Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-11-12
GEN. RICHARDSON'S ADDRESS.

1SRtefaen % tAe Seeiefys-
| sm guilty Of no mock modesy in saying that feel
painfully how uneq ua tho tsss which my coll
lssgues Of the Executive Committee have called upon
TO perform has been said that there but step from
the sublime To the ridiculous, and when the Committee
cePted an apology from OF the distinguished
emen aud orators OF the day. who had been expected
address the Society this umc, and turned to
substitute, could but feel that they had taken that
very step.
shall hope, however, for the indulgence denied
to one who docs his best and the confidently. be-
cause you expect much you will be greatly
disappointed.
Agricultural Addresses, like 18th OF July CITATIONS, have
become so frequent that he can be added TO what has
been already said the subject and therefore, leaving the
general field which has been fully occupied and touch
ing bre ay two subjects only, Of primary importance the
agricultural interests of the whole Stac-l shall confne
my remarks TO that Of Coun-to the laborns class OF
her farmers, and the mechanics OF the City OF Richmond.
many Of whom active and jealous members OF this So
ciety.
The first subject OF general Importance
be- the establishment; of Agricultural Schools-not
two only but many may be practicable bring
that means OF instruction within the reach Of far
mers sons as possible. The permanent annual s?props
ton TO the Primary School. at tue State is Si5OOo-and
though the existing has been devised aud opera
tons directed with unng energy aud by
OF the abest officers OF the State. and doubt per
u
uon, occupying vast extent ct territory II belize we'd that
the benefits have been with the eIpend
ture, and that the wisdom ct devise system
by which this or other expenditure similarly applied
can be made available population located is that of
Virginia.
1t is said Of the distinguished Felcnberg that she be-
licved impoant collect lnsutou the poor and
rch, each with their appropriate o improvement
lie considered oil high importance make agriculture
the basis of such Insulation. lie regarded en-.
poyment best OF all adapted nvsose the body but he
also believed that by cevating Agriculture from a
handcraft founded upon scientific PRINCIPLES ard
leading directly the operations Of the Great First Cause
would become pursuit peculiarly fitted 10 elevate and
purify the mind and the improvement, to
the iaboring classes and To Society at large"
II is well known that large portion Of our people are
unable 10 educate their families and that hore are within
the bounds OF this declining Mother of Statesmen and He
900 OF her children who ne hc read nor write
Is her policy adequate the this great
evili Few believe that II is and without presumine TO
suppose for that capable of devising bet
ter trust shall be pardoned for suggesting the possbi
~ whether the OF education csieed by the State
may not be made conducive that end and 10 the
cause OF agricultural science with it, Sun
pose the State TO be lad of into Districts with an asrcu
ora school IN each sufficiently endowed enable il 10
receive the sons OF the poor without charge and same
Time TO accommodate number oi those who pay their
own eSpenses-he general Of instruction in
the branches of English education, comprising the ply
steal sciences applicable agriculture and mcchanic.-
with more extended for those who might require
-manual labor be combined. No man is SO poor and
ignorant that he would willingly give up his son for
few years training in such school; and few would come
out OF It without the essential qualifications good and
useful citizens.
Few comparatively of the youth OF vrsinia can enter
the learned tssions-sl be merchants. or me-
chancs, or cerks-and subacing the number Of those
who resort Tie the other and the who receive
estates by gift or inheritance, and have left number
ncacuaby greater than all these together who must de-
rive their subsistence from The cultivation Of the soil and
who for aught that has been done, drudge on in
the obscure path which before them have trod
IN state OF hopeless ign0rance aud poverty.
