The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-24
Mr.. WaIlace's speech AT the Fair OF the
American Institute.

Mr.. WaIlsce's speech at the Fair OF the
American institute.
VIM. Ross WALLACE (more generally
known without the middle name) deliver
ed, at the fair of the American Institute,
Castle Garden, last evening, very inter
esting and instructive lecture on the sub
ject of the "Mental Elevation Of the
American Farmer" We have room only
for brief abstract. Mr. w. commenced
by alluding to the power and predoml-
nance of ommerce-''king commerce. J"
AS an evidence Of his power, when religion
and the schoolmaster had failed in OPEN
ing China to the christian world, he stalked
over the obedient pillows, and the walls
Of China, venerable with the memories Of
5000 years, tumbled down before a chest
Of opiumi Yet, what supplies king com
merce with his pabulum-his life-blood!
Agriculture. Why has agriculture per-
mitted the later-born, the dependant, to
overshadow it. Commerce was wakeful
as the ocean, ubiquitous as the wind,
shire WIDER than the fox; his existence de-
manded it. Agriculture, from its very
natural advantages, was prone to be SUI
pine, unambitious, unprogresSaue. The
speaker inveighed against agricultural in
ertness. Harmony required that no one
great branch of industry should outshine
another in mentality; but if any branch
was to predominant, it should be agricul-
ture. We must look to the rural walk for
the largest amount of political and do
nestle virtue. But virtue, to beOficient,
must act intelligently. Mr.. w. spoke Of
the interest of the pocket as potent al
gument to offer the farmer why he should
cultivate his mind. Among many other
sciences absolutely necessary to the far
mer, the speaker dwelt on chemistry. He
also alluded to the great activity of the
manufacturing spirit. A single machine
had been made to perform the work of
four hundred men. The farmer could
also subdue brute matter-could teach it
to work for him-could make it drag him
up to power and opulence, as the steeds
of the sun wheeled his chariot up to the
perihelion Of day. This triumph over mat
ter would save an immense quantity OF time
to be devoted to mental improvement.
The speaker regretted the absence OF a
great agricultural college, where the sci
ences to the farmer could be theoretically
as well as practically taught. But the de-
fciency was somewhat supplied by first
rate agricultural newspapers. 1t could
safely be said that no farmer can constant
y read MIR. SINNERS publications alone,
and remain an uniformed man. Science
had been greatly simplifed by genius
stepping up from the pedestal of pedantry
to the mountain of common sense. The
farmer, now, who neglected the acquire
ment of knowledge could not stand guilt
less. God gave him brains before he
gave him hands. MIR. Wallace enlarged
on the glorious position Of an educated
farmer He was man who had stood
in the shadow Of Deity. The farms of
the United States ought to produce
the leading natural philosophers in the
world. Education made the farmers lot
the most beautiful and desirable in the
world. See how many eminent profess
sional men, amid all their glory, yearned
towards agriculture. No man could dis
course more profoundly on New England
manures than Daniel Webster No man
could give more exact information as to
the requisite points in tbs farmhouse than
Henry Clay. See how our glorious Pres
ident, Graded almost, as he had been, in
the field of battle, bowed down as he is
under the laurels of victory, has repeated
ly gone through the country to improve
his agricultural knowledge. MIR. w. men
toned the Vice President and Woodbury.,
also, as devoted to the noble calling.
Among our own citizens, Maxwell, when
crowned with the honors of his profession,
could be seen at the early gray OF morning
with plough in hand, practically studying
agriculture. o, farmers Of America ex-
claimed the speaker, in conclusion-aow,
when the world of mind is in such bril-
liant motion-when the arts are making
such unparalleled progress-when your
calling is the most beautiful and desirable
on earth-how can you slumber , "Labor
is worship - but to worship well, we
must labor intelligently.-N y. Tribune.
THE NEW STATE OF DEsERET.-With-
out doubt, says the Illinois Oqua,oka Spec