Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-10-06
MIR. MERsTER,s SPEECH,
AT THE AGRICULTURAL SUPPER

At supper given by the officers OF the Ag-
ricultural Society, on Thursday evening last,
ut Rochester, the President, General James ).
Wadsworth, after the cloth was removed, pro-
posed, "THE HEALTH OF THE FARMER OF
M,nsnrrELp." Whereupon Mr.. Webster
rose and delivered speech, from the report of
which, published in the Tribune, we make the
following extracts.
In reference to the superior advantages, to
individuals and society, of the truly agricuItu-
raj over the plantation interest, Mr. Webster
said:
"The difference appears TO be this: Tropi-
cal cultivation, the raising OF sugar, rice, coffee,
for example, is rather matter OF Commerce
than of Agriculture. II consists mainly in the
production Of one article. The production OF
that article depends on the expense incurred lor
soil and labor, of that sort appropriate To It's
cultivation: and this is all capital Whenever
one would enter upon Tropical culture he IN
vests his capital in the soil, and, as we well
know, portion Of il also in labor. IL becomes,
therefore, rather of the nature of commercial
undertaking, than the plain and homely, but
healthy and bcneficent field cultivation. The
consequence is, such as philosophic inquiry
would lead us to expect. One is uncertain,
precarious, changeable, partaking of the vicisSl-
tudes of trade and commercial enterprise -
The other is a home interest, always subslan-
tially the same-liabe, it is true, to those vi
cissitudes which attach themselves TO all hu-
man concerns, but securing to him who enters
upon the cultivation of his own lands, by the
labor Of his own hands, competency, and
promising TO guard him against the accidents
of lie as far as is possible for the most iortu-
nate OF human beings. The contrast is evident
when we examine carefully the condition Of
him who trusts TO Tropical cultvaion-sup-
pose of coffee. He raises one thing for sale
and one oniy, and buys Of others every thing
else. He has one commodity TO carry to the
market of sale, and twenty to seek in the mar
ket Of purchase. What is the consequence of
this state Of things to his finances, TO his means
of living, of security and comfort! We see at
once, that, as he produces but one article, and
that article commodity subject to the nuctu-
ating prices of the commercial world, depres-
sion in lis price affects him through The Whote
erleat of his annual income. If, for example,
the price of that article falls 10 per cent. he
loses 10 per cent. of his expectations 1. e.
the loss goes through the whole product. lfit
Uses he is enrched.-lfit falls be is impover-
ished And, therefore, estates which are rich
to-day may be poor Tomorrow; and no man,
not possessed of vast capital, can rely upon
his property for the support and comfort OF his
family, and the education OF his children from
year To year.
Snow, contrast with this, the state of the
farmer of Western New York, or OF New
England or any other strictly agricultural So
ciety. The farmer of the western part OF New
York raises great variety of artcles-as we
have seen by the exhibitions OF to-day. There
is collected every species of useful produc-
tions-it for human nutfiment, animal and We
Qetable. There are the feeces of his flock
capable of being turned to great extent into
the production of raiment for himself and fami-
ly. In this pariety, therefore, there is great
advantage. He has the means of securing to
himself an independence--and it is true of an
individual, as of nation, that without indie
pendence, no man is man nor can ever be
man. TCheers.l II is this which gives him
personal responsibility; for you will perceive
that il he has provisions and feeces, his table
is supplied, his family, 10 great extent, is
cloihed-and if prices fall how far is he affect
ed?
"Gcntlemen, this reflection might be pursued
at great length. 1t might be made to appear
TO what extent il affects the character OF socle-
~ Why, what is the society in plantation
establishment in the West Indies! There is
no society! There is n capitalist, and there is
a labor Of particular descriptions but Soci-
ETY., Society of intelligent, free spirts-there
Is none, none, NONE, and there never can be
II is, therefore, in the temperate climate-in
fore, gentlemen, beneath such a sun as shines
on you, and on such an earth as that which
you tread, that the truest development of a
strong society is to be made that can ever be
witnessed on the Earth. Loud cheers. Gen.
tlemen, every body knows that al the lounda-
lion of all that is important in human life lies
this great business--ihe cultivation Of the
Earth. fit were for his sins that MAN was
condemned TO till the land, it was the most
t,l fubo thaf mi hep a
could have inflicted upon him! loud and
repeated cheers)
Mr. Webster next advcrtcd to those interests
Of Agriculture which it was the province oil
Government to attend TO. II is he said, du-
~ which Government owes To Agriculture
"to give an easy transmission of its products
TO the place Of sale and consumpton.'' OF the
performance of this duty, he declared that the
beneficence, the wisdom and patriotism of Gin.
ton rendered Western New York striking ex.
ample.
"Gentlemen, in this respect, your position
ennol'es you beyond anything on the face o
the earth. N. York city has been brought
very near your doors. The great Emporium
Of this great continent lies close before you:-
You are rich in your home market-a market
OF purchase and sale. All New York is at YOU
feet. You can deal with her as ir you lived il
one Of her wards mean for the purpose o
commerce.
''lt is the duty OF Government, TO consid
cradle extent, 10 take care that there should b,
ademand for Agricultural products (Cheers.
am not about gentlemen, to enter upon thu
questionable debatable subect-of Protect
i've Tariff, to any considerable extent. But !
nevertheless, do say--at least | do hink-ant
why should not say iti-(Cheers, and crie
of SAY it, 'out with it, go on.'-I do say
gentlemen, that the AGRIcuLTuRE Of hi