easily done ; but bis. motives may be regarded as honest when he personally 

 assumes the reponsibility of his accusation'?, and clothes them in specific charges, 

 and does not make them in vague generalities. Some agricultural and horticultural 

 associations have passed resolutions unfavorable to my continuation in office. 

 Whilst I much desire the approbation of all persons, especially those connected 

 with agriculture, I cannot hope to escape the enmity of those who have selfish 

 purposes to accomplish. In the execution of the duties and trusts confided to 

 me as Commissioner of Agriculture, I am often compelled by a sense of duty to 

 deny to individuals the opportunity of taking the funds of the department without 

 rendering a proper service therefor. I have to reject schemes which have per- 

 sonal gain much more in view than the advancement of agriculture. This action 

 on my part creates hostility, which is manifested, not by specific charges of 

 official wrong-doing on my part, and which I could answer, but in secret corre- 

 spondence and private conversations, by which well-meaning but unreflecting 

 persons are misled and induced to consent to the adoption of the resolutions 

 referred to. I pray them to remember that truth and honesty always act 

 openly, and in person state the wrongs they seek to have remedied; that a selfish 

 dishonesty seeks to make others the accusers, and clothes the accusation in 

 general terms, that present nothing lo be answered. 



To those associations and individuals who have expressed their approbation of 

 my official conduct, and point to the good accompli;<hed by this department as 

 the evidence of its correct management, I return my warmest acknowledgments. 

 It has always been my aim to render practical benefits to the farmer; that the 

 publications of the department are of this character is not denied ; that the seeds 

 and plants distributed have been useful is admitteil. 



I have recently deceived eighty pounds of tobacco seed of the best Havana 

 variety, by Wm. T. Minor, our consul general at Havana, and presented to 

 the Department of Agriculture by Don Miguel de la Vega, through his friend. 

 Dr. Leopold Winterhalter. I return to these gentlemen my kindest regards for 

 their gift, the value of which will be appreciated by the tobacco-growers of the 

 United States. 



ISAAC NEWTON, Conuyiissioner. 



THE RECENT CONVENTION OF TOBACCONISTS 



AT COOPER INSTITUTE, NEW YORK. 



Their resolutions. — Views of. Mr. Burke, secretary of the convention, reviewed. — 

 Intended efforts to subject agricultural jrroducts to internal taxes and export 

 duties. 



In November last a convention of the manufacturers of tobacco was held in 

 New York. The resolutions adopted by it ask Congress to transfer the internal 

 tax now levied on manufactured tobacco, from it to the leaf, and express the 

 opinion that such change could work no injury to the growers. It is scarcely 

 necessary to say that in this opinion we do not at all concur. Heretofore we 



