New-York daily tribune., 1844-10-25
THE TRIBU n T. /.
The Farmers and their Interest.
n 9di,ess before ns fa.e .fsrieui.urai Convention
AMERICAN INSTITUTE. Oct. IL. lsA
Gen LAsEn TALLNapGE. having been chosnr


iise for the purpose OF expressing my strong
sense OF the distinguished honor which you, Gentle
men, have conferred upon me by placing me in this
position presiding officer oftbsConveDlion OF prac-
ca Agricuturis,s. From early life have felt Deep
ly for the welfare and high advancement Of Agricul-
ture. For one, have long known and regretted
that our Agrcuiturists have not had Justice done
,he-n--and when say this, beg leave 10 say that
here attribute no fault 10 our Government. Gen
tlenen II is your own fault. The Census shows
that eighty out of every one hundred Of popula-
tion are Interested in the land: and derive their
subsistence from labor, OF Inc soii-you have the
numerical power you hear the public burrhens,
and YOU shoulder the mIsket. Ii was, and ii is, for
you 10 provide for your own great interests-to as
serthem- and to maintain them, by the exercise OF
your Elective Franchise.
Looking 10 the recent past condition of our coun-
try; the revusions in all Business Balances Of
trade against us-the expectation Of Spece-Bro.
ken moneyed Institutions leaviog their ruins ell
over the land; Reputation OF solemn contacts.
Bankruptcy! Disgrace.-p painful indeed TO behold,
and with this, too, neglect of Legislative aid -
incredible almost, among Il free and enlightened
People
Remember this great uuih-1hnt the fault is
goar oicA! You are farmers the Country looks 10
YOU for subsistence and defence. You possess the
full power 10 carry into execution all your Just
views. But they are neglected.
| maintain that we as Dation are on footing OF
tavo the substance and the power 10 show il. Blu,
from unwise measures, we have suffered other ma
tons TO oyerwhelm us with their productions. 10
draw from us the last golden eagle leaving us in
foolish controversy as 10 the real cause Of all our
misfortunes. 1t has become positive duty 10 as
sed, morally and prcchcdHy our total indepen-
drnce What, then. do aue ask Of MeInationS cf The
EarM7 MurUALirY Equality il rights, and
muruaty in dealing, is our doclrlne-and TO per-
livery litle or no intercourse on other TERMS
We hear of Free Trade. Free Trade doctrine as
the world nov is is mere bubble blown 10 burst,
leaving no traces behind. No, gentlemen There
is no Free Trade. There is indeed Scientific farm
ing But who ever heard OF Free Farming in
Agriculturel The man who should dare TO pro-
claim, over the country, Free Farming with no fem
ces would soon acquire the character of Insanity,
fnet that of Idiocy; whether any portion Of the
fund of half million Of dollars recently subscribed
in England, to encourage the doctrine of Free rradr
would he applied in relief of such objects of COM
misera ion, is not certain. The honest and noble
farmer Of the interior has been deluded by this airy
bubble lie has been led 10 think that there should
be- or that there does exist, some great moral quail
w. This is pure deluson Free Trade cannot
triSt! nerer did e1iSt! The wise farmer plust
take cars moi only of his tllage, but OF his fences
His idle ncighbor with his fences all dotrn, as his
greatest Nuisance. Let us say to the nations
Take our 44gracuAtnrat productions an payment,
and then sre aciH deal nth yon! | say to you,
Farmersi c1unuefraR Them till they come 10 terms.
