The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-06-13
AGRICULTURE.

/
| with very few exceptions, TO accompany the In
vesligations in the science Of political economy,
is the abstraction Of speculation from the inle-
rests OF agriculture and its restriction TO the adj
vancement of the '.wealth Of nations" through
the instrumentaity of commerce and manulac-
lures The abors of the agricuturist are, TO
be sure, observation-disclosures, beir a producer
he cannot be oyerlooked-he may even be casu-
ally pronounced the chief producer and the
manstay of the wealth and prosperity OF
country. But the annunciaton OF his dignhed
station among producers being once careessly
made as truism, which requires no illustra-
ton his interests are dropped in discussions on
political economy, and all the ingenuity and
learning Of writers on this science, are expended
on the intricate relations Of the merchant prlnci
pally, and Of the manufactures secondarlly.
The farmer, if occasionally introduced into the
company Of the other classes, is thought worthy
of such society only naslnuch as they are de-
pendent upon him. He is producer, and the
principal producer-but his interests are regard
ed only at distance. Employed in the
simple duty of producing and selling his
produce, his occupation presents none Of
the complexities worthy of the tortuous in
vestigations of science. His business, there
fore, may make the title of sundry chapters in
work on that science which has perplexed the
wits Of so many men OF talent, and furnished
them the iairest opportunity OF showing how
much the throes of genius may puzzle itself as
well as others; but beyond the title and few
Introductory paragraphs, he is not remembered.
Even those who acknowledge the truth Of what
we assert, fall into the error which they depre-
cate.
An instance of this fault existing in the works
on political economy, we find in the writings of
a French author Of no little celebrity whose
volumes are lying at our elbow. In his open
ing paragraphs on the agricultural interest, he
begins to speak with the cool discrimination Of
political philosopher in favor of agriculture-de-
ceiving his readers into the idea that he intend.
ed to give an elaborate dissertation on the bene
fits accruing to a country from the predomi-
nance Of farming industry. But unfortunately
the tendencies of the science soon lead him
astray.
Hear him s.The wealth lavished by the earth
should first of all attract and fix the attention OF
the economist and the legislator. The earth
furnishes the necessary subsistence OF man, 1t
provides the material for the labor which is not
directly applied to itself, and employs in It's cul-
tvaton at least one half the people of every
nation The cultivators of the earth are spe
cialy worthy of notice. Their employment
gives the physical capabilities whca make the
efficient soldier and the character Of mind which
makes the good citizen. The happiness of the
country population is more easily secured than
that Of the denzens Of cities"
With such an introduction, we might anticipate
a abored essay on the means OF al least not inter
ruptng the happiness dprosperlty OF the farmer,
even if no enlightened views were ever promul-
gated for positively promoting his interests. But
the reader INDUCING in such a vision would soon
find himself disappointed. He would find the
farmers way TO wealth, merged in that of the
merchant; and this work. like most others
bearing the same title, is an essay on national
wealth, to be obtained through the warehouse
and not through the barn yard
We are no enemies OF the mercantile or man
ufacturing interests, though we respect the far
mer more than we do either the merchant or
the manufacturer. But we would like to see a
work on political economy written in a different
style from those we have seen, written by far
mer with a farmers interests and dignity in
view.
With the sad stories of English pauperism
before our eyes, we hardly feel any inclination
to dissent from Goldsmith, though we make the
acknowledg ment, in the presence of the deeply
read in the awful science which processes to
promote the wealth of nations, and we are half
inclined to construe it as the science teaching
the way to promote the wealth of the few by
impovershing the many.
"a time there was, ere England's grels began,
When every rood of ground maintained It's man
For her H. hit labor spread It's wholesome store,
Just gave what life required and gave no more;
His best companions, innocence and health,
And his best riches ignorance of wealth