Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-02
AGRICULTURAL.
ADDRESS OF JAS. BARBOUR, ESQ.
president Of the agricultural Society of .Gibe-
marie, at their meeting on the Sth .Norember,


marie, at their meeting on the sth .Norenrber
| 1925.
1.-THE Address of James Barbour Esq connected as he
with the Administration, and supposed hear upon
tain prominent questions of the day. has been eagerly epub
shed in detaehaent' .eysAal of the newspapers VIVA
they present 10 their reae deny ours with thi
difference that we lay the ,rioIe fragment be
fore them.l
To the Members Of The agricultural Society Of
i .AibemQrle.
| salute YOU with bro,herly afTection-While
cannot forbear giving inference my regret at the
resignation of my illusirious" pr edecessor, | owe
you warm expression of my gratitude for the
PROOF oil your Kindness manifested in calling &c
preside over your Institution.
| As am prevented by other duties from perso-
nal attendance your meeting, which was my very
sincere wish, permit me, in compliance with YOUR
resolve at your last annual meeting TO lay before
you some reflections, on the great and interesting
objects, to promote which, the purpose Of or
| association.
Societies like ours, when cherished with a per-
SereY7ng zeal cannot fail TO be highly beneficial.
Ii is, however, not 10 be disguised, that we have
been wanting, heretofore, in this essential quality
IL woudi III become me 10 conceal, from motives of
false delicacy, the cause which has retarded our
successful progress. A disease, otherwise inve,e-
rate, when fearessly probed, and its sources as
certained, will sometimes yield to the remedies sue
r~~'~N'
point with less concern, TO the cause of our dis
appointment, rendered the more worthy of partic-
nlar notice, as this defeat Is charged upon us as
reproach to our general character. For while full
justice Is done, to the generosi of our purpo-
| ses and the facility with which we resolve, we are
charged with waywardness Of dispos,ion, and
firing too soon in good cause. BY your future
course you may give example, at least, TO the
contrary. That you have the most ample induce
ments TO perseverc In your very laudalle purpose,
few suggestions vii! satisfactorily prove With
out intending TO nater YOU / must be permitted 10
say, that know not OF any institution in any part
OF the United States 20 ~>cssing larger capital of
intelligence, than is furnished by The members of
your association. Add to this our various and fer
tile soils, happily adapted to the growth of some of
the most valuable products of country; our sa-
ubrous and delicious climate, our cow enience to
navigation and above all the centrality OF our po-
sition, with the University in sight. With these
weighty recommendations, think / may state
without the fear of contradiction that there is no
similar establishment which offers better guarantees
OF extensive usefulness than the one | have now
the honor of addressing; and which cannot fail 10
| DE redeemed II you will pursue your object with a
| becoming zeal. This, however, can bg1eIfected
only by exciting generally among US taste, and il
may so express myself, passion for agricultural
pursuits. The most superficial observation readily
ascertains that the intellectual energies of our
]
pernicious direction. The learned professions, as
they have been grauitousy called ha We absorbed too
large share either for the benefit ofndviIuas or OF
the community. They surcharged; and hundreds
who might have been useful agriculurists, find
themselves disappointed, which too frequently is
the cause or the preteXt Of idleness dissipation and
ruin. Let me not be misunder-tood | am far
from believing that there is less talent requisite for
thorough knowledge of the science of agriculture
than OF other pursuits, and still further from sug-
costing that less time and attention are nee essary-
and the very erroneous opinion that every man
may succeed in this pursuit, without reflection or
experience, has contributed essentially 10 our nu-
ry- For while every other pursuit, the humblesi
as well the highest requires laborious appren-
ticeship 10 ensure success, every man considers
himself a skiltul farmer by instinct and hence if
every other pursuit fail him, he looks TO agriculture
as safe residuary resort. The professions have
their limits.-Clients and patients are So not vol
unfairly, but by necessity. Hence, Lawyers and
Doctors only be sustained to a limited number
On the contrary agricultural empoyments are
boundiess. How desirable is it then, that our pa
rents instead of disturbing themselves with the
anxious enquiry what shall do with my sous
instead OF gambling in these professional Lotteries
with hundred blanks to prize, should direct the
genus and energies o.. their 10 the nobler en-
poyment OF agriculture that good divinity who
never refused her favors TO a votary but dispenses
and industry with which she is solicited. The
cause OF his mischevous propensity is worthy of
enquiry. Its de'ectlcn and exposure may at least
weaken, if il cannot entirely eradicate the propen-
slty itself. The thirst for distinction is common To
all mankind, and is the great impulse of the moral
wor!d.-What shall constitute distinction depends
on the decision of mankind however irrational that
decision may appear. Take an illustrious example
Although and humanity denounce as a mon
sier, the man who destroys thousands Of his kind
Tor no other purpose than 10 crafty his own am
bIon; yet II Is before this Idol standing on pc
destal composed of human carcases that the survi-
vors tall down and worship 1t is the spirit of idol
airy among mankind which generates false Gods
Bel and the Dragon will always have Ministers of
their affairs, long thew permitted to eat of
the lat sacrifices of their dupes Without meaning
10 assimllae the cases Of ALL but frankly present
the caprice Of human opinions, will point to the
superiority allowed to the eminent In the Termed
proicssions-nay. to the humblest incumbent For
the title Itself confers distinctions: Willie the
Farmer, no matter how inlegent--no matter what
Improvements he has made in the science of ayri-
culture--no matter what errors he NAV have cor
rected, or 10 what extent he may have contributed
to The comfort oil his species, IS left undslingushe
ana crowded out oil notice, 10y the favored classef
to which have alluded. This is the result OF 4
servie submission to tyrant cusiom-a custom &C.
'aoiIshed ~ other times. Let hope the light Of
wv ~ "' 'Ee promises, WIN us al least, more
rational barometer; when all human pursuits Will
be appreciated by standard, which recognizes the
happiness OF mankind the only rule of its ,iecis-
ion.--Iben agriculture cannot fail to occupy dis
nngulshed place in the esteem OF the world In
fastening the advent Of this epoch you may essen
TALLY contribute, by The sanction Of your example
and your Jealous eSertions to elevate this most val
uahie ui pursuits, and attaching 10 il the i'm
p0rtance II deserves, and Of which il has been be-
Teaved by The vicious taste OF mankind.