delaware Division
to the Delaware Division Canal Company for
$1,775,000, when an offer of a higher price
had been made for it. Great efforts had been
made by the Sunbury and Erie Railroad
Company to sell the Delaware Division to the
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. A
correspondence took place between the par
ties, but the Sunbury and Erie Railroad com
pany asked $2,000,000 for the work, and the
Lehigh Coal and Navi g ation Company-refu
sed to pay that much. The best offer the
company would make, was $1,500,000 ; and
when it was•likely that the sale to that corn
pany for a higher price would be a failure,
an effort Was made by the President and Di
rectors of the Sunbury and Erie Railroad
Company to induce others to buy, and an as
sociation of individuals in Philadelphia, com
posed of Many of the most respectable and
influential men there—men of the largest
means, and of excellent reputation as men of
business and citizens—was formed, and an
offer was made by them to purchase the Del
aware Division for $1,775,000. These gen
tlemen, before they completed their organi
zation and made their arrangement to raise
the money to pay for the canal, asked that
the proposed, contract of sale should be sub
mitted to the Governor, and that he should
state whether, if it was carried out, he would
give his assent to it or not.
The President of the company submitted
the proposed contract to the Governor and
I asked him to assent to it, stating that it was
necessary that it should be known whether
he would or would not assent to it, before it
was finally completed. The Governor, upon
being assured that the contract was a fair
one, and the offer the best that could be ob
tained, promised his assent to it. This was
communicated to the proposed purchasers,
who, upon the faith thereof, went on to com
plete their organization. The deeds and
mortgages were drawn up—the association
was formed—the money was raised, and the
first instalment of $75,000 were paid. Then
it was, after all this was done, and the word
of the Governor had passed, that lie would
assent to the contract, after this had been
communicated to these gentlemen, and the
contract had been closed between the parties
and when the papers came to be executed,
on the very morning when that was done,
another party stepped in amPoffered more
for the division. These gentlemen appealed
to the Governor to carry out their contract,
and said they had gone to the expense of
making it under the assurance that he approved
of it, and had paid their money on the faith
of this assurance. The other party had stood
by, and had seen the purchase made without
making an offer, and when it was completed,
they came in arid offered a higher price, and
wanted to re-open ° the matter. The Governor
thought then, and thinks still, that it was not
his duty to withhold his assent, and I ask
whether any honest man would have acted
otherwise than he did. Suppose either of
you had agreed to sell your farm at a certain
price, and the contract had been completed
and you had received the first instalment, arid
that before you had signed the deed another
man had offered to give you more for the
land, could you as an honorable man refuse
to carry out your contract already made ?
If you could not, do you ask Governor Pack
er, who is entrusted with the honor as well
as the interest of the State, to do that for the
State which an honest man would not do in
his own business ?
Because the Governor thus gave his assent
he has been abused and vilified ; but it is a
mere pretence. The effort is to make politi
cal capital out of this, when, in reality, the
opposition to Gov. Packer, is because lie re
fused to agree with the National Administra
tion on the Lecompton question. Now, gen
tlemen, lot me congratulate you upon the fact
that, notwithstanding the pronuneiamento
that was issued by my' friend Mr. Tyler,
(who is called chairman of the Democratic
State Central Committee,) against the meet
ing of the Convention, it appears that you
have had the hardihood and presumption to
assemble here to-day, to take your position,
and to let your determination be known that
you will stand by that position regardless of
the consequences. This is no time for timid
counsels or timid men. Let those who hes
itate in entering upon this movement retire
from it until they find it is one in which they
can take part with perfect safety. [Cheers.]
We want able, decided and energetic men, to
carry forward this movement, and we will
surely triumph.
It is merely a question of time—that is all—
and can afford to wait ; we can afford to be
beaten, to be defeated, if it must be so ; but
let us appeal to the people of Pennsylvania ;
let us appeal to the people of every Northern
and every Southern State in - the Union, to
say whether the position we have taken here
to-day is not the correct one, and rest as
sured that the appeal will not be in vain ;
for the principle of non-intervention, like the
blood of Douglas, will protect itself.
Mr. Knox concluded his remarks amid the
most enthusiastic applause.
