The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-04
AGRICULTURAL,



We regret that il is not compatible with the crowded
condition OF our columns to lay the whole of this admi
rabe address before readers 1t covers than
two pages and half in large type, OF the Charloes-
vile Jeersonan Republican" II is full OF interesting
views and eloquent appeals, calculated to up the
ertions of Virginia in the great of agricultural i'm
provement. Mr. Andrew Stevenson, so eminently dis
tngushed for his services home and abroadso strong
iy devoted to the best interests of his country and so
well fitted to adorn the responsible stations in pub
lie fecomes forward, at the request of the Agricultural
Society OF Albemarle to pour forth his best reflections on
the agriculture of the State He has discharged his duty
with his usual ability. Would il were in our power to
repubsh the letter of Mr. Skinner the ACCOMPLISHED 3D.
ilor OF the Farmers Journal-a work which we too
cannot commend in too ardent terms to our con,rvmeo
In this letter. he bears his enthusiastic testimony o tho
merits OF the address, which he designs to publish entire
In the columns OF his Journal
After very modest exordium, Mr. Stevenson procesas
10 detail the present defective condition of agriculture in
VHginia-to analyze its causes-to suupest ;ts remedies
and to illustrate his most important bv refer
ence 70 the agriculture of England with which he became
soweii acquainted during his residence in that country as
minister OF the United States He REFERS also with great
iorce' to the condition of things in Scotland in France
ana IN the northern States OF our own country We.
must content ourselves with making few extracts from
ms address, and they but meagre specimens of the
spirit OF the whole production
:, ANTIQUITY AND IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE
Few al tins day, presume, Mr. President arc d;s,,a
10 doubt the vital importance of agriculture e,bap =;
physical moral, or political point OF view The attach
he o 70 e so ana agricultural pursuits cosva with
o woiiu we all Know that of the earliest ininnc
uonS 20 man was to multiply and repenish the earR~t
rawsn -; anu ms divine truth have been en-
with HIM has bss neaft ny the finger Of God twas born
anu mas been extended and deepened by tbs onward
march OF civilization and christianity though regret to
pace with each other Indeed since the days Of b Ra
man empire agriculture has been the strong bassmav
ever 10y re ohy one upon which any free nation has
mus, ,heSSsiuy rested, or probably ever will We
Coums and Virgil and Py We I have v anv de sne
" ..oely 70 discover even the time when that most i'm
P9rant OF human instruments, the plough. was invent
eui q even the name or condition Of the ynyentor
listed &c ~ ~, ss Of opinion then may have ex
branches Of national industry Connected WITH n, Ee
wean and prosperity the God of nature seems to have
cs US Inc great question so long agated by po
NM, dmGrca emineny agricultural nation Her soil
and fres nef geographical position her government
% &c sutnllons, and the genius and habits of her p.
a snow mat agriculture necessarily for ages to
% CONAN the great elements of her Strength bower
portion of the nation but the strongest heab;es
hest PHYSICALLY and morally class, incomparabIy the
She has now more than fifteen ont 90 so,or
zen ~ eighteen millions of her population engaged in
snculsgra pursuits, with probability of its dmaish
GJesney In bis great work of Rysiocrafie thnt y i M
Set~. a. .;,h e SSn af can alone add to the ea Of
ives r;eh Of wa,n " Johnson shat agriculture not only
=. on' do say that in nv Door oun ip the the
:, sehgtn Of every nation if be Free is Just in proportion
triotsm. ieeuo'n ana anlma'ing pa
NOV, IN saying this, do not wish or intend to be un
oei great national interests Far from it. They are
@ necessarily at variance with each other and ought
a"d o, Ie IN the contrary they should be nseparabe
"ouio doubtless continue unless prevented by un.
wise ana unjust systems of Legislation Under pYoper
regulations they may be made to aid and
me or place for discussing these grave questions
~ p 9mnca economy, which country unfortunately
interests OF commerce and manufactures NAV be- ali must
aamt hat at best they but the landmarks OF agr-
culture Indeed from the earliest settlement OF Amer
a. eas. IN Inc entire southern portion of it, agrcu.
lure has been the principal occupation of The people and
NUS. commune 10 maintain its ascendency the best en-
Poyment for capital and labor il wisely conducted So
long az their resources shall continue to be AGRICULTURAL
tne wealth OF the entire southern country may correctly
De aelned 20 consist in scency of capital and of cul
Tue case win Virginia and the two Caronas Hence
~ are enaoed to possess soil which is productive
but II on the contrary, their lands are badly cultivated
hsu become o impoverished yielding little or profit,
ucy Mus! become poor and lose they will deserve TO
do' their influence and power
STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN VIRGINIA
And this leads us, Mr. President to the important in
curry az to Inc present state and condition of agriculture
in Virginia
Now, can hardly be necessary on this occasion to at
tempt TO impress upon the society and this
audience the depressed and wreched condition of our
farming interests throughout the State at large with the
exception of some few portions of it, which constitute
honorable and praiseworthy exceptions Indeed if all
who now hear me were in the habit OF reading the
Farmers Library. work published in New York, and
edited by worthy friend OF mne devoted one OF our
STATE (ot which shall hereafter have word or two to
say should be spared the trouble of saying much less
than shall be forced to do, upon subject which am
sure must be alike painful and notifying to us all The
edor OF that journal, in the OF The last summer
made tour through the Old Dominion far west the
Allegheny and in two or three of its recent numbers
has drawn picture of the agriculture of our old State
that fear is not less true than appalling and which is
calculated to make every Virgnian who reads il feel
that IN agriculture, as well as most other human affairs
there Is, in the language Of the immortal poet
elm the lowest deep, lower deep,
Still threatening to devour."
The truth s must all feel and know that the spirit
OF agricultural Improvement has been suffered to langsh
too long IN Virginia, and that it is now reaching point
IN the descending SCALE from which, if it is revived
ana tnat very speedily, our State must continue only
ihd or fourth IN population, she is, but consent
70 take her station amongst her smaller sisters of the
Uhon That q crisis is at hand, no one well informed
can nationally doubt; and in agriculture, Mr. President
as well as other matters, these crises dangerous things
lhasnuch as they always that nice point of time
in ,oyG = lnr, Al.