Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-06-28
From tho New York Sun.

We observe with astonshment and regret,
the conclusive evidence which appears in
eyery direction, that the business of Agricui-
ture does not receive the attention due to 1t
in this country. but is treated with absolute
nerlect, compared with other pursuits
This ought not to be, and the inhabitants of
this country will vet learn, that they have
committed a gross error by abandoning the
cu,tlyation of the soil for less Independent and
more precarious modes Of obtaining hveli.
hood.
Who has ever heard Of such state of
things as now exists here! We have soil
as fertile as any that the sun ever shone upon'
a country almost boundless in extent and 80
cheap, that any man may purchase farm
with the proceeds of a few months labor, yet
we are actually importing for consumption,
immense quantities of agricultural products
from foreign countries! A people, thiniy scat
tered over land unequalled in fertility, and
exhanstless in its resources, are buying their
bread, at enormous prices, from countries so
oyerburthened WITH inhabitants, that political
economists have feared that the earth would
fail to produce sufficient to support hem.
Such an extraordinary and unnatural clrcum-
stance should excite attention, and awaken
the inquiry as to its cause.
The fault, as we have seen, is not IN the
soil, nor is the country overrun with inha6l-
tants. 1t is, therefore, evident that the cutl-
walton of the soil is neglected, otherwise we
should be exporting instead Of importing agrl-
cultural products, but it is easier 10 show the
fact. that agriculture is neglected. than to fiId
a suficiant reason for such egect. We ap'
prehend, however, that it will be found %
spring, in a great measure. rom the same
causes which have produced much evil in this
country. and the bitter fruits of which we are
now reaping. The first and chief of these
causes, is the inordinate thirst for wealth which
pervades every class of society, and induces
men to abandon their legitimate business to
engage in some wild, hazardous speculation,
in the hope OF becoming suddenly rich. 1t IS
also too often the case that the farmer becomes
tired of the moderate and gradual accumua-
ton of property by the products OF his iana'
and leaves the cultivation OF 1t to engage III
the business of commerce or manufactures.
He finds out his egregious mistake when It Is
too late. The property he had accumulated
is often sauanGered and lost in consequence OF
his ignorance of new business, and ne again
s;uhs for the cheer ul and independent mode
ofG,e which he has abandoned, when 1t Is out
of bis mower to resume it. We have In our
mind numberless instances of this kind, where
industrious and prosperous farmers have been
lured to their ruin, by being induced TO lay
aside the implements Of husbandry. and en-
gage in the universal scramble after sudden
wealth.
There is another great error prevalent upon
,b;s subiect. and that Is, the business OF agri'
culture is generally looked upon as less respec-
table than that of commerce, manufactures or
the professions and wealthy farmers instead
ofteaching their sons their own BUSINESS most
usually transform them into merchants, law
yers, doctors, or dominees. This is all wrong.
Agriculture is the very backbone OF all bust.
ness, the main.spring of all wealth, and should
be regarded as a profession o! the highest re-.
spectability. II gives those engaged IN II a
feeling of independence, genuine nobleness'
without ostentasion, honor, honesty and hrm-
ness, well calculated to perpetuate the Tree
institutions of our happy country. The truth
of the eloquent panegyrics Of the anclents upon
this employment may be more easily realized
here than in any other country upon earth
We confidently hope to see public OPINION
speedily righ,ing itself upon this subject and
to find people seeking their permanent inter
ests, and advancing the prosperity and glory
of our wide domain, by engag ng more gener.
ally in this healthful, honest and independent
business.