No. 4.] FARMERS' CONGRESS. 415 



the last twenty years so vigorous a revival has it had of all 

 that appertains to the industries incident to and growing out 

 of our American civilization that it may be said truly to 

 have entirely outgrown the Savannah of former years. 

 With its magnificent location on the Savannah River, which, 

 by the liberality of the general government, has been 

 deepened and widened, which work of improvement is still 

 going on to radical results, there will be secured for the city 

 not only one of the best harl)ors of the country, but as safe 

 and easy an approach as any port on the south Atlantic coast. 

 In the exportation of cotton Savannah takes high rank, and 

 in naval stores occupies the leading position among the ports 

 of the world. 



The Congress opened its session in the hall of the Savan- 

 nah Volunteer Guards at 10 o'clock in the forenoon of 

 December 12. Upon the roll-call twenty-four States re- 

 sponded by delegates. First Vice-President D. G. Purse of 

 Georgia presided in the absence of A. W. Smith of Kansas, 

 })resident of the Congress. After the opening prayer by the 

 Rev. Charles H- Strong, Maj. P. W. Meldrim of Georgia, for 

 and in behalf of Governor Northen, delivered an address of 

 welcome, which was received with marked demonstrations of 

 approval by the delegates. The response was made by 

 Judge Rounse of Maine, who si)oke in most complimentary 

 terms of the early history of Georgia. The Congress was 

 then addressed by Hon. J. C. Wade, president of the 

 Georgia Agricultural Society, who gave a warm and gener- 

 ous welcome to the delegates, " many of whom," he said, 

 *' had come from one to two thousand miles to take part in 

 the deliberations of the Congress." 



It was my fortune to be called upon by the acting presi- 

 dent to respond for the Congress. Having alluded to the 

 deep interest which Massachusetts had ahvays taken in pub- 

 lic school instruction, and in agriculture as a fundamental 

 industry, I outlined the development of agricultural indus- 

 tries on the part of the general government, covering in 

 brief a period of nearly half a century, and showing that 

 this interest on the part of the nation took deep root in con- 

 nection with the Patent Office Department, until finally it 

 established a department of its own, having a member of 



