CLOSING ADDRESS 



Of the 21st Annual Fair of the American Institute, October 20, 1848. 



By Gen. Jamzs Tallmadge. 



The following was reported as the suh stance of the Closing Address 

 before the American Institute at Castle Garden : Oct. 20, 1848. 



We come, said Gen. T., to celebrate the twenty-first anniversary 

 of the American Institute. It has been our usage on these occasions 

 to discuss the great questions of public policy in the protection of 

 labor and the encouragement of the domestic industry of the coun-> 

 try. But on the present occasion, we cannot shut our eyes to the 

 important fact, that much excitement exists, in the public mind, in 

 regard to the pending elections of the chief officers under the gene- 

 ral, and most of the several State governments. Hence, we feel it 

 expedient to forbear, and withhold the discussion of domestic meas- 

 ures on this occasion. It will, therefore, be our object to submit a 

 few remarks concerning the American Institute, its purposes, and its 

 progress — and in relation to our country — its prosperity and its con- 

 dition. 



The American Institute was incorporated by the Legislature of the 

 State of New-York, with the declared object to encourage and pro- 

 tect agriculture, commerce, manufactures and the arts, and to cherish 

 the labor, and promote the domestic industry of the country. 



This country was settled as colonies — and with the prohibition to 

 pursue commerce, or to manufacture for its own necessary supplies. 

 Our fathers came out of the revolution Avith the achievement of our 

 Independence. On the establishment of our government, we counted 

 only about 3,000,000; we now have over 20,000,000 of inhabitants. 

 The wilderness has blossomed — our fields produce their abundance 

 for the comfort and luxury of the inhabitants — ^with a surplus for 

 which it is essential to the prosperity of the country that a market 



