The Southern journal., 1846-04-04
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Albany Argus.
The Dignity Of Agricultural Labor The Value Of Elca

At this time we transfer to the Ar.
gus an extract from Lieut.. Gov. Dick.
inson's address before the Queens
County Agricultural Society, as the
public mind is more deeply interested
in questions of this character, than it
has ever been before.
There is spirit Of agricultural en-.
qniry abroad, which is'becoming pro-
ductive Of the happicst results to all
classes Of the community. The reck.
less improyidence and consequent sui.
fering Of the last few years, is slowly
forcing into the estimation Of the RI.
sing generation, truer and better no.
tions of agricultural labor. The "toil
hardened hand'' and the sun burnt
face, are 40 lodgcr regarded as a re.
proach, even by the young men Of our
cities. It is deemed to be far more
honorable and dignifed to earn the
rewards Of honest toilng industry, un.
der broiling sun, than TO live in idle
ness or TO pass the life Of a mere gen.
tleman. This increased and we may
add increasing respect for labor among
those who exert so much influence
upon public opinion, is cause Of
grateful exultaton.
One Of the most healthy changes of
the times, arising from the improve
ment in the tone ofPublic Opinion, is
the circumstance, that the farmers are
no longer crowding their sons into the
counting houses Of our cities, or into
the professions, was formerly too fre.
quently the case, under the mistaken
suppositon that they we're thus rais-
ing their children step in the world,
whereas, SO far as true dignity, honor,
and their future prosperity were con,
cerned, parents were thus too often
sowing the seeds Of future misery to
themselves and their children. In
stead ofraising their condition-drawn
within the vortex Of city dissipation
and pleasures, and beginning to look
with sneer upon the unceasing toll
Of country life-they end. in too many
instances, their career in a manner
that shows that after contempt for la,
Dor is once fastened in the mind, the
path must be downward until they
have lost honor, character, and their
all, either in the horrors of crime or
the wles of prohigacy.
The influence of the calm and
peaceful pursuits Of agriculture upon
the welfare Of the people, as contras.
ted with the splendid glitter Of war,
is alluded TO by Lieut.. Gov. Dickin.
son in manner as happy as it is just.
We refer to this part with the more
qualification, because it evinces that
our public men are beginning to fully
appreciate not only the actual horrors
ofwar, but to more clearly understand
its anti'democratic tendencies in rails,
ing the few who are so fortunate as TO
get the lead, at the expense of the
many, who have not only to light the
battles during its continuance, but to
pay the taxes OF war, from their hard.
won earnings, in time Of peace. For
this purpose, his object is to impres.
that invaluable democratic axiom.
which is, to test the true dignity of a
pursuit by its power and utility in ad
ding to The happiness and comfort of
the great mass Of the people. Upon
this consideration, agricultural labor
must be regarded as of dignity inferi-
or TO that Of no other pursuit or pro.
fession.
Yet while such is the true charac.
ter Of the occupation, he asks, is it not
all-important that farmers should be
well educated? In the United States,
those employed in agriculture are 3
to l., over those engaged in all other
'empioyments. In this commercial
State, the proportion is nearly two to
one. From this preponderance, it is
manifest that when the farmers COM
bine, their votes and their Influence