STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 83 



these spacious halls, there should be erected high and sacred 

 altars, on whose entablatures there should ever burn, with 

 increased and increasing elfulgence, the vestal fires of pure reli- 

 gion, virtue, temperance, knowledge, patriotism, liberty and inde- 

 pendence. And that these altars and their sacred fires, together 

 with this noble structure, should all be dedicated to union, to 

 concord, to progress, to peace and to happiness. Yes, Sir, to the 

 union of the States — to the concord of the States — to the progress 

 of the States, and to the peace and happiness of the world. I 

 congratulate you. Sir, and I congratulate the members of the 

 New- York State Agricultural Society, upon the auspices of this 

 day. It is a proud epoch in its history, and stamps it with pro- 

 gress and perpetuity; an epoch that will keep alive, in all time 

 to come, a growing attachment to the great and glorious cause in 

 which we have so long, so patiently and so successfully labored; 

 and which, with its kindred institution, the Agricultural College, 

 now just and well organized, will serve as sheet anchors — as sure 

 pledges of all our hopes and future prospects. 



