Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-10-07

vi huhidlllIy iDlHnI TeQuHe, Alter Vic edttl
was made, God saw that there was no one
to till the ground, and he created man for
that purpose, and expressly commanded him
to replenish and subdue it consequently
power was given him over the fish of the
sea, the fowl of the air, the cattle upon the
thousand hils-in short, over the whole
earth and every creeping thing that creepeth
thereon. This employment, them let what
will be said of others, is approved of God.
His approving smiles always have attended,
and always will attend, the honest tller of
| His vinyard. Seed-time and harvest are
promised him as long as the earth remains.
! The possessions of Abraham, that servant
of the Lord, increased until Lot was obliged
to leave to him the fair fields of Canaan,
while he sought for his own heritage the fer
tile banks of the Jordan, whittier he went
with his llocks and herds. Labans hocks
increased till the loong of the OK and the
bleating of the sheep were heard upon the
hill-tops of Mesopotamia and in the valleys
of Padan-aram until, finally, after he re-
fused the hireling his wages, the lines of de-
markation were drawn between himself and
the oppressed Jacob, that each might enjoy
his own. To be sure, in those days as well
as at later periods, famine sometimes perva-
ded the land; but if the inhabitants of Ca.
naan had to resort to Egypt for corn, it was
for wise and benevolent purposes, and to
bring about desirable end. AT other times
famine may prevail in order to rebuke a
proud and naughty nation, and to teach
them their dependence on Him who created
all things or in order to accomplish some
| i,1 o,,1,
who holds the destnies of empires in His
own almighty grasp.
The farmer should be placed in the front
rank of the toiling millions in our land, be-
cause his employment gives life and support
to the whole The agricultural interest
may be regarded as the cornerstone upon
which the whole fabric stands. know that
artisans existed at an early age of the world,
and that mechanism was an art both taught
and practiced. Tubalcain, we learn exist
ed before the flood, and was an instructor Of
every artficer in brass and iron. The harp
and the organ were then in use. The tow.
er was built at Shlnar Immediately after the
food Cities were erected, which required
art, skill, and mechanical genius but the
foundation of the whole was the fruit of the
earth and cultivation of the soil. 1t has been
so since, and ever will be. That the farmer
is dependent on the mechanic and nanufac-
turer as co-workers in his labors, no one
will deny. The improvements in the arts
and sciences tend to advance the farming in.
terest and to tighten the burdens and labors
of those who swing the scythe and hold the
pillow. But what would those fine specimens
of ingenuity, industry and skill, which we
have witnessed at our fairs, be worth, il
there were none to apply them to their des-
tined use The pillow or the harrow would
be a poor ornament for the paror The
cradle and scythe would not help the miser
in counting his gold, nor would the hoe and
spade avail the stockiobber in his schemes
Speculation. How soon would your SPLEEN
did factories decay and 90 to ruin, if there
were none to raise the cotton or furnish the
wool? All ! and how would the thousand,
OF busy inmates that tend the spindle anC
the shuttle subsist, was it not for the produc
tons brought forth from mother earth
is indeed the tiling of the soil that, with the
aid of divine providence, gives temporal life
and support to the whole human race.
Let not labor be despised then, or the OBJ
jects of it undervalued; but let the hard
listed yeomanry stand forth in the majesty
of their strength and no longer regard them
selves as the meaner or baser kind. lie
them be regarded as they truly are, father
and brothers, who are sending contribution
to satisfy the appetite that God has implant
ed in the vast family of man, and which car
be supplied from no other source.
The Agriculturalist also holds the gov
eminent of the country in his hands. 1t il
indeed the tillers of the soil that make Gov
errors and Presidents. | believe that il
America those engaged in agriculture out
number those engaged in the learned pro
fessions, manufactures and commerce, more
than three to one, while in Vermont they
out-number more than five to one. How
important, then, is it that they be men of in
telligence and well educated, having thei
minds well stored with useful knowledge
pertaining to the government of their coun
try, its institutions, and the common affair
of life, as well as the best method of farm
ing
Happily our common school system fur
nishes an opportunity for the poorest an
most humble to acquire all the learning
necessary in the common walks of life
while our select schools and colleges furnis
cheap and easy means for those who's
thirst for knowledge cannot be quenched a
the smaller and more gentle streams, TIL
evening hre-side also furnishes an opportu
nifty for the enterprising young man, seek
ing after knowledge, to store his mind wit
that which is rich and usetul-that knowl
edge which will not only qualify him to vot
for Governors and Presidents, but whicl
will fit him to occupy those stations himself
Those winter evenings, which by some un
ACQUAINTED with their associations and en-
ioyments are regarded so unpleasant and tie
dious, furnish the time in which many hap
filled and thousands more fill their stor'
house with knowledge more precious THAI
the gold of Ophir or the trappings of royal
ty Another opportunity furnished the far
mer for meditation aud improvement is hi
daily employment The mind of the spec
uator is continually taxed with schemes 70
adding to his Golfers. The merchant, pen
up in his counting room, is engaged in bust
ness that necessarily occupies his Who'll
mind. Not so with the farmer his bust
ness is in the field, where all nature is smil
ing upon him he learns lessons of wisdom
from all that surrounds him. The feathers
minstrels make music to fill his ears ; hi
eye surveys the heavens and what he see