New-York daily tribune., 1843-09-25

exhibit broader contrast between different pur-
suits-both dedicated 10 the cultivation otthe land,
both rearing products for human consumption
than we find between your circles, and those found
in the plantation tracts OF Cuba or jamaica, not
only as affecting individual happiness, but as
touching the riches, the strength, the order, the
power, the intelligence of human society
The difference appears to be this: Tropi-
cal cultivation, the raising OF sugar, rice, coffee,
| 70, example, is rather matter OF Commerce than
of Agriculture. 1t consists mainly in the pro-
duction Of one article. The production of that
article depends on the expense incurred for soil
and labor, Of that sort appropriate to its cutiva
ton and this is all capital. Whenever one
would enter upon Tropical culture he invests his
capital in the soil, and, as We all well know,
portion of it also IN labor 1t becomes, therefore
rather of the nature of a commercial undertaking,
than the plain and homely, but healthy and be-
neicent field cultivation The consequence IS
such as philosophic inquiry would lead US TO
expect One is uncertain, precarious, changca-
Bile, partaking Of the viclssItudes of trtdc and
commercial enterprise. The other is home
interest always substantially the same--llabie, 1t
is true, to those vicisSitudes which attach them
selves to all human concerns, but securing to HIM
who enters upon the cultivation OF his own LANDS,
by the labor OF his own hands, q competency and
promising to guard him against the accidents otfe
as far as is possible for the most fortunate human
beincs-Thc contrasts evident when we examine
carefully the condition OF him who trusts to Tropi-
cal cutivation-suppose OF coffee. He raises one
thing for sale and one only, and buys OF others
every thing else. He has one commodity TO carryto
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 tluctuat-
ing prices of the commercial world, depression
in its price affects him through the ,oho!e ertent
of his annual income If, for example the price
of that article falls 10 per cent he loses 10 per
cent of his expectations the loss goes through
the whole product. If rises he is enriched
If it falls he is impoverished And, therefore,
estates which are rich to-day may be poor to-
morrow and no man, not possessed of a vast
capital, can rely upon his property for the support
and comfort OF his family, and the education ofhis
children from year to year.
Now, contrast, with this the state ofthe farmer
of Western New York, or Of New England, or of
England or any other strictly agricultural society.
| The Farmer of the western part of New ork
raises great variety of arhcles-as we have
seen by the exhibitions of to-day. There is col
ected every species of useful productlons-ht for
human nutriment, animal and vegetable. There
are the heeces of his fock-capablc OF being
turned to a great extent into the production of
ramcnt for himself and family. In this rariefy,
therefore, there is great advantage. He has the
means of securing to himself an Independence
and it is true of an individual, as ofa nation that,
without independence, no man rs a man nor can
he ever be man. (Cheers.) 1t is thus which
gives him personal respectablhty: for you VIII
perceive that If ne has provisions and heeces, hs
table is supplied his family, to great extent, Is
clothed-and if prices fall, how far IS he affected
Only on the erceSs of his productions, which, not
needing them for orconsumption, he sends to market.
Suppose this excess be 10 per cent of his whole
product,-while if prices fall then, it affects only
10 per cent. of his income. If it falls upon the
tropical plantation it runs through his whole pro-.
duct, and affects his whole income. But the
farmer who is governed by the other principle
have mentioned, eats, drinks, and is clothed with.
out care as to prices. He is his own consumer.
He buys Of himself. His best customer is himself,
his wife, and his healthy children These are all
supplied with no reference to or concern for other
markets. Thus, therefore, except as to the excess
of his productions above their wants, why should
he care fig for the rise and fall Of prices? This
general truth may be, and doubtless is, modified
by many considerations. 1t may be that a coul.
tty like yours, engaged in grain growing, is a
country in which you look to the sale of that
great commodity for other means. But there can,
nevertheless, be found no other in which the ee-
ments of life make all comfortable and happy,
and secure in an equal degree, against famine
| Il l,tf f1,oa Of 10y mepfc md
changes of the commercial world be what they
may Gentlemen, in my judgement it is this in.
dependence of occasional change, this selfsupport
by our own MEANS secured by the cultivation Of
our own soil by our own hands, which gives the
farmer Of the United States that Independent
character which constitutes his respect and value
as man and citizen.
Gentlemen, this reflection might be pursued at
great length. 1t might be made to appear to
what extent it affects the character Of Society.
lishmcnt in the West Indies There is no Soci-
ty. There is capitalist and there is labor of a
particular description but Society, Society Of
intelligent, free spirits-therc is none, none, NONE,
and there never can be- 1t is, therefore, in the
temperate cmates-in the rich and favored spots
of God 1T is, therefore, gentlemen, beneath such
sun as shines on you and on such Earth as
that which you tread that the truest developenent
Of strong society is to be made that can ever be
witnessed on the Earth. Loud cheers Gentle
men, every body knows that at the foundation Of
all that is important in human life lies this great
busness-the cultivation of the Earth. If it
were for his SINS that Man was condemned to till
the land it was the most mcrciful judgement that
Almighty benignity could have inflicted upon
! him I oud and rppeatpd chpprs
Now, gentlemen, in regard to the great interests
of Agriculture, there are things which individuals
may do for themselves. And there are things, too,
which the collected scnse-the collected agency
of individuals, that is, which GOVERNMENT must