The Yazoo Democrat. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-07-16
AGRICULTURAL.


AFR1cULTURf.--Tt has been well said
thai he who has dominion over an acre OF
land. and rescues it from barrenness, and
covers il with smiling harvest has more
of virtuous self applause than g cOnque.
rOr of large territories, laid waste and des'
olatc. The honorable occupation of cult
waiting the soil, however, appears to have
but few charms for some of the present
wise generation, even among those who,
from early habits and education, should be
well fitted for the employment. There is
too great a desire to become merchants,
traders, or Spectator; and hence our large
cities are at all times overrun with persons
in the mercantile line," forsooth-who
are every way unqualified for such pursuits /;
and even if they are qualified foVsuch un-
dertakings, the trade of the country is in
adequate to the support of such numbers,
as would willingly turn their back upon the
farm and embark on the sea Of wild spec
ulation, or flee from life of manual labor.
This is an evil which requires a remedy,
and the remedy must be farmers themselves.
They should appreciate the blessings of an
agricultural life, and teach their sons and
daughters to revere ito love it as the &C.
cupation which is best calculated to devel.
-Op the excellence Of human nature, and Sc.
cure the happiness of human beings. There
is no error so pernicious, as that of send
ing young men, fresh from the country pure
in principles and experienced, to reside in
populous city, and become familiar with
its pleasures, its vices, and its extravagan-
cies. What inducement can an honest far
mer have, thus to Danish his children from
independence, industry and comfort! II
have already said, that of all the characters
of which our country can boast, there is
none more elevated than a well informed
and sensible famer-one who has looked
into books-who knows the world, his coun.
try, and its laws. 1t is pleasant to see
such man holding the pillow, or manfully
swinging the scythe, or plying the fail, in
order to Gull the rich treasures of Ceres
And when his labors require rest-see him
reclining beneath shady tree, or seated on
a bundle of grain-talk of the ancient re-
Publics Of Greece and Rome-detail histo.
rical incidents-and 'expatiate on the gov
eminent and institutions of his country.-I
Such man is useful to himself and a treas
ure to the nation which he belongs. five
change the scene, we shall perhaps find him
in the halls of Legislation, exercising his
practical good sense, to allay the fury Of
heated Pollticians--aiding to give laws to
the State-and firmly sustaining the prin-
ciPles Of public policy, which are sugges-
ted by well-disciPlined mind, and keen
sense of duty. can hardly conceive how
parent can be willing that his son should
forego such life of usefulness, and send
him to large city, to pass a life of indo.
lence-exPose on every hand to temptation
without hope of profit or advancement.
And yet we shall find that many of the
shops and retail stores in our cities, are
filled by young men-the sons of farmers.
who cherish contempt for the occupation
OF their tatherS-and who, eager to escape
from life of salutary labor, abandon a
certain road to character and independence
and shuttle along throughthe world with
out any prospect of being useful to society,
or beneficial to themselves.-lMr. Sleeper's
address at Worcester.