Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-10-06
y..pslhRSS
MR.. WEBSTER'S SPEECH.


h,li at pnCtcster, New York, on lOth
2Dai, and 2tst days of sept. lS43. Re-
ported Tor the New York Tribune. by Ii. j.
Raymond. Esq.
81 for HE kind natncr which the President of this
,ci'y has referred 10 the circumstances of our
~ acquaintance and nerconi sc. am proud gentle
iin, ~ such a pm ii and { h, learned any thin
Under my instruction relative tn the profession to
WNch hc!ung, am sure he 10 fully competent now
topay back the principal with accumulated interest
lou kn,wict-e connected with the present pursuit ~
witch he nad YOU gentlemen are 80 great attached.
enilen'n-Dwlng, perhaps IN some measure To
thS early anu friendly consideration of the Pr, sihent
OF y,nf Society," and to the general kindness OF all
the persons connected with il, had the honor to he
iivHti i" appear IN this 0ccasion and To make the
a1ihtl n''rrs, usual upon tn e celebration of your
anniversary 1t happened not to be in my power 10
scent the tender of this great honor. But in derln
lnt II suggested 10 nv friend that, as sometimes
hrd ,sion ID visit Western New York, partly To
visit some family connections and other friends and
MS always embraced such opportunity with the
greatest pleasure, | might be in this region the
coarse If the autumn, and that if So would cndeav-
or to arrange ms time as to I've present at the An
nIversary Of The Agricultural Society. come gen.
tenen, IN the fl ilrncnt of that n,uation. come
with great pleasure. Notwithstanding the heat of the
weather and the length Of the journey to be present
this great meeting OF the Representatives of the
Agr uiinrn Interests of this great State lchCers l.
md would most G'auiy gentlemen. so far ms may
bein my power, do something, or saw something, by
way OF compensation for the kindness which you
have manifested towards nc and as expressing the
grateful feelings wlth which acknowledge the hon
you nave done me in extending to me this invita-
i'm.
Gcnllemen, the occasion s agricultural occn-
sion The topic. which have assembled US together
kcr src agricultural topics. They carry ia TO the
conslera,n ot that great interest OF society," the cul
tivaon Of the E,rth, from which We ourselves were
i.ten. And, gentlemen, have been struck in exam
i't the exhibition which has been made today Of an
ires, ana OF the products and Improvements OF tho
iu''l., u,a arts and especially the iprov in
the great sccarv and practice OF Agriculture, which the
vast advantages which AGRICULTURE IN the apprc-
tfY.s stHsc of hs word holds out To the great
81 the society in which we I've. The cultivation oil
the earth all Of agriculture in its proper com
'nsa sense. That depends very mach on climate AMI
rn1d.ti,n. We speak of Agriculture as that great
PursIi oi S"cicty IN which the grca; mas OF men
nre engaged, in temperate climates. and in soil
adapted II produce the varsity Of things which
us''u f,- food ana the raiment Of man.
"a: there il another cultivation OF the fields, APP
rropriae to tropical climates, which has received the
usual denomination Of the plantation plrnting
interest Of society Now genil.men, what has most
torcbly srack my attention, suggested by what
have s1c' md heard and witnessed to-day,, the vast
" superior advantages 10 individuals aud to sclctp,
OF the truly agricultural over the plantation interest.
desire no better excmplicnton of the truth Of the
general sentiment winch ! have advanced, than thar
suggested hv the compnrlson-if we may not more
properly cal it a cDnfrnst--exhbted by those who
cnva,c the fsld- OF Western NewYork and those
vii, cultivate equally rich soils which lie beneath
We tern NcwIorE with the plantation in'nroe; of
the West Indies. Now, does any thing exhibit
BROADER coniras; between ir,rnt pursus-boh dei
!a,e TO the cultivation of the land, boi rearing pro-
diets for hnnln consumption than we fin between
ylr circes aud those found IN the plantation tracts
Of Cu'a Jamaicn, not only as affecting individual
happiness hut touching the riches, the strength,
the nr!er tho power the intelligence Of human So
c!rjv
TIL difference appears to be this: Tropical cn,va.
