Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-13

will discover that the great nations who
first become civilized not only gave agricu-
ture the first place in their political organi-
cation, but they all regarded the art of hus-
bandry as Of divine original, and connected
it with the worship of the gods.
In undertaking TO prove that agriculture
has been the chief element in the civiliza-
ton of man, and that the arm of govern
ment is essential to sustain this great pri-
mary interest Of our race, shall not rely
upon general ples-upon abstract
ideas. The present enlightened condition
Of the human mind e not satisfied with
mere theory.
The improved method OF searching after
truth, requires US to view general facts
in their details. propose TO bring into
review before you, the facts upon which
have founded my conclusions.
Agriculture has been so long neglected
with US, that in the first efforts of our So
ciety, it is necessary to widen our views,
80 as to take in the whole subject, and to
shew that it has been the original school in
which the arts and sciences were invented,
and in which systems of government, NOR
atty and religion were first matured.
In looking for facts which bear upon our
subject, we have to lament defect in the
knowledge transmitted TO US from past
times. The historians Of the world have
principally confined their attention to what
is called great and striking events They
have recounted battles and sjeccs, and have
overlooked under currents, anu less obtru-
sive causes, which work in the G-0w;t. Of
nations as the sap expands vegetation.
Whilst they have filed volumes with the
sayings and doings Of the conquerors and
opprcssors If mankind, but a few brief
words are left Of the men who removed
forests, drained marshes, enriched barren
soils, cultivated the earth, and civilized their
race.
But while we lament the defect in histo-
rians IN continuing their attention to the mere
surface Of great and surprising events,
while they nave thrown such feeble light on
the real causes of the growth and decay of
nations, will endeavor to collect enough to
Illustrate my present views.
In looking at the history of cur race to
ascertain the chief element in the civliza-
ton of man, and the means used by the
most enlightened Nations to advance that
civilization, | will take my first view from
a point in chronology prior to the days OF
ttlS itoliiliis IKE Hitth, VI tie tIeDTt".
From that point of time we behold the
Egyptian. Phoenicisn, Assyrian, Chinese
and the man of ancient India, civilized
They had fixed homes, laws, governments
arts and letters; while the hundreds of ma.
tons, tribes and clans, which were spread
over the residue of the earth, were sava,
ges.
Whence this difference in the condition
: of man! Why, in the hundreds of fami,
lies of the human race. were so few OF
) them then civilized! Why, in Africa, con
tanning 100000 square miles was civil.
cation confined to narrow stri of lane
upon one solitary river! Why, in the larg
: est quarter of our globe, were arts and pro-
: tected industry confined to few degree:
; Of latitude across Southern and South EGs.
tern Asia, while in all the central and Nor.
! thern portion of that continent did tho
, deepest barbarism prevail!
Why, at that time. in all Europe, from
| the Caspian sea and Ural Mountains to tho
| Atlantic, and from the Frozen Ocean to tho
Mediterranean, had civilization no resting
place? Why did such darkness then res
upon what is now the faircst portion Of the
, old world! Whence came the light taci
shed abroad in civilized nations!
The difference which then existed be
tween the fer and the many nations, can
not be accounted for upon the idea that al
the nations then civilized were of q superior
race 10 all those who were then savages.
The Chinese of the Monaghan race
with his olive skin, square broad face, s:nal
fiat nose and low torhead, which al subsc
! qucnt history has proven inferior 10 ,ht
: Caucasian or white racc--yct this inferior
man had made considerable progress in Ct
viiizatioN. while the Caucasian, in al til
> heights and slopes Of his native mountains
where his form and perfect symmetry PRO
claimed his native superiority, was then
savage.
;, Why was TINS race, in their native noun
E tanS, whose submits were swept by pur
. air, and whose sides were refreshed b
gushing fountains. in the savage sta;e!-
Why the same race civilized in compare
i lively unhealthy localities in the valleys g
= rivers! Why, in Africa, on one river, wcr
the arts and sciences invented, and school
2 of philosophy erected, from which tn
a world has been enlightened
y The causes Of the achievements Of TN
! wonderful people are found in their rel
,f gion and laws. both Of which wcrc f>undC
= on agriculture. The power anu rcsuurc,
y Of the government CT ancient Egypt ar
seen in the artificial la!.c--the 100 canals
- the excavations N the sohd rocks all II
y way up the moun'ain sides to their SUNNI
:. and the machinery nv which they WEI
: supplied with wafer, and the whole lar
- continually refreshed. They wOrsh,Ppe
1t q u