288 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
i 
much to that end and aim, as occasions of recreation—as holi¬ 
days. Constituted as man is, he has positive need of occasion¬ 
al recreation; and whatever can give him this, associated 
with virtue and advantage, and free from vice and disadvantage, 
is a positive good. Such recreation our Fairs afford. They 
are a present pleasure, to be followed by no pain, as a conse¬ 
quence ; they are a present pleasure, making the future more 
pleasant. 
But the chief use of Agricultural Fairs is to aid in improv¬ 
ing the great calling of Agriculture , in all its departments, and 
minute divisions; to make mutual exchange of agricultural 
discovery, information, and knowdedge; so that, at the end, all 
may know everything, which may have been known to but one , 
or to but few, at the beginning; to bring together, especially, 
all which is supposed to not be generally known, because of 
recent discovery or invention. 
And not only to bring together, and to impart all which has 
been accidentally discovered or invented upon ordinary motive ; 
but, by exciting emulation, for premiums, and for the pride and 
honor of success—of triumph, in some sort—to stimulate that 
discovery and invention into extraordinary activity. In this, 
these Fairs are kindred to the patent clause in the Constitution 
of the United States; and to the department, and practical 
system, based upon that clause. 
One feature, I believe, of every Fair, is a regular Address. 
The Agricultural Society of the young, prosperous, and soon 
to be, great State of Wisconsin, has done me the high honor of 
selecting me to make that address upon this occasion—an honor 
for which I make my profound and grateful acknowledgement. 
I presume I am not expected to employ the time assigned me 
in the mere flattery of the farmers, as a class. My opinion of 
them is that, in proportion to numbers, they are neither better 
nor worse than other people. In the nature of things they are 
more numerous than any other class; and I believe there really 
are more attempts at flattering them than any other; the rea¬ 
son of which I cannot perceive, unless it be that they can cast 