Agricultural Schools should be alike accessible 10 the
poor and the rich-he amount paid by the latter class
would be an mpor'an, ard, and in the vicinity of market
town they might TO considerable extent support them
selves As have on former occasion remarked diff
heGt to estimate the extensive advantages which might
well be expected from such schools where theory and
Practice mGsI necessarily be combined physical and
menia powers iudlc.ousy cultivated We know that the
few landed estates which vet to he tIansntod from
fathers 10 most frequently fall into the hands Of young
men, who though they may have the advantage of COL
eGe edueauoninay be good scholars and qualified TO at
tain professional yet profoundly Of
tina, which II most them know-Dracueal agri-
culture So OF the less wealthy portion of people
who train their u the lsbOs OF the farm, but after
mcie OF fathers grandahers and great grandiahers before
hemvi;hogi yet, the genial influence Of ray Of
improvement. These young men according cir
cumsances either pOrtione1 off with small farms, seek
employment as oyeeers, having generally !e else than
habits OF industry, with true and honest hearts, qualify
them for the business Of life 1t easy conceive that
10 all these. the education OF agricultural school would
be certain independence, IT not wealth.
The deficiencies among oyeFseets in agricultural skill
end general farm subjects OF complaint
the part Ci large number Of those who employ Ihem and
really serious grievance. Ru the poor fellows
much 10 blame, because they nave not had sufficient op
poriunites Of acquiring better Information. Many land.
holders themselves are sadly deficient IN these particulars
few years training 10 agricultural school, and there
would be no foundation Tor Complaints.
Ennenty necessary agricultural education the
ola Il
preors ofland, Just the proportion in which it is worse
for ignorance TO direct amis large aud effective amounts
OF labor and wealth than small Besides this ag
iicuuTa ignorance amongst the wealthy, u Oenmes less
durable than Amongst Others because, in cases il
enirencLed behind self consequence, winch will not suf
fer itself 10 be taught and in others, all teaching
intercepted by the amusemen selindugence and gene
ra indifference to money making aud devotion other
pursuits winch accompany the possession property and
especially hereditary property.
There about 1900 tax payers IN Virginia who own
90 slaves and upwards each II two son. TO 1000 of these
be allotted to husbnndry have 5000 young men inner
inng an immense aggregate of property, while fourth
OF them vii! be trained up, as things 60, any know.
ledge whatsoever, that will enable theI to manage and
control It Alright.
An experienced aud intelligent farmer remarked in nv
hearing not very long ago. that important changes in Viz
gina were NJ hondihai many who are now struggling in
the oysthed professions or tho uncertainty Of commercial
pursuits, would ind themselves driven agriculture for
that instead o every man who can compass
the means sending his sons tho classical school,
Of the day, what they must do for support hen
they attain 10 manhood, they large majority Of them
would be trained in agricultural schools the necessity for
which would soon be felt strongly that their establish
/ ment would be enforced by the public will.
II IL not however, within the scope Of single addres.
that detlied plan for such schools be gwen even
were o speaker eq1a. 10 the tackny object 10 but 10
state the general principle TO call public attention TO the
SUBJECT, leaving II 10 be elaborated by wiser heads than
mine.
The next measure Of general Importance seems to me
TO be the establishment Of State Society," upon the plan
OF New York, with Legislative sid-Or the reesiablish
meni OF the Board Of Agriculture with sufficient pecunis
~ mesns to enable 1t Ia hold hrng5! Meeting success
vey IN each Of the grand divisions OF the State 50 as to
bnng together the Fsfefs Psngrs and GrsseIs of each
DIVISION M on exhibition appropriate to its yc1ly. lew
days saved from the annual Of the Legislature
would amply supply the iUnds-thOu no better direct no.
preparation could be made from tn public Treasury nor
probably ono more acceptable than Ibis would become
| TO the great bulk VI the tar payers
But can nothing else be done 10 resusciate the exhsus
cd portions Of our sUi-!D introduce an improved impry
ing ana profitable system Of husbsndry-nnd 50 10 ssy
the tide OF Emigration, which annually reducing our DO
pusoa end resources VIII uiey who in the possession
OF intellectual snd pecuns5y cbss have the power for
ever sand ldy with folded arms, without combined