EXHIBITION OF 1864. 
211 
viduiil families. He declared that the constitution made a national and not 
a federal Union, and he so strongly objected to the term that he did not like 
to hear our array called the “federal army.” He desired this to be considered 
abroad as one country, having one flag, which should protect every man, in 
all parts of the globe, who has the proud title of “ American citizen.” De¬ 
stroy the power of the nation, and our state and county stocks, and township 
scrip would be worthless. Every political blessing depends upon this grand 
foundation of our system—unity and nationality; and let no portion go off 
without the consent of the whole. 
“We are one people, although gathered from every part of Europe for the 
enjoyment of the blessings of liberty. If there is anything in the way of lib¬ 
erty it should get out of the way. Our government was formed for the pro¬ 
tection of man and not of capital at the expense of the rights of man. The 
wealth of a country is in its labor ; voluntary labor is the most effective, as 
an intelligent and thinking being is able to accomplish more than a machine. 
“There is a silent conviction gaining ground everywhere that our flag 
should float only over free men. It is for the interest of all that every spe¬ 
cies of labor should be voluntary, because it is the most efficient, it is for the 
interest of laborers that every laborer should be free, that every man should 
have a home. If you deny a home to a man you destroy the family institu¬ 
tion which is the foundation of all governments. The home must be protect¬ 
ed from outrage, from all ownership of its members by others. Whenever 
labor is not voluntary, and the family is not protected, that nation will die. 
“The speaker alluded in eloquent terms to the labor and devotion of the 
women of this country during the rebellion. He exhorted them to go on in 
the good work in which they had been eng-jgcd ; to keep up their aid so¬ 
cieties; to labor diligently as they had done for the sick, the wounded and 
for those in prison. The reward would come; the country would be saved 
from the assaults of traitors, and when peace crowns our hills and plains, it 
would be acknowledged that without the unwearied toil, the constancy and 
heroic faith of woman in our cause, it could scarcely have been saved. 
“Gov. Wright pronounced the fair creditable to the State, considering 
that Wisconsin had sent 50,000 of her sons to the field to defend the govern¬ 
ment. The exhibition was noteworthy for its fine show of fruit, machinery 
and sheep, especially the latter, which was very creditable. He said we had 
a good sheep country, and urged his hearers to excel in that department, 
bearing in mind the three great objects in sheep breeding, which he declared 
to be quantity of wool, fineness and weight of carcass. 
“ In order to accomplish this he exhorted our farmers to abandon, to a 
large extent the cultivation of wheat, and turn their attention to raising 
grass. Grass, he declared, wms the foundation of all successful agriculture. 
It was true, as had been said, ‘no grass, no stock—no stock, no manure—no 
manure, no crops.’ 
“ In conclusion the speaker made several practical suggestions; 
1st. Keep out of debt. 