A NEW" SECT IN EUROPE.—A Paris corres
pondent writes—"Acurious new sect of Chris
tians, to whom we have before alluded, cal
led. Transmigrationists, have of late become
very numerous in France. Quite different
from the Mormons, their character is highly
moral, and their creed Christian, only they
include all animals in their idea of universal
morality. They profess to believe that being
changed after death into some animal will a
their purgatory. In Germany their increase
is immense."
APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR.—John
W. Maynard, of Williamsport, to the addi
tional Judgeship in Allegheny county; and
Edward King, of Philadelphia, to fill the va
cancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge
Lewis, as a member of the commission to
codify the laws of Pennsylvania.
TUE GRAIN Caors.--The farmers in atten
dance at Court, gave us very good news, of
the growing crops. Unloss something un
foreseen should occur, there will be an abun
dant harvest in this county. The same cheer
ing news we have, from every section of the
State.
Fourth. Annual Report of the Efunting
don County Agricultural Society, for
the Year 1858.
To the President and Officers of the Pennsyl
vania State Agriculture, Society.
GENTLEMEN compliance with your
request and in behalf of the Huntingdon
County Agricultural Society, I have the pleas
ure of presenting for your consideration the
following Report of our Society for the year
1858. 1 am aware that this Report should
have been transmitted at an earlier period,
but it has been delayed somewhat for the
purpose of procuring, as far as possible, the
statistics and other information connected
with the practical operations of the Society,
so as to render its perusal more interesting,
instructive and satisfactory. This Society is
now in the Fifth year of successful and prac
tical operation, and in reviewing our history
as an Association during the year now past,
we find no reason for discouragement, al
though there is abundant room for improve
ment. Our progress, though not marked by
any ,special indications of advancement, is,
nevertheless, far from being unsatisfactory,
and, in view of the circumstances by which
we have been surrounded, is rather encour
aging. In addition to the usual difficulties
which ever attend the march of improvement,
and the obstacles thrown in the way of mod
ern reform, we have had to contend with an
unusual amount of pecuniary embarrassment
and financial depression, the apathy of our
citizens—even those who are the avowed advo
cates of improvement—and the well known
hostility of the masses toward any encroach
ment on the time-honored customs of ancient
days and the beaten track of their fathers.—
As increased interest in the subject of prac
tical agricultural, however, has of late been
manifested, which we regard as a healthy in
dication, and which, during the past two
years, seems to be gradually gaining ground.
Blight and Mildew, Smut and Weevil, togeth
er with :numerous other less formidable ene
mies of. the advancing crops, intervening to
destroy the products of industry, have tended
in no small degree to arouse in the minds of
our farmers, a spirit of enquiry and investi
gation as to the origin and the remedy of
these evils. Many who were• hitherto sat
isfied to go on in the old plodding way, so
long as industry and economy were the only
requisites in order to insure an abundant
crop, have thus been led to perceive that
there is danger of the grain, and especially,
the wheat crop, becoming entirely extinct,
unless some other auxilliaries are called into
requisition, and a spirit of investigation has
in this manner been instituted in the minds
of our farming community. Science, hith
erto uninvoked in the cultivation of the farm
and the labors of the field is, to some extent,
appealed to. Agricultural works and peri
odicals are now read with some degree of
avidity by those who hitherto scouted the
idea of "book farming," but who now dis
cover that mere manual labor is insufficient,
that although strong arms and willing hearts
are indispensable requisites in the cultiva
tion of the soil, yet that science which disin
tegrates the component parts of the material
creation, developes those mighty laws which
lie at the foundation of all organic matter,
and hold in unison the universe of God, must
be appealed to in order to explain the proper
method of resuscitating a worn out and ex
hausted soil, and restoring it to its primitive
vigor and productiveness, and the time, tine
trust, is not far distant, when a system of
cultivation radically different from the one
now pursued, must be adopted. Although to
a great extent a ma,nufacturing and mineral
region, yet with a climate propitious to
health, a soil, the greatest portion of which
is productive, susceptible of great improve
ment, and well adapted to agricultural pur
suits, the grain growing interest must for
years to come, continue to be as heretofore,
the great source of wealth, and the products
of the soil to form the principle staples of
exportation. It is to improved agriculture
then that we must eventually look for pros
perity and plenty in the redemption of thous
ands of acres from the domain of Nature,
and in causing others, now so poor as to be
productive only of poverty, grass and' thistle,
to yield a grateful return to the band of la
bor for its culture and care.