ton the raising Of sugar, rice, coffee, for example 10
-,,t ~ han NS
!! consists mainly III tho production Of one
Article. The reduction OF that article depends
on the expense incurred for soil and labor. of that
sort appropriate to lis civilizations and this IS all
capital. Whenever would enter upon Tropical
culture he invests his capital in the soil, and no we all
well know, portion of i; also in labor. 1t becomes
,..refo'e, rather OF the nature Of commercial I'M
dn,,ahiny, than the plain and homcly but healthy
onl eneiicent field cultivation. The consequence Is
uuc! philosophic inquiry would lead us to expect
Oae IA uncertain precaiious, changeabc, pariaklng
OF the vicssi,mdes of trade and COMMERCIAL enter
prise. The other il home Interest, always :ehs'an.
tally the same-abc, i. is trs 10 those vlcssItuues
which attach themselves oal human concerns, but
securing to him whp enters upon the cultivation Of
hs own lands by the labor Of his own hands, COM
pa,an.v and promising 20 guard him aGnn., the acct
denis Of life rs is possible for The most fortunate hui
n1u beings The contrast is evident when exam
ne carefully the condition Of lin who trusts to ''iop
.c1l cultivation SUPPOSE OF coffee H6tralses
thing i,r sale and oa'y and buys Of others every
:linG Else. He has one commodity TO carry 10 the
market VI sale, and twenty 10 seek in the market Of
rutc l1se. What IS the consequence Ot this state Of
things 10 his frances, to his means ot living, of &C.
cnrity and comfort! We see At that he pro-
dHcns bu, one article, and that article com modify
sahcc I, the 1,ctuaiin- pflcna OF the commercial
world, depression ia s prcc aiFtc him through the
irior orie7t # his annual income II, for example,
,hs frice Of that article falls 10 per cent he loses 10
per cent Of his exp citations the loss poes through
the whole rtnluct. Ii l. rsrs he IL enriched. IL II
falls HI ia Mp0. nd,iherelure estates which
arGrich today may he poor ;p-n.orcow and n, man,
no possssse Of vast capital can rely up m hsprop
erN for the support and comfort Of his family, aid
the education of his children from year to year.
Now, contrast with this, the state of the srnor q!
Western New York, or Of New England, or OF Eng.
land, or any other strictly agricultural society. The
Farmer If the we tern part ol New York raises a
great variety of nrtclesns we hive seen by the ex.
hhiions Of to-day. There is collected every specie.
OF nsat,' prndncons--ft for hum'n nn;rmrnr ami
nal an vegetable, There are the flee vs of his )ck
--capaolr of being turned great extent into Tho
prntnc'nn Of rnlment for himself and family. II
this r1riey. therefore there il great ndvanIaga.-
lie has the mHans ii securing 10 himself an niepcn
d-nce and it is true OF an iadlv lua, rs of nation
that, without Independence 10 mau is man no
can be ever he man. tchecr-.) II is this which
gives him personal responsibility; for 20 will per
clse iila, IL he has iroys ans ii fseces his table
s!2?cd Ms flirIy. ~ great extent /. clothed
and if prres fall how FAR IS h. niecteil Oniy on tn
ercess If hi. productions which, not needing then
excess be 10 per cent. oi his whole product Will
ii prices la ihrn II a!Ttcis only 10 per cent. of hi
intomr III, flsupon tho tropical plantation i, run
through his whole product, ana affects his whol. in
come, Bu, the farmer VINO is governed by the olhc
rrnci 10 have men,inned, eats. drinks aud .s cloth
ri w,th"nt care az TO prices He is his own consu
,nec. He buys Of himself His best customer
iiiseif his wife, and his healthy children Tines
are all supplied with reference to or coacern f
othrr markets. Thus, therefore, except as IN The 81
cess nj h productions above .aejr wants why chou
he care fir for the rise and fail Of prizes Tn
general Wh mag t'c, and doubtless 10, modified
many c1nsid antIons II may be that a country Ill
,oirs, cnenged IN grain growing, ID country
which you ioa. to the sale Of that great comni)d
far other means. But there can. nevertheless,
found n, her in which the elements OF life make
c,lnfDrtahle md happy, ard secure in eQhs degr
a-ans' famine and want, let the agtni ons, and e
crcncn,., and chnnges Of the commercial world
what they may. Gentlemen, IN my judgement it
this Independence Of occasional change, This self 81
port by our own mean, secured hr the cul ivaiion
our own sIl Y or own hands, which gives the f.
mrr of the United Suites that independent chaiact
which constitutes his respect and value as a man al
citizen.
Gentlemen, this reflection might be pursued
erea. length II mi.ht be made 10 appear to VIII
extent it affects The character Of Society. WI
what is the Society in a plantation establishment
IN. West Inhips7 There is no Society There il