The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-24

remainder repaired 10 The ball oom 10 Join those who
had been enjoying themselves IN different fashion than
listening 10 agricultural speeches. Indeed, the bent in
that direction displayed at early hour in the
ning,
Shortly after o'clock Senator Douglas. having just
arrived, was introduced 10 the company
The prevailing political sentiment that characterized the
proceedings was that OF union and nationality opposi
ton 10 sectonasm and Reorganization There seemed
TO be bul one want and that wne IN ihe entertain
ment Il was very generally felt TO be mistake to gel
up this festival on the tolal-abstnence principle
ADDRESS
Of the Hon STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS before tte NeW York
State Agricultural Society; delivered al Rochester, Sep
TENDER 10, 1851.
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY have not the presumption 10
suppose that enlghen this immense assemblage of
scientific and practical farmers by anything say on
the subject OF agriculture The theme is vast and
embraces many ordinate branches of science and in
dusiry that mere enumeration of these would far ex-
coed the limits OF this discourse
Agriculture has found larger field for the exercise of
the intellectual and moral energies oil man IN this country
than IN any other on the globe II has found here the
conditions oil It's fullest development and It's ample
SUCCESSIVE greatest stimulus exeEtion and the high
est reward. Our country embraces greater extent of
territory, more fertile SOIL more diversified climate
and above ALL a far more intelligent, energetic, and indie
pendent yeomanry, than any other with whose agricultural
productions 10 now competing for the markets OF the
world Our lands cheap, and not exhausted by the
cultivation OF twenty centuries Our farmers the
owners OF the soil in feesimpe, while the abolition OF
The laws OF pmogeniture prevents the accumulation OF
real property the hands OF few land owners. Our
country is the first that has set the world the example of
independent farminghe first that has restored agricul
systems OF the Old World had deprived it. Every tree
planted by the American farmer, every shrub, every
flower he culvales every hedge he grows, is his own,
and descends inheritance TO his children
Agriculture in this country is highly respectable and
at the same time most attractive pursuit 1t not only
resored to of acquiring honest independ-
ence, but as dgnhed and pleasuIabe occupation by
men OF science and letters, by and warriors,
merchants and navigatosin short by all who have gath
ral nnAA ,har ,f
life.
So long agriculture the exclusive occupation of
necessaries OF life il remained sluggish labor,
consuming mems physical strength, and descending with
little Improvement from father TO son, among those who
were born and bred 10 1t. Happily for the progress
OF mankind, the condition OF agricultural labor has
changed In many parts OF the world and II is small
OF pride and qualification for 10 know that it is
the example OF America which has wrought the change
and restored agriculture 10 It's original rank among the
most honorable occupations OF men. 1t is profess
sion calling TO It's aid science and the mechanic and,
in It's every branch, the inventive genius OF man. The
tamer instead OF merely following the beaten track of
his ancestor now brings 10 his pursuit his OF
inquiry and investigation. Chemistry teaches him the
nature and quality OF the ingredients composing his soil,
the species OF crop suitable productive power,
and the kinds OF manure be must and the proportion
OF cattle he must keep 10 make his farm productive As
he acquires a knowledge OF chemistry, Of agricultural
geology, and OF the physiology OF plants and animals, his
crops become more certain and bis reward
Armed with knowledge, the fertility Of mans mind has
discovered remedies for the serlly OF Soils and found
OF guarding the fruits OF his labor against the
vicssltudes OF climate This is not all. The American
farmer possesses the means OF multiplying labor, and
thereby its reward by the most ingenious and effective
machinery.
Great as the ratio of farming population may be,
compared to that engaged in other pursuits it bears, as
yet no proportion to the quantity OF uncutvaed lands
We have soil Than people 10 render II productive
while the very opposite ratio exists IN the whole world
As manual labor is expensive, and procured with dlhcu
w. machines are naturally called IN to take us place
not deprive him of employment merely performs that
labor for which he has no time to spare, and without
which his cultivation would be confined 10 narrower lin
It's No country can award higher premium the in
ventive genius OF maehinisis than our own none can
boast of greater number OF inventions applicable to
rcuural and mechanic Our agricultural machines
especially have excited the admiration OF the world and
along with substantial achievements in that depart
meni Of industry, is perhaps no, unpleasant to have
extored the testimony OF England late occasion TO
the ingenuity displayed by American inventors.
The growth OF our country is marked by the advance
pent OF agriculture. Agriculture IS settling our new
States and Territories agriculture gives employment 10
workshops agriculture furnishes the products which
form the basis OF our foreign and domestic commerce
rcuure, BY supplying the bulky articles oil our exports,
employs the tonnage OF our snip builders and IN seeking
markets for its increased products calls for the consuc
York demanded the construction OF the Erie canal and
the farmers OF the western States now call for lis enlarge
ment AS the western States and Territories become
settled and agricultural products accumulate, new rail
roads and canals become necessary furnish of
transportation to the seaboard The West DESTROYS OF
securing every avenue TO the sea II requires the nayi
canals OF New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois, and all the railroads constructed in pro.
OF construction from the seacoast TO the Mississippi
valley. And all these facilities will yet prove insufficient
10 form adequate outlets for the constant accommodating
products OF the western farmers. New lines OF
ncauon will be called into existence, and II is extremely
doubtful whether the capital and enterprise OF the
try will be able TO keep pace with the increased demands
Tor internal Improvements
Thus agriculture stimulates every species OF industry,
and is the parent and supporter OF them all. What /
would ask would be the present condition OF our foreign
commerce. had it not been stimulated by the increased
productions OF agriculture What the condition OF our
mercantile navy, steamers and sailing ships already
oustrpping that OF the first maritime nation of the globe
It's the bulky products OF agriculture that make up
freghs and furnish the principal portion OF our foreign
exchanges.
And II is fortunate for and for the preservation
OF our liberal Institutions that agriculture enters
largely into the political economy of our country
As now pursued, IL develops the mind and the body
and preserves both the health and morals of people
As long large portion OF our voters engaged in
agricultural pursuits, need apprehend danger 10
republican instuiions-no perncious influence Of
foreign nations the steady development OF our wealth
You'd our own wants. and importing, for The most part
only the Injuries, we are, whenever we choose, indie
pendent OF the rest of the world while other naiions
producing the necessaries OF life not ~ sufficient quan
ties to feed their population, and depending on The
sale OF Their Injuries for the supply OF this deficiency
Will have care not wantonly to interrupt our peaceful
relations with them Eng land, ready "to spend
her last guinea and to sacrifice her last man. to break
down the continental system of Europe, will not easily
be tempted TO build ep similar system IN America; and
is not to be supposed thai other nations will press for
IL, ttn,t h,.hf