CULTIVATOR—EXTRA 
MARCH, 1836, 
NEW-YORK STATE AGRICULTURE SOCIETY, 
At a meeting of the State Agricultural Society, held at tire Ca¬ 
pitol in the city of Albany, February 11, 183S— 
Jesse Buel. president. 
The report of John P. Beekman, corresponding secretary, was 
read and accepted. 
The report of Caleb N. Bement, treasurer, was read and ac¬ 
cepted. 
On motion of Mr. Allen, 
Resolved , That a committee of seven be appointed by the presi¬ 
dent, to nominate suitable persons as officers of the society for the 
ensuing year. 
Whereupon the president appointed the following persons to be 
said committee:—Messrs. Allen, Beekman, Duane, J. J. Viele, 
Cunningham, Baldwin and Ellsworth. 
The annual address to the society, was then delivered by the 
Hon. John B. Yates. 
The nominating committee having reported, the society proceed¬ 
ed to the election of officers for the ensuing year, whereupon the 
following persons were duly elected: 
ARCHIBALD MTNTYRE, President, 
ANTHONY VAN BERGEN, first Vice-President, 
ZEBA A. LELAND, second do, 
JOHN P. BEEKMAN, third do. 
PHILIP VIELE, fourth do. 
JESSE BUEL, Corresponding Secretary, 
JOHN KEYES PAIGE, Recording Secretary, 
CALEB N. BEMENT, Treasurer, 
Executive Committee . 
Alexander Walsh, Joab Center, 
John Townsend, John B. Duane, 
Erastus Corning, John B. Yates, 
Samuel Cheever, John H. Steel, 
Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen. 
The proceedings and memorial of the New-York State Agricul¬ 
tural convention having been read to the society—thereupon. 
On motion of Dr. Beekman, 
Resolved , That this society approve the proceedings of the late 
agricultural convention assembled in this city, and respectfully pray 
the legislature to grant their petition for an agricultural school. 
On motion of Mr. Duane, 
Resolved, That the thanks of this society be tendered to the 
Hon. John B. Yates, for the able and eloquent address delivered 
by him, before the society, and that a copy be requested for publi¬ 
cation. 
On motion of Mr. Leland, 
Resolved, That the thanks of this society be tendered to the late 
president thereof, for the able and satisfactory manner in which he 
has presided over the same, and for the benefit he has rendered the 
cause of agriculture in general. 
The society then adjourned. 
ADDRESS OF JOHN B. YATES, Esq. 
In presenting our annual address, an opinion may be entertained 
by some, that it should be confined to subjects connected with the 
immediate objects avowed on the formation of the society: im¬ 
provement in agriculture only. 
This opinion, although evidently too limited for the proper pur¬ 
poses of such an association, and tending to restrain that extensive 
usefulness which its consultations and active operations might 
otherwise produce, has notwithstanding, been supported by many 
respectable citizens. There appears among us a morbid apprehen¬ 
sion of political combinations. Dare we acknowledge, that we 
dread any more extended presentation of views to the farmer, than 
such as are properly connected with the mere mechanical organiza¬ 
tion of his farm, and the construction of the implements adapted 
to its most profitable cultivation? Such an avowal would not readi¬ 
ly be made, by any man professing to advocate our political insti¬ 
tutions; and yet the opinion can have no other foundation. 
Tire Pacha of Egypt observes the immense use of cotton, in the 
costume and other comforts of all tire nations of the world. His 
country is well adapted to the growth of the raw material. He 
regards only the acquisition of wrealth and power. His sagacity en¬ 
ables him distinctly to perceive the means of acquiring both. His 
subjects {from causes which the limits of this address will not per¬ 
mit me to examine, although the examination would be connected 
with its object,) submit with implicit obedience to his mandate. 
He drives them with the cattle of his fields to the cotton plantation. 
The animal machine is strained to its strength. Improvements in 
the application of its power, from other countries, are introduced 
for the hope of the greatt st pecuniary advantage, and the maxi¬ 
mum product that can thus be procured, passes into the hands of 
the merchant prince, to be vended for the support of an army of 
other machines necessary to sustain his conquests and despotic 
misrule. 
Our efforts in the performance of duty, as ci'izens and philanthro¬ 
pists, are too often like his, (although resulting from other evident 
motives, but without great caution tending to the same end,) ab¬ 
sorbingly directed to increase the wealth and resources of the coun¬ 
try, as the most important object patriotism can promote. But I 
would ask the enlightened patriot, are there not others of far grea¬ 
ter importance, that should engage primary attention, to accomplish 
and secure which, the wealth and resources of the country are 
alone valuable? 
In the organization of society, various engagements and permanent 
pursuits divide the people into almost as many distinct classes as 
there are distinct regular occupations. This is a necessary con¬ 
sequence of the mutual dependence of man, in all the relations of 
life, through the whole extent of ascending and improving civiliza¬ 
tion, until he arrives at the nearest approach to perfection in 
the power of human wisdom: the sincere devotion of a creature, 
with heartfelt acknowledgment of dependence on the great First 
Cause—courteousness, kindness, charity in judgment towards 
his fellow man—the cultivation of the physical energy of the hu¬ 
man frame, and all the intellectual qualities of the mind, united 
with a desire and effort to diffuse the participation of these enjoy¬ 
ments to as great an extent as the best organization of society will 
permit. 
Another consequence however, growing in part out of the present 
formation of political communitie- 1 , and particularly exhibited in 
countries where the least surrender of personal liberty for the safety 
of government has been required, is, that the pursuit enabling its 
followers to assume the most elevated position, will always be 
deemed most desirable. If the path to that, position be open for all, 
and the temple of Fame, with its fascinating allurements in full 
view, although seen only in the distant vista, the votaries, with 
all the variety of human passions, urging their way to its idol 
altar, will always be incalculably great. Ignorant and intolerant 
fanaticism, with its dagger, its torch and its rack, hallucinating en¬ 
thusiasm, wily hypocrisy, boastful and egotic arrogance, resting 
for aid and support upon every mean that can be enlisted under 
their respective banners, are all pressing each other on the way, 
hateful and hating in their contests. 
From the gloomy outlines of such a picture there is some relief. 
Genuine philanthropy, seeking not its own exclusively, but univer¬ 
sal good, moves kindly watchful, modest, and though retiring, ac¬ 
tive in her sphere; slow, yet firm and steadfast, she collects around 
her an interesting group: its members mingle in all occupations, 
receiving almost universal respect; the uniform tendency of their 
conduct, and its evident effect upon the preservation of order in so¬ 
ciety, by soothing and quieting the discordant elements of which 
it is composed, frequently commands an involuntary reverential de¬ 
ference. The happy tendency of their efforts induces kindness, 
and in proportion as they avoid conflicting with the personal inter¬ 
est of others is their influence extended and beneficially exercised. 
The high estimation however, in which the remnant of moral sense, 
retaining its hold upon the conscience, constrains even the bad to 
regard him whose life appears devoted to acts of beneficence and 
philanthropy, throws among that class many whose motives are 
