Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-02-07
Our COuntry--Its Area and Re-
sources.

| sources.
| As a New Years Salutation 10 thee.
kind Reader. we desire to hold little
pleasant talk touching the present area.
resources and prospects of our common
Country; and indicate some of the in
terests Of American Farmers. in shaping
and controlling the destiny Of this young
and magnificent Republic
A wise and good Providence has i'm
posed on the Freeholders of the United
States responsibilities and duties, and con-
ferred corresponding blessings and adj
vantages, which stand out in this the latest
age of The world. wholly without parallel
in its long history. We can not rightly
Judge Of the future by the past: because
Human Progress and ever Expanding IN
tellect have made discoveries and inven-
tons, infused into Society thousand new
elements and potent influences. the like
| Of which were never before felt or known
New agents and new causes. as subtle as
thought, as diffusive as steam and cleo
tricity. must work out results alike un-
known and incomprehensible. to our de-
fective knowledge of men and things.
Blind and ignorant as we are. and incap-
able Of looking far into futuritv. vet God
has made US not only the parents. but the
guardians Of all woman-born, who are TO
succeed us on this planet.
| 1t is great thought. happy discovery
that a two legged, talking animal has any
duty to perform.-But having made the
discovery, no matter by what means, its
solemn requirements will permit no eva
sion. 1t is wonderful and curious tact.
that every years advancement Of civilized,
christian nations. increases the power OF
Morality to punish wrong doors. Witness
what is transpring in the most cultivated
nations of Europe. Below all these popu-
lar upheavings--this vast intellectual vol
cano-there is an unseen Providence
silently evolving some mighty problem in
which the tillers of American soil are
destined to perform most honorable and
distinguished part.
! Including Texas, New Mexico. Cali
fornia and Oregon. the United States now
cover an area of 3,252.574 square miles.
! Estimated in acres, our freehold estate
measures, according to the most careful
estimates at the General Land Office in
| Washington. 2,O31.647 $50. Allow one
half for forests and waste lands, and the
other moiety will, with skllful tillage. feed
/
larger than the whole number Of human
beings now on the globe. What plat
form for a republican theatre!
/ Is it too much to say that the great llus-
bandman above has planted US here, as
christian, moral. reasoning beings. from
whose government and good seed glori-
Gus harvest may be reaped in the comm g
autumn Of this Western Nation! Call it
weakness or what you please; such is our
/ faith. Hence our cheerful labor to en-
courage the wise culture of the farmers.
whom Providence has so recently located
on American soil. If these come TO
nought. where is the hope of the world !!
! Heaven has kindled a vestal fire on our
hills and mountains. 1t has appointed,
not Roman Virgins, but iron pamed hus-
bandmen TO protect, keep alive and ever
glowing. the sacred flame. Farmers
YOU have great and most responsible pub
lie duties to discharge. Ithas long SEEM
ed to us that your sterling good sense
and honesty OF purpose were too little felt
in directing Alright the affairs Of your
State and Federal Governments. Your
! Educ atonal, Agricultural and Economical
Interests are not SO strictly attended to,
nor SO faithfully studied and promoted as
they ought to be, if you would impart to
your whole country the highest atiainable
prosperity. We advocate 10 untried uto-
plan schemes. We preach not a disor-
ganizing war of class against class. But.
we do urge the Importance of thoroughly
educating. in the largest and best sense of
the term. the whole Mind of the nation.
From lamentable defect in mental Gull
ture. more than half the hands employed
in rural pursuits in the United States, not
only misdirect and lose much hard work
but. they render the soil which is titled.
less and less productive. less and less
capable, (without long delay or large en-
pense. of feeding and clothing popula-
ton which is ever adding to the number
of hungry stomachs and naked backs. by
an abiding law Of Nature This exhaust
ing system of planting and farming. is
truly national calamity. Very few good
farmers at the North. have any knowledge
of the extent and depopulating influence
Of this abuse of the bounties Of God, in
large districts of our country.
II the reader attributes this impoverish-
ment of cultivated lands to peculiar
institution" in that portion Of the Union.
where the desolating effects Of ignorant
husbandry are most conspicuous. he will
be mistaken in his opinion. Well-edu-
Gated, scientific planters find no difficulty
in improving their estates with such labor
ers as till cotton. rice and sugar planta-
tons. Educate properly the Minds that
direct rural industry, and all the rich re-
sources of American soil. whether north.
south. east or west, will be husbanded and
turned TO the best possible account for the
Union as a whole. This is what we
most desire; and we are panied to know
that SO many politicians, who enjoy an
ephemeral reputation as statesman, enact
our laws and control all educational in
stitutions, Go not understand and care not
to investigate this momentous subject.
Suppose the vast public domain Of the
United States were wisely managed. and
the whole Of its nett proceeds sacredly