Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-11-06

healthy agricultural community, and the
few merchants and mechanics, who can
live BY supplying the wants Of such
people, we have no resource but farming.
Which Of you | now address, who has
felt the cares Of large family Of sons
growing up around him, has not bern
anxIous about future occupation for
theml How many sons Of respectable
parents amongst US. have emigrated, not
because they desired to leave Us, but for
want Of any appropriate, or profitable oc.
eUpaton herel will not now attempt TO
investigate the cause Of tbs, but will de.
scribe somewhat different state Of things
in another part Of our conlederacy. We
will suppose a respectable farmer in Mas.
sachusatts not more wealthy than many
OF you. The system Of common schools
and cheap education affords 10 him the
easy means Of giving to HIS children that
portion Of instruction which fits them for
all the ordinary walks Of life. IL in the
course of education one Of his sons mani
tests good talents every privaiion neces-
sary TO complete bis education is cheer
fully endured. When be has graduated
at one Of the colleges neor home he ceases
10 be a charge on the family, and provides
for himself until he is prepared for some
profession, or business for which he is
suited. The other children as they sue
cesslvely grow upchoose from among the
/ different manufacturing or mechanical
employments orosnd them that business,
I best suited to their circumstances or 10.
/ cinations. As they need it, to enable
+ them TO enter into business on their own
account, some small but important aid is
rendered. until al last when the old gen.
Grafton shall have passed away, the farm
( is Jeff to some one or two Of the sons who
I have been brought up to that employment.
1 burthened il may be with legacies to the
other children, which compels them 10
the same course of industry and economy
which their Fathers have practlsed before
/ them. The ssme round takes place 10
/ the families which they may rear. Thus
healthfu! supply Of la5ourers is con-
siunty afforded TO every occupation pro-
/ iessional or mechanical.
will not describe a different state Of
1 things so frequently presented al home
nor investigate the causes which lead to
it. But Fellow Citizens | urgeit upon
/ you as matter Tor serious reelection. -
Some remedy might certainly be afforded
! by the introduction Of manufactures
amongst us, for which we have many ad.
/ y.nt.nag 'Tba noe. Ss.ri.s If ia u 70
cheaper here than in New England, raw
materials more abundant, water power is
afforded by oil our streams and even the
! buildings erected, in our numerous aud
Improbable mills, which might we'll be
converted into manufacturing uses. Our
brous, labour easily had, and cheaper
than in New England. Is the skill wan
tingl Operative skill may be imported,
and as for the superintendrnce have
seen il stated that seven out OF ten super
lntendents of the factories at Lowell are
no, operatives, but Lawyers, who have
| Distinguished themselves as business men
and only acquired sufficient knowledge
OF the bus ness, o know when it is proper
Ilv conducted. Is there not individual
capital enough among US? Let it be sup
piled by JOIN, stock companies and II the
first investment be not profitable, most OF
our Farmers would be amply compensa
ted for a small loss, by other advantages
accrung from il. Are our wealthlesr
and best educated men opposed to enter.
lng into manufactures because they think
it an occupation unworthy of them, OF
degrading 10 theml Some ofthe best ed
ucated and most gentlemanly men in New
England, who would be ornaments to any
society, are engaged in them. 1t is time
for US to cast away such idle prejudices
against any honest employment of labor.
ers and every man should take rank liz
society not from his casual occupation,
but from the higher claim OF good man
ners, correct tastes, sound understanding
and intelligence.
When at the request Of the executive
committee commenced writing an id.
dress for this meeting, | had intended pur.
suing another course, no doubt expected
Dime, and peradvenlure more strictly con-
sonant to the object Of this society.
had in fact nearly completed an address
considering some of the modern improve
ments in agriculture, the discoveries Of
scieoce connected with it and their appli-
cability TO our lands and situation. But
when | came at the last to consider the
dscouragements of agriculture amongst
US, thought the topics have now treat.
ed Of too important TO be thrust into the
end Of an address. Knowing too that ma
ny Of those matters which | intended TO
notice, were accessible TO you from other
sources, determined to lay them aside.
My doing so hope Wi not be dlsappro-
we'd, and these topics will rust on some
future occasion, fall into hands more com.
petent to treat them proftably than my.
self | am unwilling howeverto pass them
by entirely.
la our climate the greatest evil to our
crops We have TO apprehend, IS the alter
nate lreeHog and thawlng during our
Spring season. The best remedies are
early seeding and the selection of those
species Of wheat least subject to this ca
lami,y. There is reason 10 believe that