This is no idle theory Ii would have saved our
country from the late disastrous Revuision. These
are no false sylogysms. II you wish TO know the
state of your business, feel in your pockets-the
answer is there. Ii you find a balance in specie,
YOU never need lobby around your Legislative
Halls for some act to wipe off your debts. If
however, Free Trade must be the law Of our land,
rather than extend ii to Foeigners who do not give
Free Trade for produce in return, | would
first afford relief TO our citizens BY obtaining for
tb1rnE he
cost OF our Canal Is less in amount than the light
houses, and expenses at our seaports for foreign
commerce Take care Of ourselves. 1t is we'll to
sympaihse with the Human Race. But true chari-
" begins at home lie who does not provide for
his own household is worse than an ipfdel
Nv mind has been strongly drawn to this ques-
tion. The American Institute has called this Con-
vention upon the promptings Of numerous sensible
and practical men. am happy TO say to you that
the Institute received its incorporation for the en-
couragement of domestic Industry, in Agriculture,
Commerce. Manufactures and the Arts" lis pow
cr is given alone for the encouragement of active
industry in them all. All the rest are declared to
be consequent upon Agriculture! that Omnipo-
tent interest Government is responsible for aid to
all these-Rnd that Government Is in fault which
does not obtain market for its citizens.
Government which permits us to be crowded out
Of the msrts Of the world fails in the object of its
establishment.
How is it, Farmers as to your immense crops
TWO and even three dollars bushGl were given to
you for your wheat That money went to the cu-
tyators Of our fields! When the wars of Europe
ceased, were doomed to raise it for fifty cents a
bushel. We ought 10 have more, but under the
dispensatnns Of our policy cannot hope for moro
Have YOU ever calculated the cost of bringing
your wheat 10 market? But you all know it. You
take IT from Michigan or any place on the Lakes, TO
bufalo-thet Is ten cents a bushel-on to Albany :,
thai is sixteen and three quarter cents, including
coll l..
Is twenty and three quarter cents. At New
York the price beng about eighty cents-you see
that thirty cents off leaves the farmer fifty cents for
the remuneration of his hard and honest labor
From this amount no must deduct about twelve
cents per bushel for transportation in his wagon
The place OF shipment; and also something for COM
mission ard agencies. This illustration OF the fate
Of one Of crops shows that of all others. Look
{; this, and YOU will see that the Farmer has not
more than thirtyseycn cents left for his bushel Of
wheat. This being SO where land is cheap and pro-
ducve how is it where land is Of treble or quadru-
pie value aud less fertile y
Ii is time, Gentlemen, that zee The Farmers of the
United States felt as one family. If other nations
Will nor give US mutually, let us have heme
trade! Let US take care of ourselves! Our former
Tariff gave us fifteen per cent. ad vaorcm-a pro
lection OF ono and halt, two, or three cents per
bushel for wheat. The act OF 1912 gives US twenty v
FIVE cents Il bushel protection.
Germany Thence, (Bremen) the whole freight OF
cargo cf wheat 10 New-1 oTk can be had Tor nlDc
or ten cents bushel. But when imported in ine
bold OF the ship, and with immigrants between
decks at siS cents bushel. Odessa, a re-
gon fruitful 10 proveIb-a country Of Russian serfs
sqd Turkish slaves, whose whole costume often con-
sis's c onr sheepskin in front and another behind
aeoantry IL which there is scarcely such thing as
oarn-impements OF domestic labor wretched and
iew-winnowiDg tho whea, by immense bodily labor,
IN nthrowng il up with shovels to the winds Such is
the eerf labor OF that region!
Now look al Italy and the Mediterranean. There
The poor aborer with his only food maccaropi-
asks but for addition Of one luIury-a garlic
twice week 10 favor it, These are countries pe
culiaily productive and aboundiDg with wheat, and
r Th Labor OF the most abject and sevile condition
ne costs Of freight from the ports Of the Mederra
man. according 10 circumstances, will average from
Il 10 l6 cents bushe
M he cost of transportation of bushel of your
"hes. rom me West 10 New-York is tro thirds
more than tsat from Bremenl and about double
.ni' iron, the Mediterranean. The legislation of our
I country had thus provided premium in favor OF
ioreign grain, and had reduced our farmers to the
Unequal cOmpetition with ,ha degrsded and rnns.