80 TRANSACTIONS OP THE 



mining interests, which have hitherto engrossed so large a share of 

 public attention, and have exerted so tremendous an influence upon our 

 own and other States. But the theme is too prolific to be condensed 

 within the narrow space which I could allot it, and must be deferred to 

 some future occasion, if such an one should occur. 



But, in conclusion, I beg to remind you that material wealth alone is 

 not the only nor the chief foundation of national greatness or individual 

 happiness If the sails of our ships should whiten every sea; if we 

 should find a Comstock ledge in every county in the State; or an 

 Amador mine at every cross road ; if every trader were a merchant 

 prince, and every farmer a millionaire, our, gold would turn to worthless 

 dross, and our riches become a hideous nightmare, unless we combined 

 with them virtue, intelligence, patriotism and high moral principle. 

 Without these we should be but an ignoble race, and would quiekly»fall 

 into a premature decay. 



It is, therefore, our solemn duty, not only to practice and inculcate these 

 virtues, but to instil them into our children, who are quickly to succeed us. 

 As the most potent means to accomplish this end, we must build up, 

 foster and liberally support our schools and seminaries of learning. The 

 sons and daughters of our farmers must be something: more than farm 

 laborers and household drudges. They must be intelligent and culti- 

 vated men and women, profoundly imbued with patriotic feeling and 

 with high moral principle, before we can safely confide to them the future 

 destiny of this glorious young State. Our public and private schools 

 have alread}- attained a high degree of proficiency, but a great deal in 

 that respect yet remains to be accomplished, and I hail it as one of the 

 great events of the day, that a State University is soon to be established 

 on a liberal basis, which will bring the means of a thorough education 

 within the reach of all. But there is an important means of education 

 outside of schools and colleges which should not be overlooked. Let 

 every farmer inculcate upon his children a taste for reading, a fondness 

 for literature; let him furnish them liberally with suitable books and 

 newspapers, and particularly those pertaining to agriculture and horti- 

 culture. He will quickly find that he has planted a germ which will 

 rapidly expand into usefulness and beaut3 T . As yet our State has not 

 been prolific in such publications; but we have one. the California 

 Farmer, first issued in January, 1854, and which, amidst many discour- 

 agements, has been diffusing light and knowledge on such subjects for 

 more than fourteen years past. Such enterprise and perseverance as this 

 deserves a generous reward; and, in this age of progress, it is to the 

 public press that we are in a great measure indebted for the rapid strides 

 we are making towards a yet higher civilization. 



And now, my friends, it only remains for me to congratulate you on 

 the brilliant future which awaits this grand young State, and the bright 

 prospects which are opening out before the farmers of California. With 

 a country so favored by nature, so blessed of God, in all that contributes 

 to the happiness of man, with a wise and benificent form of government 

 protecting us in our rights of person and property, stimulating enter- 

 prise, diffusing intelligence and dispensing its kindly but invigorating 

 influence through all the pursuits of life, if we perform our duty as 

 intelligent, patriotic and upright men and women, California will soon 

 become the brightest star which is emblazoned on our national flag — the 

 crowning gem in our nation's diadem. 



