Minor punctuation errors have been changed without notice. Printererrors have been changed, and they are indicated witha mouse-hoverand listed at theend of this book. All otherinconsistencies are as in the original.
ADDRESS
DELIVERED BY
HON. HENRY H. CRAPO,
Governor of Michigan,
BEFORE THE
Central Michigan Agricultural Society,
AT THEIR
SHEEP-SHEARING EXHIBITION,
HELD
AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE FARM,
On Thursday, May 24th, 1866.
LANSING:
JOHN A. KERR & CO., STEAM BOOK AND JOB PRINTERS.
1866.
Mr. President, and Members of the "Central Mich. Ag'l Society:"
Ladies and Gentlemen: Remote from the theatre of action in the laterebellion, Michigan has experienced comparatively few of the evils thatfollowed immediately in its path. The usual pursuits of peaceful life,were here scarcely disturbed, and by the permission of a GraciousProvidence, the industry of the inhabitants of our State was but littlediverted from its legitimate channels. Nevertheless, while so many ofher patriot sons were engaged in the deadly strife of Southernbattle-fields, and the result of the struggle was in the uncertainfuture, a sombre cloud could not fail to brood over our daily life,interfering with the full enjoyment of the blessings we retained.
Now, however, the roar of cannon and the noise and tumult of war is nolonger heard in our land; the scenes of carnage and blood which our oncepeaceful and happy country has recently witnessed are at an end; theturmoil and strife of armed hosts in deadly conflict have ceased; thepublic mind is no longer excited, and the hearts of the people are nolonger pained, by the fearful news of battles fought, and of theterrible slaughter of kindred and friends. Social order again invites usto renewed efforts in our respective labor and callings; and we arepermitted "to beat our swords into plow-shares and our spears intopruning-hooks."
Like the calm and quiet repose of peace when it follows the clamor anddin of war, so is the delightful, cheering and invigorating approach ofspring, as it succeeds the chilling blasts and pelting storms of drearywinter.
The truth of this is verified to us on the present occasion. We havecome together at this delightful spot, and on this beautiful spring day,not only for the enjoyment of a festive season, but also for theimprovement of our minds and the increase of our present stock ofknowledge on subjects with which our several interests and ourrespective tastes are more or less identified.
At your request and upon your kind invitation, I am here to contributemy share—small though it be—to the general fund. I should, however,have much preferred the position of a quiet learner to that of anincompetent teacher—to have listened rather than to have spoken.But being here, it will be my purpose—by your indulgence—to speak, ingeneral terms, upon such topics as seem to me appropriate to the[4]occasion. I shall not presume to theorize, or to speculate; neithershall I travel through unexplored fields with no other guide thanimagination; nor shall I attempt to entertain you with any rhetoricalflourishes, or figures of speech; bu