Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-26

between TIC two opposite causes, coeld
scarcely remain uninnaenced by the mo-
raj consideration, than on the course OF
farming which shall be pursued by each
1 individual, the comfort, nay, even OF the
existence Of thousands OF human beings
would well depend.
For the purpose of illustration l will
compare the course of two cultivators oil
my acquaintance N, inherited a
farm aud stock, capable Of well support
| ing an industrious and economical man,
but which If left to the sole management
OF an oserseer, and treated according TO
thethen usual practice, would not have
paid the expense OF cultivation many
years. Fortunately he knew wta, course
would most promote his interest. For
thirty years he has been striving to make
Two blades Of grass, where only enc grew
before, and he has met with the success
which his exeriions deserved. He re-
jec,ed all improvements (inproperly SO
eailed1 which promised not 10 return
some clear profit TO the capital invested,
but consideredno improvement too laoo-
rions or expensive, from which he could
| with certainty, derive The principal end
interest Of the first cost. He bou ght no
land which he was not fully able to stock,
or that would mol yield more clear pro-
fit, on the purchase money, than be could
have obtained from investing the sum in
making additional Improvements on the
land already in his possession. A, this
time, by means Of improvement, and
purchase together, he makes crops six
times greater than when heycomn,cnced.
Though N, has thus eminently pro-
ino,sd the public veal, it was WITHOUT
caring for it: his views we're exclusively
directed to his own private interest. He
is obedient to tbs laws, and just and ho-
nest in all his dealings, because he knows
that such is the best policy; but in nj
10 that Of others, and perhaps he never
performed an act of real generosity in
his lie.
F--,is directly the reverse OF N---,
in disposition, character, and habis. In
doicns having 40 ionclness Tor farming,
his business has been entirely conducted
ty his oyerseers; and according 10 the
usual maxims which pcry naturally
govern such gentry, they nave exhausted
his land IS last as they coala clear IT.
Nothing but the immense fortune which
their employer possessesl prevented him
from living as most landho.ders III lower
Vir, mia have done, on all OF his annual
increase, and part Of his capital. But
E., is moderate in his desires, and
therefore not Of expensive habits and
notwilhsia nding his bad management, his
ihtone has allowed him 10 continue pur-
chasing land, un,il he owns almost as
much as German principally. By
these means, his annual crops are NOT
materially lessened, though every fs,d
is in It's turn destroyed, and deserted Tor
u new one. Though he does not obtain
two Ter cent. from bis capital, yet as less
suffices for his support, he considers his
wealth increasing as rapidly as the mum
Der of his acres. Accordmglo the. usual
calculation Of profit, injury 10 tho land is
no; taken INTO consideration. Il is evil
dent, however, thai the mode Vi culliva-
ton pursued by F., is merely abb
s.rac,,ag the Wise fertility of one ticid,
and applying it 10 another in The shape OF
purchase money. What was said OF the
famous conqueror and destroyer, As,lla,
s that the the grass ceased TO grow where
his horse placed bis foo" 'appiies With
more truth to my friend F.. Not
understanding his many viriaos, he has 10
the fullest extent which his means per-
mitIed, been the destroyer ct grass, oi
grain, and consequently, OF men,. Famine
marches after him, and will not COMMIT
The less havoc because he Is able to keep
beyond her reach.
F., is remarkable for his Kindness
and liberasity to the poor. BESIDES fire.
quent occasional acts Of charity to others,
he has long supported several families,
who would perish withou, such aid. /
know how to estimate the, motives, and
according to them, to respect these two
individuals. But their private virtues
aud vices have nothing to do with my
subject, excep. SO far as the conse-
quences Of them affect the public good.
F., supports by his benerolence,
twenty persons, and has destroyed the
means of subsistence for 500, which
in effect, is equal to starving Or prevent
ing the existence Of asansny. N,
has given nothing in charity, but
has given in the wages Of labor
more than F-'s, wages and aims
together: he has increased the pro-
duction of the earth enough for food for
500 persons, and therefore he has in
creased population to that amount,
though not at all by the Hindoo mode,