The southern press., 1851-08-05
PRESS.
WASHINGTON CITY.
TUESDAY. AUGUST s, 1851.
NsrtAern Agriculture.

TUESDAY. AUGUST s, 1851.
NsrtAern Agriculture.
We have heard and read a great deal about
the great perfection of Northern agriculture, al
a result of free labor, commerce, large cities
manufactures, railroads, and canals
The following from the New York Tribune
does not appear to confirm the impression that
has been SO incessantly made4
"There il another test of growth not less cer-
tain in its indications, and that ia the improve
ment Of agriculture in those parts of the State
where the soil Is naturally richest and most fer
tile. In the beginning it il necessary to cult
vate specifically the poorer soil, because it can
be done easier, requires less capital and does not
like the culture of rich lands, endanger, by its
exhalations and the corruption of decay ing vege-
tation, the health Of those engaged in clearing it
and rendering it productive. But, as capital is
accumulated, rs population becomes concen-
tr- ted ~ the artisan takes his place beside the
farmer, and steady home market is created, cul-
tivation lays its hand upon the fat soils of the
meadows and low lands, clearing them of tim
Der, draining them, pIoughing them, and cover
them with blooming gardens.
But such Is not the process we now behold
going on in the heart Of the Empire Suite.
From Utica to Buffalo the richest lands are
everywhere uncleared and undrsned. In all
that stretch of country, whose latent power Of
fruitfulness is not surpassed in the world, the
traveller scarcely meets with here and there n
new farmhouse, but sees many old ones bear
ing the signs Of neglect and decay. The num-
Der of farms, instead of increasing il diminishing,
and that infallible indication of imp0yerisIl
ment, the concentration of lands in fewer and
fewer hands, may quite generally be witnessed.
Emigrants pass by this region, with its ex-
haustless fertility, its canals and railroads,
while even the natives of the country may be
seen selling their hOmesteads and leaving for the
distant and less productive West. Sucf is the
course of things, and although the process is a
slow one, no careful observer can dispute that
We describe it correctly"
This is quite different story from the ac-
counts we have generally received
The State of New York has about as many
people engaged in agriculture as Virginia. But
New York has much the finest land, and the
most Of it, Her farms are surrounded with
cities and factories, and intersected with rail-
roads and canals. Yet agriculture Is declining.
The small farmers are emigrating, and, as for
wealthy ones, we do not believe she has tenth
as many as Virginia.
Why is this? The owners of small farms,
naturally and wisely prefer to become the own
ers of large ones, and move off to the West,
where land is cheap. So far as the consump-
tlon OF family is concerned, it is produced from
land worth, in the West, two dollars an acre, az
well us from land, in New York, worth twenty
And as for the surplus production, it comes te
market from afar, at cost not 80 much create
as the difference Of interest in the value of land
remote and near as to the principal markets. 4
this state of things II would be well for Ney
York, If the taste for agriculture were sufi cier
to induce her wealthier citizens to live in tn
country. But that is not the case. The lov
of city life-its pleasures, parties, theatreib cor
certs, dinners, and luxuries--prevails. Add il
stead of preference for country over city lifi
a partiality for the latter prevails SO much ths
whenever man acquires wealth in the country
he removes to the city. Besides, there is diff
Guilty, uncertainty, and vexation in obtaining tn.
free labor to cultivate large farm.
Nor is it common for the poorer .lasses tt
prefer country life They can enjoy ihe shows
the parades, the tpling, and all the t,oarser and
cheaper kinds of dissipation in town. The,
can receive their wages daily, or we eky, and car
epiov nrop,,tly tbo rrooaa1. of tb.;. 1.ko-
Why, We forget that there is no instance il
history Of great, wealthy, ref ned, rural popu
! 'tion in the country, excep. in the South. And
slavery is the cause of that Abolish slavery
and forthwith the taste, enterprize, talent, anc
wealth of the South will ft,rsake the country
and crowd into cities, and be wasted, degraded
and consumed.
Prior to the institution of African slavery ia
this country, the feudal system, which compelled
the barons to occupy their castles and estatec-
was the first great movement towards the crea
ton of wealthy rural population. But as the
fendal system gradually gave way before CON-
merce and manufactures, towns and cities drew
from the country its riches, talent, and power
40 that now the last and most feudal OF coun-
tries in Europe, which was England has sim
gle city containing about one-fifth of her popu-
laton
Well, republican government cannot be
maintained over large population resident
chiefly in cities, unless each becomes separate
State. Nor can the. mass OF people remain
Tree even in single city and State. When
population is crowded 80 densely together, the
greatest inequality of property and condition
ensue; and if suffrage is universal, division of
property must ensue.
1t was evidently the design of the Hebrew
system to prevent this concentration of people
IN cities, by allotng to each tribe its own lands,
and prohibiting their alienation to other tribes,
and even preventing intermarriage between the
tribes. For all the neighboring nations of Asia
were partial to city life, and many of them con-
sisted Of cities chiefly.
The tendency Of the present commercial and