The advantages of Farm Machines and
Agricultural Implements of an improved sys
tem have long been felt, and experiments
made to some extent. In this department,
however, there is room for improvement.
The business of Stock growing has of late
received more than usual attention, and is
somewhat extensively pursued ; this is par
tially owing to the failure of the grain crops
of late, leading our farmers to seek a more
certain and available source of revenue, and
partly to the extended and rapidly increasing
demand, which as yet is more than equal to
the supply.
The culture of fruit, which, if successfully
pursued, would be very remunerative, and
yield a handsome profit on capital invested,
and labor expended, has of late years been
very unsuccessful. Late Spring frosts have
been quite destructive to the embryo crops,
whilst the ravages of insects, canker worm
and other enemies to the fruit tree, have been
very much extended. Fruits which once
grew almost spontaneously, such as peaches
and cherries, have of late, almost ceased to
exist, while pears, plums, and even apples,
have been by no means an abundant or even
certain crop. The causes hitherto assigned,
may to a certain extent, account for the la
mentable failure in this department, yet at
the same time, the question very naturally
arises: May not these evils to a great extent
be easily, cheaply and permanently removed,
and the culture of the fruit crop be rendered
as practicably and as certain as in former
years, and in view of the widely extended
and constantly increasing demand, far more
profitable than hitherto ?
At an annual meeting of our County Ag
ricultural Society, held in Huntingdon on
the 13th day of January, 185 S, the follow
ing officers were chosen for the year then
current:
Gen. John C. Watson, of Mill Creek, Pres
ident, together with one Vice President from
each district in the county.
R. McDivitt and J. F. Ramey, Recording
Secretaries.
George W. Speer, Corresponding Secreta
ry.
T. IL Cremer, Librarian.
George Jackson, Treasurer.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee
held in April following, an annual agricultu
ral exhibition was agreed on, and Hunting
don designated as the place of holding the
same. A committee was also appointed to
prepare a list of premiums, who at a subse
quent meeting, held August 10th, 1858, pre
sented a list which was approved by the as
sociation, and the time of holding the exhi
bition was fixed for the 6th, 7th and Bth of
October following. A committee of arrange
ments was also appointed for the purpose of
selecting the ground and of superintending
the necessary preparations. The place selec
ted was that formerly occupied for the pur
pose, near to Huntingdon and in view of the
town—a more judicious location could not
have been made, and it is due to the commit
tee appointed for the purpose to remark that
the duties entrusted to them were discharged
with the utmost fidelity and impartiality,
with the strictest economy in the manage
ment of affairs, and without any unnecessary
expenditure of the funds of the association.
The amount of stock on exhibition—espe
cially of horses and neat stock—was by far
the largest as well as the most improved ever
exhibitd here. The amount, as well as the
variety and quality of grain exhibited, such
as wheat, rye, corn, oats and barley, was al
most marvellous in view of the recent failure ,
of the grain crops. The same maybe said
with regard to the fruits and vegetables.--
The amount and variety of domestic manu
factures on exhibition, such as eatables, wear
ing apparel and fancy needle work was 0-1 _
subj ectof universal admiration, and far exee , _:°
ed all previous conception. Of bread alone
some ,_)5 or 40 different specimens were ex
hibited, whilst butter, pies, cakes, preserves,
jellies, domestic molasses, &c., were present
ed in almost endless variety, reflecting great
credit on the industry and frugality of the
fair portion of our community ; whilst the
amount of fancy needle and ornamental work,
together with the ample display and great
variety of flowers in bloom—so unusually
large and fine for the season—which render
ed the floral department so universally attrac
tive, spoke volumes in favor of their taste
and refinement. The numerous specimens of
artistic skill on exhibition, such as wax-fruits
and flowers, cryon and fancy drawings, paint
ings, portraits and scenes from Nature, in
oil, on canvas and in water colors, and litho
graphs, in oil and on glass, were highly cred
itable, not only to the contributors to this de
partment, but also to our county, as they
were not far-fetched specimens, but the pro
duction of our own artists, the le g itimate off
spring of their talents, taste and handiwork.
