Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-09
INDIANAPOLIS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1851.

liberal institutions, that agriculture enters so iargel.
INTO the political economy of our country. ~.
As now pursued, IL develops the mind and the body
and preserves both the health and morals oil people
As long large portion of voters engaged
IN agricultural pursuits, need apprehend no danger
TO our republican nstitutlonsno pernlcious nilnence
foreign nations on the steady development of wealth
and power Producing all necessares of life far be
yond our own wants. and importing for the most part
only the Injuries are, whenever choose lndepen
dent OF the rest of the world while other nations
ducing the necessaries of life in sufficient quantities
To Iced their population, and depending the sales
OF their luxuries for the supply Of this deficiency, will
have care not wantony TO interrupt peaceful rea
tions with them England, once ready to spend her
last guinea, and to sacrifice her last man., break
down the continental system of Europe will easily
be tempted to build up similar system in America and
1t IS not TO be supposed that other nations will for
ward to do that from which Great Britain wisely absains.
As long the great body Of population is composed
OF the owners and cultyators Of the soil shall remain
true to our Republican instincts. We may not succeed
in the production Of every luxury for the enjoyment and
grathcaton oil man but we will produce at the cheap
est rate, and in the greatest abundance those things
which contribute most to the comfort, happiness and
peace not only oil our own people, but oil the laborng
classes Of all other countries
We able furnish the whole world with the
cheapest and best food and with the cheapest and best
ralment. We furnish grain provisions End cOttOnthe
three staple articles of greater quantities
and oil better qualities than any other nation and the
time not far distant when will be able also regu
their What boundleSs field, then,
to our agricultural ndustry-what ample reward the
labor OF our farmers The command of the ldstapes
even without the aquisiton OF California (Which
10 us the control OF the precious metals must have CIV
en- us the control OF the commerce OF the world. But
independent of these international considerations there
IS yet another which will naturally suggest itself
minds. Our agricultural products, owing TO the
extent OF territory and the great differences OF soil
and climate, varied to furnish abundant
changes for the domestic trade between the different
States OF the Union. They furnish in themselves the
materials oi very extensive internal commerce. en-
Ploy to large extent coastng tonnage and secure
constant employment to Steamboats, and Railroads.
Planting and farming the mutual allies Of each
other as are indeed all branches of agricultural indus
try, notwithstanding the preludices which, in this
respect be entertained in various sections of the
country. They take view of political economy
who can see but rival interests growing out Of the differ
en productions Of the country ard they
than blgoed who. IN consequence of it indulge in un
worthy ealouses or hostile sentiments towards brethren
OF the same family You cannot by legitimate means
beneht any one branch of industry of great country,
without indirectly benehttng ali the rest but when as
IN the case before interest is dependent the
other-when the producer of the article is the best
and often the only consumer OF the other who is rash
to assert that the prosperity OF the works the in
jury of the other! But it my purpose the pres
ent OCCASION further TO pursue this train of thought
My object IS not to make proseytes for particular the
ory: but simply show the necessary connection and
intimate relationship Of all the branches of the same
species Of industry, and their harmonious cooperation
IN promoting the wealth. happiness and power Of great
people The Tree international exchanges OF commodi
ties so eagerly sought for the great commercial de-
sderatum OF the different nations Of Europe exists al
ready by the simple operation of federal constitution
between the different States Of this Union and the pro-
ducts Of the different States Of Europe less varied
than those of the different geographical divisions of
common country. The domestic exchsnges OF every
country naturally constitute the great bulk Of its entire
but in none-perhaps not eyen in China-is
large portion of them furnished exclusively by the
products Of the soil, as in our own.
have thus far, briefly referred to agriculture in con-
necton with other branches OF ndustry bat propose
TO go step further and consider by themselves o
the principal agricultural products which enter largely
into the political economy Of this country do this for
the purpose of showing only how each particular
branch of agriculture may in turn aid in building up the
and maratme Importance Of a country but
also, how species Of agricultural industry may come
TO the assistance of another with which to have
no necessary connection. And may also be able to
show from examples furnished by history, that
products seemingly competing with each other in the
same markets, may yet have tendency to create in
creased demands for all of them With the theories and
specuiatOns oil political economists have disposition
to medde before this audience. shall myself
with presenting facts, leaving you to make the aPp
cation.
The leading American agricultural staple is cotton,
and its cultivation and manufacture have within the last
half century acquired Importance far exceeding all
other similar pursuits. The plant, though indigenous TO
the tropical regions Of Asia, Africa and America, had
only been used to limited extent, for the purpose OF
clothing, when the American invention of the cOttongn
gave its cultivation impetus and extension unprece
dened in the annals of agriculture. No branch of hu
man industry has risen to Importance and power
rapidly that OF coton has produced so great
revolution in the commerce and manufactures o the CIV
ized world. Previous to the Revolution, and even
late the adoption Of the federal constitution,
single pound OF cotton was exported from America;
while IL is only the principal article Of our
ports (exceedng in value all other agricultural exports
Of country) but the great basis Of foreign
changes; and the most powerful lever OF the
Of the world.
The cotton trade alone has suiIced to revoutionize
the commerce of the world. Wherever bale Of cotton
goes carries with portion of American intelligence
and power The abolition Of the laws OF England
opening the ports Of Great Britain American bread
stutfs and provsions--was triumph achieved by the
American cotton grower over the euda arstocracy Of
the old world ltiurnshed bread TO the aborng masses
Of Great Britain and Ireland at the time that
clothed them, and formed the first step towards the
ameloration Of their condition. lt afforded increased
markets. only to the products oil the South but from
the necessary relation of all articles of commerce. also
those Of the Northern and Northwestern States of
the Union What has been effected in England by the
power Of American Agriculture, must, in due course Of
time, extend every commercial and manufacturing
country the continent OF Europe. The battle against
commercial restrictions is waging in France, Bel
gium Germany and Italy. and eventually termin
ate 10 the abrogston Of all monopolies. s.
In enumerating the leading agricultural staples OF our
country naturally led to the consideration OF the
tobacco plant II is purpose here inquire how
far the of tobacco in any OF its forms, may be
garded an elegant accomplishment, or whether It's
culture shoud he encouraged Of the necessares
of life. In Holland the shores of the Baltic and
other countries OF Europe believe has been regard
ed medicinal plant, and andote against prevail
ing Diseases while in Of the German States, i.s
growth, owing TO the general of the weed. Is en-
forced by law Be this IL may the OF tobacco IN
shape has become general every quarter of the
globe, and its production an object OF national impor
fance. ae -I1ii : fio3,3l
Tobacco enters largely into our foreign exchanges
4 ~