Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-10-01

III uu tooioil'b"i H'ht vi NltW. III uiiilcI
of the United States constitute by far the most
important class of its population. They are the
main producers of what constitutes the national
wealth of the country, and as such stand at the
basis of all improvement in the progress of civ
~ilization. They level forests. construct roads.
build school-houses and churches, state-houses
and state prisons-in short, they pay the taxes
and furnish the cash. But is their political and
social Importance even approximately commen-
surate Do they exercise a controlling influ-
ence in those very halls of legislation which
they themselves have erected ? or do they give
tone and character to the respective social cir
cles of which they themselves constitute the
mass? II a farmer is seen Telling a tree, or
digging a road, this is all as it should be and
he is allowed also, without complaint, TO hear
and pay the minister. and to nonopolize most Of
the room in the school-housc but when he
takes his seat in the chamber of representatives
his own diifidcnce half warrants the suspicion
that he is an intruder. lie doubts his own fit
ness, and therefore readily yields to the suggcs-
tons Of some more able legislator or crafty
politician. That our legislative bodies are con-
trolled by professional men is no fault of theirs.
They are there ~legitimately and properly As the
representatives of the people, elected according
to the prescribed forms of law. That they are
there, is rather 4 matter of necessity than Of
choice. 1t is the result of their real or supposed
fitness for the place. They are literally sent
there TO watch over the interests of those who
do not feel willing or competent to undertake
for themselves. And so long as the present
state Of things lasts. this will continue to be the
case. Lawyers and doctors ministers seem to
be ont of the question: will make II pthe direct
ing if not the numerical force Of our legisla-
lures. 1t is impossible TO do without them. for
f,.,. n = Io.t t,,,J G.. a.. ,t.-. rIL-.o So
concealing this fact. How they CANT to be so
affords matter for serious enquiry. The pro-
tcssional man is. as n general thing. a man Of
wider acquaintance and more extensive obeer.
walton of men and things, of greater familiarity
with books. and, for the most part. of better
education than the farmer. Many of them are
men Of large and liberal views. capable of in
vestigating whatever subject may be brought to
their notice, in all its be~arings--of looking
through from causes to results. These are the
men who are fitted TO adorn any station, and it
should be your pride, as it certainly is for your
interest, to make them the chief depositarics of
power and influence. But then, on the other
hand, many of them are not such as they should
be. Their fitness for responsible positions is
rather apparent than real. and in too many in
stances reduces itself to a mere facility Of speech.
Yet even this gives them a kind of superiority.
causes them to be looked upon as smart and
dasianatcs them as rulers and elders long before
they get To be men. Bat who is at fault Not
certainly those who accept these :. iiattering eX-
prcssions of confidence Confidence Why.
one half the voters Of the state are represented
b. men who were selected as a matter Of neces-
sitv. a votes for Il. not because he has any
particular confidence in him. but because he
di-trustS himself. Besides b can talk. and
what if his talk amounts TO nothing. As is toe
often the case - Enough if it Will make a
speech. and a speech. in these times, doth won.
d%erfully magnify a man.
Bat this dependence of the farmer is by nc
means confined to the limited sphere of politics,
1t is the same in science, in literature. and in
most of the higher wants of humanity. So far.
indeed, as mere PHI jsical wants are concerned.
he is Independent enough. He can raise his
corn and potatoes, his beef and pork, his butter
and cheese. Bat can he educate his children !
Can he make his own laws? Can he send his
own ambassadors ! mean, can he do these
a his own good sense tells him they ought to
be done If he can, why does he delegate
them TO others?
The obvious truth is. that while the acricul.
tural population of the United States have been
Jealous in their efforts to accumulate wealth
they have not been equally Jealous to qualify
themselves for the responsible les which thi'
wealth draws along with it; nor have they been
careful enough to put themselves in a position
to avail themselves Of the advantages which i
is calculated to bring. They have been too wei
content with enough and to spare Of this worlds
goods. without asking themselves the question:
How shall | appropriate this in order that ! may
best promote ny own welfare and the welfare
of those around me What use OF it will best
comport with the dignity of the position in which
| find myself placed. and with the duties which
aprertain to me as a member of society 80
seldom is it that we find Il man proroundina
such questions to himself, and acting as II he
thought they concerned his happiness, that he
who does so is almost afraid to own if. lest he
may be deemed MISUNDERSTANDING Of a con
dition which can never have place in this i'm
perfect world. But he. after all, is the man o.
all others who is most tit to be your eXemplar
for he has become 50 far national rs to looE
upon wealth n a means and not an cnd--usefI
only because it may be used and not because II
may be kept. lie has broken loose from his long
allegiance TO Mammon, and passed from tic
condition of scrvitude to that of dominion.
1t is not to be understood by what has beer
said witt, reference to the relation which ou
agricultural population sustains to the business
of legislation, and 50, likewise. to the othe
great movements and questions of public inter
est not exclusively professional, that the tarme
is to leave his plow aud join in the race 10
Office that he is to rush to Montpelier o
Washington pell nell, with ~demagogues am
public pensioners, with a petition in one ham
and a well attested copy of his vote in the other
Nor is he to rush into the Grove Of modern re
formers of every shade, and style, and nation
whose sclfappointed task it is to watch lest 9th
ers may fail to discharge their duty, while the,
have M s%cruples about ncglecting their own
Mere notoricty is a poor bauble, What | wisl
is to urge upon the farmer the propricty. and thu
duty, and the necessity of preparing himself 70
Whatever emergency, not exclusively PROBES
sional, may claim the attention OF a man.
wish 10 rid him of the impression which seem
so generally To prevail, that because he is a far
mer he must therefore be nothing else, and tina
he is transcending the legitimate boundaries u
his province il he ventures to aspire to a position
above that OF honest, constant, and laboriOu
toll. lon are to be a farmer, it is true and t.
be this adequately, even in the present state o
agriculture in this country. argues an extent o
scientific requirements to which few can la,
claim. Farming is to he your calling, your pro
I iession. But you are not 10 forget that you
have an earlier and a higher calling than this
a calling to be men. Your first duty is To cul
, tivatc yourselves that YOU may the better brin!
/, your hands and your heads, and your hands b
r the aid of your heads, to the cultivation of tn
: soil. luu are first and foremost to Law the tOun