Transcriber's note
Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Printer errors have been changed and are listed at the end. All other inconsistencies are as in the original.
ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY
HON. HENRY H. CRAPO,
Governor of Michigan,
BEFORE THE
CENTRAL MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,
AT THEIR
SHEEP-SHEARING EXHIBITION,
HELD
AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FARM,
On Thursday, May 24th, 1866.
LANSING: JOHN A. KERR & CO., STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS. 1866.
ADDRESS.
_Mr. President, and Members of the "Central Mich. Ag'l Society:"_
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Remote from the theatre of action in the late rebellion, Michigan has experienced comparatively few of the evils that followed immediately in its path. The usual pursuits of peaceful life, were here scarcely disturbed, and by the permission of a Gracious Providence, the industry of the inhabitants of our State was but little diverted from its legitimate channels. Nevertheless, while so many of her patriot sons were engaged in the deadly strife of Southern battle-fields, and the result of the struggle was in the uncertain future, a sombre cloud could not fail to brood over our daily life, interfering with the full enjoyment of the blessings we retained.
Now, however, the roar of cannon and the noise and tumult of war is no longer heard in our land; the scenes of carnage and blood which our once peaceful and happy country has recently witnessed are at an end; the turmoil and strife of armed hosts in deadly conflict have ceased; the public mind is no longer excited, and the hearts of the people are no longer pained, by the fearful news of battles fought, and of the terrible slaughter of kindred and friends. Social order again invites us to renewed efforts in our respective labor and callings; and we are permitted "to beat our swords into plow-shares and our spears into pruning-hooks."
Like the calm and quiet repose of peace when it follows the clamor and din of war, so is the delightful, cheering and invigorating approach of spring, as it succeeds the chilling blasts and pelting storms of dreary winter.
The truth of this is verified to us on the present occasion. We have come together at this delightful spot, and on this beautiful spring day, not only for the enjoyment of a festive season, but also for the improvement of our minds and the increase of our present stock of knowledge on subjects with which our several interests and our respective tastes are more or less identified.
At your request and upon your kind invitation, I am here to contribute my share--small though it be--to the general fund. I should, however, have much preferred the position of a quiet learner to that of an incompetent teacher--to have _listened_ rather than to have _spoken_. But being here, it will be my purpose--by your indulgence--to speak, in general terms, upon such topics as seem to me appropriate to the occasion. I shall not presume to theorize, or to speculate; neither shall I travel through unexplored fields with no other guide than imagination; nor shall I attempt to entertain you with any rhetorical flourishes, or figures of speech; but in a simple manner endeavor to give briefly my own views on the several subjects discussed.
Table of contents (by pages)
- 1: Address delivered by Hon. Henry H. Crapo, Governor
- 2: The effort is not only laudable
- 3: It will undoubtedly be expected that Sheep Husbandry
- 4: Of sixty millions of woolen goods
- 5: For the production of long wool
- 6: That of the Merinos generally much exceed fifty per cent
- 7: And thus become liable to an overstock
- 8: Horses and swine than to sheep
- 9: He said a large proportion of our wool was poorly washed
- 10: And every wool grower should feel
- 11: Ignorance is certainly not power
- 12: Who are either in favor or opposed
- 13: They are certainly entitled to all praise
- 14: In connection with an experimental farm