The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-10-11

has received the usual denomination of the
plantation-rhe planting interest of society.
| Now, gentlemen, what has most forcibly
struck my attention, suggested by what /
| have seen and heard and witnessed tO-day,is
the vastly superior advantages, TO individn-
ais and to society, of the truly agricultural
over the plantation interest. | desire NO
better exepplification of the truth of the
general sehtisoent which | have advanced,
than that suggested by the comparison-If
we may not more properly call it a contrast
exhibited by those who cultivate the fields
of Western New York and those who cub
tivate equally rich soils, which lie beneath u
\ tropical sun. ] would compare the agricul
ture of Western New York with the planta-
ton interest Of the West In,lies. Now does
any thing exhibit broader contrast be-
! tween different pursuiIs-both dedicated to-
The cultivation of the land, both rearing pro-
| ducts for human consumptiOn-than we find
| between Your circles, and those foun1 in the
plantation tracts of Cuba or Jamaica, not
| only as affecting individual happiness, but
as touching the riches, the strength, the or
der. the power, the intelligence of human
society,"
The difference appears to be this: Tropi-
cal cultivation, the raising of sugar, rice,
! coffee, for example, is rather a matter of
mainly in the production of onr article. The
production of that article derends on the
expense incurred for soil and labor, of thar
sort appropriate to its rultvation: and ;h5
Is all capital. Whenever one would enter
upon Tropical culture, he invests his capital
in the soil and, as we all well know, por
ton of it also in labor. 1t becomes, there
fore, rather of the nature of IL commercial
undertaking, than the plain and ho.ncly, hut
healthy and bentficent field cultivation. The
consequence is, such as Il phIloSoIhic in
curry woui.l lead us to expect One j. un
certain, precarious, changeablc partaking Of
the vicissitudcs of trade and commercial en-
{ terprise. The other is home interest, al
ways substantially the same-liable it is srue
to those vicissitudes which attach themselves
to all human concerns, hnt securing 10 him
who enters upon the cultivation Of his OwI
land, by the labor Of his own hands, "A com
potency and promising TO guard him against
the accidents of lie as far rs is possible for
the most fortunate human beings, The con
tra>t is evident when we examine carefully
the condition of him who trusts to Tropical
cultivation suppose of coffee. He raises
one thing for sale and one only, and buys Of
others every thine else. He has one COM
modify 10 carry to the market of sale, and
twenty to seek in the marker of purchase
things to his finances, to his means Of living.
of security aud comfort? We see at once.
that, as lie produces but one article and ihst
/ article n commodity subject to the 1uclua-
ting prices of the commercial world, lie
! preston in It's price affects him through the
whole extent Of his annual income. II, for
example. the price of that article fails 10
per cent. he loses 10 per cent of his expect
atoms the loss goes through the vhele
product. IL il rises he is enriched. If It
falls he is impoverished. .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 fnr
the support and comfort of his family, and
the education of bis children from year to-
year.
Now, contrast with this the state Of the
farmer of Western New York or of New
England. or of England, or any other stric'-
ly agricultural society. The Farmer OF the
western part of New York raises great va
riety of articles as we have seen ~ tho
exhibitions of to-day. There is collected
every species of useful proGuctions-fit for
human nutriment, animal and vegetable
There are the feeces of his Hock-capablc
of beng turned to great extent into the
production of IA ment for himself and FAM
lily In this variety, therefore, there is
great advantage He has the means of Sc
curing to himself an indepentence-and it
Is true of an individual as of nation, that
without lndepu ndence, no man IS a man nor
can ne ever he man. (Cheers.) IL is this
which gives him personal responsibility: for
you will perceive that If he has provisions
and feeces. his table is supplied, his family,
TO a great extent is clOihed--and if prices
fall how far is he affected! Only on the ex-
cess of his productions. which not needing
them for consumption, he sends TO market
Suppose this excess 10 be 10 PER cent.
of his whole produci. while if prices fall.
then it affects only 10 per cent. of his in
come. If ii falls upon the tropical plants
ton it runs through his whole product, and
affects his whole income. But The farmer
who is governed by the nther principle
hive mentioned, cats, drinks, and is clothed
without care rs 10 rices He is his own
consumer. He buys Of himself His best
customer is himself, his wife, and his healthy
children. These are all suppiird with no
reference to or concern for other markeis.
Thus, therefore, except as TO the excess OF
his production above their wants, why should
lie care fig for the rise aud fall of priceSl
This general truth may be, and doubtless is
modified by many Considerations /, NAV
be that a country like yours. engaged IN
grain growing. is country in which you
look 10 the saIe Of that great commodity
for other means. But there can neverhe-
Iess.be found no other in which The elements
Of life make all comfortable happy,and
secure in an equal deg et. against famine
and want. let the agira'ions and exciiements
and changes OF the commercial world be
what they may. Gentlemen, in my judg
ment ii is this independence OF occasional
change, this self support BY our own means,
secured BY tho cultivation of our own s"'i
1y our own hands. which gives the farmer
IF the United States that Independent char
icter which constitutes his respect and VAL
Ie as a man and a citizen.
Gentlemen, This reflection might be pur.
ued at great length. 1t might be mad
O appear TO what extent it affects the char
- of Socicfv Whv ,vhat &c the Sori