A band of music engaged for the occasion
enlivened the scene during the exhibition
with a variety of choice airs. In conclusion
an able, interesting and instructive address
was delivered by Hon. Geo. Taylor, of Hun
tingdon, a copy of which I will transmit as
soon as furnished.
Our receipts for the exhibition amounted
to $856 29. Annual membership tickets
$5lO. Life membership tickets $l5. Sin
gle admission tickets $205,75. Amount re
ceived for license, together with sale of lum
ber, &c., after the exhibition $125,54. Our
expenditures, including premiums awarded
to exhibitors, policemen, music, printing,
merchandise, ground rent, Sce., amounted to
$lOl5 56. This, taking into consideration
the balance on hand from last year of $211,-
75, together with the appropriation received
from the County Treasury of $lOO loaves a
balance in the hands of the Treasurer, of
$152,48. The attendance was large and
respectable, and had the weather been entire
ly favorable we should no doubt, have reali
zed a handsome revenue over and above all
expenses, as it is however, we feel by no
means discouraged, and are resolved to make
another effort trusting that we may be more
fortunate in this respect than hitherto, and
a handsome surplus of funds to report after
the next annual exhibition.
The State Agricultural College or Farmers'
high School, though it has not received at
our hands the amount of material aid it
should have done, on account of the unusual
depression in financial affairs, has neverthe
less had its claims ably and faithfully repre
sented, and has, considering the circumstan
ces, received a rather liberal encouragement
—the precise amount subscribed and paid
for this purpose in our county, I am not able
to say at present. This institution, though
not located within the boundaries of our
county, yet is almost equally convenient of
access, being situated in the midst of -a beau
tiful and highly productive valley which forms
a part of the same. A more judicious and
central location could not have been selected.
Five pupils from this county have already
been admitted, of whose progress we have
from time to time been receiving the most
favorable intelligence, and who, wo hope may
derive from the course of instruction there
pursued, such useful information as will ulti
mately enable them to return to us practical
and common sense men. A number of oth
ers have since applied for admission whose
proposals are held over in favor of applicants
from counties with prior claims.
We hope to see this institution in flourish
ing and active operation, and trust that the
confidence already inspired in its managers
may not be misplaced or abused, as the ene
mies of modern reform are looking with some
degree of anxiety for the failure of this en
terprize, whilst the far-seeing abilities of our
practical farmers, whose liberality has con
tributed to its support every advantage in
their power to afford, will also hold them to
a strict and rigid accountability for the re
sults so confidently looked for at their hands'.
It is to such instrumentalities as this—to
the combined influence of working hands
with wise heads—to the proper attainments
in chemical, botanical and geological knowl
edge, for the prosecution of scientific experi
ments in the analysis of soils, that we must
look for the diffusion of that amount of light
- which, not only by causing two blades of
grass to grow where one only grew before,
but at the same time preventing any further
waste of fertility by restoring to the.soil the
life-giving principle annually drawn there
from for the nourishment and support of the
plant, is eventually to usher in a brighter
day, not only for the agriculturist, but for
the interest of our
.common country, which
will amply repay for all labor and all ex
pense, by removing to a great extent the evils
of unrequited labor, causing the earth to yield
her increase in due season, and the fruit tree
its fruit, diffusing plenty and happiness in
the place of want and misery. This is a con
summation much to be desired by all; one
which would be hailed as a signal triumph
of science and industry combined for the ac
complishment of economical reform, and we
but reiterate the common sentiment of this
Society as well as of our county, in saving
that we confidently expect to see realized the
expectations of the most sanguine on this
subject, and at the same time most cordially
unite in bidding this and all kindred, agencies
for its promotion, God speed.
All of which is most respectfully submit
ted.
Larj..... Postmaster General liolt has dismis
sed thirty-one agents, and, as the Depart
ment canalong without them, the infer
ence is that they never could have been of
any use. A cotemporary inquires what their
business was ? It was the pleasure of spend-,
ing $l2OO a year, each.
It. McDIVITT,
Acting Secretary