Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-10-02
Agricultural.
From the Genesee Farmer.
EDUCATION OF FARmERS.No, g.


nine tenths of the members of legislatures
ought TO be practical farmers and mechan-
les. For this opinion two reasons are
sufficient, if no others could be adduced |
First, the principal object of laws is to pro-
mote the interests and protect the rights of !
these two classes of citizens, as thew con-
stltute seven eighths and ought to consti-
tnte nine tenths ofthe community. Second,
they are educated in schools, better fitted
to make sound and enlightened statesmen.
than ever are or can be produced in anv
other schools but those of experience.
The soundness of the first reason will
probably not be called in question bv ma
ny; that of the second, am aware will
be doubted by many, and possibly by
some farmers and mechanics themselves.
But l have for several years been entire
~ convinced, that farmers and mechanics
were better qualified for composing our
legislatures, than any theoretical states.
men. from the fact, that thew have great
er influence and advocate sounder and
more republican doctrines, in all leoisla-
lures of which they are members. The
only misfortune is, that they are not elect.
ed to fill our legislatures, or to constitute
majority of them.
Ii | am not greatly mistaken, one of
the principal sources of the civil and no.
lltlcal evils we suffer, is in MAKING the
profession of law. so much the channel to
offices of emolument and honor. The
practice presents an inconsistency, on the
very face OF it. Il is evidently inconsst-
emf, and highly improper, that one class
OF men should institute laws, expound
laws, and execute laws, which il NAV he
supposed they will do TO promote their in
terests, while that class constitutes a very
small minority of the community, though
there are ten times, and probably ffv
times as many, as the most healthy State Of
the community requires. The greatly in
creased, the rapidly increasing, and the
largely disproportionate number of orr
citizens, who resort to the law for oro-
fesslon, is probably not the least evil re-
sultlng from appointing so maay of this
profession to places of honor and trust.
Without any prejndice against the
members Of this profession as individuals.
for by an extensive acquaintance with
tnem' L know many OF them to be honor.
able and respectable men. am convinced
as they themselves will undoubtedly ac,
knowledge, that large number of law
yers promote litigation. And no one
will pretend that extensive litigation is "a.
V v0rable, either to the pecuniary, the NOR
al or social health and prosperity of the
community, but highly destructive to all
consequently any arrangements or meas.
ures adopted for conducting the operations
of society, which have tendency to in
crease the number of lawyers, which is
already entirely out of proportion with
that OF other classes of the community.
must do an injury to that community
And appointing them to fill the seals in
our legislatures, especially the chairs of
state and the highest seat in the nation
must do double and an ilreparable iniu-
ry; it produces bad laws, and instiraies
quarrels and contentious in the observ-
ance and executing of those laws.
10 AVOID these evils, and as far as nos.
slble, to repair the injury already done hv
the Inconsistent and anti-repubican prac-
tice referred to, constituting our legisla-
lures and filling our offices in a great
measure with farmers and mec hanics. an.
pear to be the rational, perhaps the only
enectual measures to- be adopted.
The education of farmers in its present
neglected state. is better fitted to make
sounder Legislators, than are produced by
our colleges, or by the profession of law
Ii farmers education was what it ought
to be, and what it might be, if thew duIv
appreciated the knowledge they aIready
possess, and their facilities for greatly ex-
tending that knowledge, they could hard
ly fail of seeing the prophecy or of avail
ing themselves of the privilege, ofappoint-
ing from their own number, guardians of
their own rights and interests.
do not pretend that the interests Of
farmers or of mechanics, or of both are
the only interests to be protected and pro-
NOTED; nor do contend that our leoisla-
lures or other offices, ought to be filled
entirely from those classes. onlv con.
tend that they ought to be represented in
proportion to their numbers, and renre.
scented by themselves. hold TO this doc.
trlne because they must be supposed to
understand their own interests better thar
those IN other pursuits can for them he.
cause, being educated in the school of ex.
Perlence they may be supposed to be. as
they are actually found to be, sounder and
safer men to be relied upon and because
oy neglecling to fill our offices from the
profession of law, the number engaged in
that profession might be diminished with
1t; and by that means the wealth, the in |
telllgence and the virtue of our Republ;c |
greatly promoted.
1.-THE education of farmers was wbo.
rational and enlightened system would |