Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-11-04
An IDHREsS

AN ADDRESS 5
Deliuered before the Portage County Ag.
.ricnlturai Society at its Anniversary II
September. A. d. 1850. agsi= i=assss ID
s(f BYREv. Fl. ID l.. WEBSTER.5 10 "a
Published pursuant ,toa rote ef fthe. Society J,
MK. PRESIDENT GENTLEMEN AND La
DIEs:- ..
According TO the Hebrew records, the
first association formed upon this planet,
was an agricultural6 association. And to-
an; intelligent mind, thereis aapecular fit
ness in it, which,: :howmqchsoeyer we may
doubt the divinity Of that portion Of the Or.
acles, we are forced 10 acknowledge as
strikingly apropos. For, wha, segment 81
the great Brotherhood Of man, lies nearer
The heart of nation, a commonwealth, or
d community, than ibis2 What Society
contributes more towards the yitalizing
stamina Of physical existence and sus,en-
ance? What one so beautifully purifies
the atmosphere of intellect, enabling the
mind to possess a fresh, Vigorous hardy
medium of manifestation What so eli.
fectually forms the grand platform Of
wealth, which gives State or nation al
influence among the governments Of the
worlda 'His quite proper, then, to give
this institution the priority in the cycles Of
History. HI 80 -12 Lst1y oJ az.s5i &
The first inhabitants Of Egypt, who, &c. T
cording 10, the. best accounts we have,
spread out upon the fertile valley OF. The
Nile, were cultivators of the soil. We
areotold that they made agriculture their
study and profession. long yearsbefore they
reared their giant works Of art; so famed
through all time, for their stupendous
masonry and sculpture. 80 - .''7~ ~ ''-.'-. Il
Who can tell, how much this, contribu-
ted toward Eliminating their highest flights
in Science and Literature! We ali know
that the Alexandrian schools were the re-
sort Of the most learned and distinguished
Scholars of ancient times. 1t is evident,
that the fertility of the soil, facilitates much,
the elevation Of mind. @aa s.-f5z .'+'''--E.H~
The Pelasgians, who 6rst settled Greece
and Rome. emigrated ihither, 10 cultivate
the rich bills and valleys Of those. beautiful
peninsulas. And what ollowed there, in
The Arts and Sciences? They were har-
diy second to Egypt herself: -" - '. 50
Thus we may|follow uP'the tide Of civ.
ilization and refinement in all countries,
and find that where there is the greatest
fertility Of soil. there will be the highest
flights Of mind.
Agriculture may be termed the parent
Of civilization. Commerce, Politics. Morals.
Ethics, all emerge from it., and fill the
earth with its euIogy. 1t speaks. and ca
nails are dug; it speaks. and railroads are
laid; it speaks. and the earth is threaded
all over with telegraph wires; il speaks,
and rivers. and lakes, and seas, and oceans
become highways; j, speaks. and the world
is filled with the hum Of activity. One
tap Of its mighty finger will call up innu-
merable forms Of wealih-one nod Of its
giant head awe the nations into subjection.
1t supplies 1he spindle, the sugar, tobacco
and rice houses, and thousand other staple
manufactures with material; and pours its
food Of strength and beauty into the pas
lures and feljs of all countries.
Go where you will, agriculture has plan
ted its grand productive energy not iar off.
l. care not, if tbs on the rocky shores OF
cape Cod, or Nantucket; enterprising Yam
KEGS will scrnpe together little earth
from amidst the desert of stones, and plant,
and SOW, and reap and NOW even there
Go to- the a.placers" of California, and
there the genius of agriculture has its foot,
from beneath which if not a .haryes, Of
gold, at least golden harvest springs.
The hot sun Of the tropics pours down up
-. =, 4 avon thu Icolo odor
as 8 oon as bis brief summer approaches,
hurries out to the sunny hill side, and
patches OF vegetation emerge from the soil:
as if by gic. ,.-,.-
II is hard TO escape the world Of agricul-
ture. '.God placed manin the garden to
dress and till it, hns stamped its universal
ity upon all of humankind. There IS a
Specification in that myth, which strikes
into the very soul. Ii seems TO be the ma
tive language Of mans mind, that, 'by the
sweat Of his brow, he shall eat his bread" !"
Who, then, in view Of the vast influence,
and importance Of this science, can tamely
sink into inactivity concerning it? 1t be :.
hooves US to awake upon this subject-to
labor, earnestly, faithfully, for its perfec.
ton. sssI}.sF7 sfes q.as srg9zs t.q.
But, it is not only an important, but a
noble occupation. ! am aware that our
fashionable circles are hardly open to the
plain honest sons and daughters Of toll. |
am aware that Mr.. Gold Specks often
smiles with contempt at the homespun garb
Of rustic life. He cannot bend his neck to
o, common salu.ation, with the hardy labor.
er. His children are taught to shun the
tanned and robust groups Of little ones Of
farmers cottage; but yet those very little
ones, whom they avoid, ara fairer, purer,
brighter representatives of Gods image,
than the pale sickly offspring Of pride
and arrogance. 1 am aware, too that Miss
Prim turns up her pretty nose. tosses her
beautiful head, and laughs with derisIon, if
some red. d.cheeked, warm hearted, plainly
dressed farmer girl =presumes to pass the
threshold Of her costly mansion. Yes;
and should an honest young farmer or me-
chanic be simple enough, (which may tae
gods forbid TO seek her society, or hand,
those powdered cheeks would burn with con-
for,,nt. xot 4b.tz ,oev linnod do,rbtar of fhn