Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-02-20

information, enabled by premiums and
small pecuniary aids to encourage and assist
spirit of discovery and Improvement. "
This species OF establishment contrib
utes doubly to the increase of improvement
by stimulating enterprise and experiment,
and by drawing to Il common center the re-
suits everywhere of individual skill and
observation and spreading them thence over
the whole nation, Experience accordingly
has shown that they are very cheap instru-
.ments of immense National benefits"
What wizard spell--what fatal darkness
has blinded the eyes of our public councils
so long 10 the great agency of human pros
perity, and to the psrting council Of the
Father Of his country!
WHY in the name of the experience of
the world are manufactures and commerce
more entitled to governmental protection
than agricultural While it is true, that
Iseyen-eighths of our population live by ag-
rculiure. is it not strange, passing strange
that, in country possessing free mstitu-
tons, it is also true that, from the founda-
| ton of our government up to this time,
! there cannot be found either in the statutes
! of the State. or the Nation the word AG-
a1cuLTuRE; while it is true that the Nation
al code from 1899 to 1885, is replete with
provisions for the protection of manufac-
lures; while it is true that our commerce
in every place on the Globe is under the
shield of National power, is it not strange,
that it is also true, that there never has
been appropriated, either from your Nation
al or State treasury, one dollar for the di-
rect encouragement Of the art Of hnSJuad-
| 1V
The question of domestic manufactures
has occupied the widest space in the public
attention. Behold the power of commerce!
From 1916 TO 1886, fer repairs and in
crease Of the Navy we have expended
$22.000,O00; during the same period the
whole naval establishment cost $66,O0On 0.
At this expense, our nation; very properly,
has made the stars and stripes wave over
every sea, for the protection of our com
merCe.
Reference to single leading historical
fact will illustrate the ascendant power
which commerce has acquired over the
councils Of our country, and the sleepless
vigilance with which it is guarded in the
most remote parts of the earth. In the
year 1881, the merchant vessel Friendship
!
on the pepper coast of the island of Suma-
ira. After the capture Of the Friendship,
Capt. EndicOt, her commander. told the
islanders that he belonged to a great nation
on the other side Of the globe, that would
before the end Of twelve months, send big
ship to punish the outrage that had been
committed upon him. They laughed at the
idea Of the existence and power Of the
United States. The news of the capture
Of the Friendship was brought to our gov
eminent. The powerfulship Potomac hap
pencd Just at that time to be ready for sea,
and she was forthwith despatched to
avcngc the outrage which had been COM
mittcd upon the commerce Of the United
States. Time rolled on: the twelve months
had nearly elapsed; the 18th moon was
nearly at hand, in two days more the pi-
rates would hail the anniversary OF the cap
tura of the Friendship. All but 4 very
few were dcriding the idea Of the threat
oned visitation Of the big ship; yet they
could not dismiss the OminOu5 threat from
! their minds. On the morning of the 18th
February, 1882, just fDrty-eight hours be-
! fore the expiration Of the twelve months.
the sun rose on Sumatra; aud, behold!
there stood, sure enough, the terrible big
! ship They saw in the stars and stripes,
as they iioated on the breeze. the fate Of the
murderer. Their forts were stormcd, and
their &wn laid in ashes: and such terri
bic impression made Of the power and JUS
! tic2 Of the United States, that, since that
time, the smallest American vessel can
| float in safety in these remote piratical seas
Thus, it was to protect an inconsidcrabe
branch OF our commerce, upon the oppo-
site side Of the world, that a national ship
circumnavigated the globe, in voyage Of
four years, doubling the Cape of Good
Hope in going out, and that Of Cape Horn
in coming in, at the cost of probably a mil
lion of dollars. If the national mind, if
the national resources, could be brought to
bear thus directly on agriculture, what g!o-
rious results would follow The expense of
this single expedition would have establish
ed an agricultural college, with an expert
mental farm, in each Of the States and
made educated practical farmers, Of thou
sands Of poor orphans.
But why has it happened, here in free land,
where farmers constitute sevcn.eigiih. Of the
whole population, that the arts and commerce
have been able to monOpoIize the resources and
/ Legislation Of the country, while not one hour is
even devoted by our public runctioaaries, to the
consideration Of agriculture! These are the
reasons: Those devoted to manufactures and
commerce have been able, from their conccnlra.
ted position, TO not together in organized concert.
and concert ha? enabled them to bring nio their
service the public press and public men. They