210 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



THE FIRST NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL CONGRESS. 



Accordingly, on the 27th day of May, 1872, the two socie 

 ties, numbering about three hundred delegates, met at Ma 

 sonic Hall, St. Louis, in convention. Colonel Arthur B. 

 Barrett, President of the St. Louis Agricultural and Me 

 chanical Association, called the assembly to order, where 

 upon the Eev. Dr. Means, of Georgia, in a prayer strongly 

 marked for its fervid eloquence, invoked the blessing of the 

 Almighty upon the deliberations of the assembly, praying 

 that the work accomplished might inaugurate a unity of 

 action that should redound to the welfare of the struggling 

 industries of the nation, of which agriculture was the true 

 corner-stone. 



Colonel Barrett, in his address of welcome, alluding to 

 the unity of interests which had called the convention to 

 gether, said he felt that the common cause demanded a uni 

 ted action on the part of every farmer ; every one who would 

 advance the pursuits of agriculture through our broad land, 

 should unite in that common purpose of advancing such in 

 terest. It was one ramifying the whole country, represent 

 ing three-fourths of the brain and muscle of the land, and 

 when associated for good can accomplish every thing. No 

 Congress could stand before its will. It could dictate the 

 policy of the country ; it could open national highways to 

 the sea; and all that was necessary would be to unite in one 

 common, earnest desire to promote that end. 



General William H. Jackson, of Tennessee, proposed a 

 general vote of thanks of the two bodies to the St. Louis 

 Agricultural and Mechanical Association, for the cordial 

 welcome that has been extended to them. This was heartily 

 and unanimously concurred in. 



