Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-10-16
NO. 20.

From the hyssop That springcth out Of the wall 10 the
cedar Of Lebanon from the loliest plant that creeps
into lfe Che giant Of the forest that rears its head
above ofvegetaton, resisting the winds Of Heaven
Tor centuries there mighty Of organized forms
endowed with principle of vitality which proclaim
power ol God and invite the researches of man. Won
drous are its extent its variety, the laws of IFS being,
the purposes il uhls the mode OF its production its
stence, and its reproduction and the admirable organ
zation y which its functions are he performed and
inorganic matter converted into its beautiful foliage,
which covers the face of the earth, rejoicing the eye
and the heart and minsterng the wants of senent
creation.
And the life Of the farmer passes in the midst of This
great family Of nature 1t is his daily cultivate
to increase to improve those branches of il which
the necessary for human comfort and subsistence
and it should be his daily pleasure, is his duty ts
observe the process of vegetable e the habits of plants
and the laws regulating their organization that he may
know how make the earth bring forth By handfus like
the plenteons years Of Egypt. and still ameorate
his practice he extends his knowledge. Who does
not that here is scope enough for the powerful
intellect, the enlarged understanding prac
ca study Of the works Of creation admitting the app
cation oi advanced science, well the highest pow
ers Of personal observation. And yet since the earliest
period-ndeed since the gave place 10 wheat
the principal article Of subsistence deuson has beer
propagaed-notu universal indeed-for there honor
abe exceptions both ancient and in modern days-but
Tar too general and firmly maintained that
1t exerts powerful influence, and is but slowly yielding
10 the intellectual progress which marks the age in
which we live. The Book of Ecclesiastes, though
cuded apocTyphal from the Scriptures of
ancient origin and doubt depicts truly the customs
and opinions Of the Jewish people II ministers this
mschievous prejudice, and presents melancholy pic
ture of the intellectual condition ofhe Hebrew husband
men:
i 60 How can he get wisdom that holdeih the plough
and that glorieth in the goad that drveh Oxen and
occupied in their labors and whose talk of buocks?v
/ He giveh his mind 10 make burrows, and is digent
to give the kline fodder"
And so because is brought by his daily occupa-
tions into contact with the world of Nature around him
with organic life animate and inanimate-fhe nolest
| n he kERd mn nhaffr ttx
car he get isdom though the best school for its
QUESTION not enlarged sphere Of observation and
reflection II is difficult 10 discover in the progress
oil social and political institutions through the world the
true source OF this deplorable Labor dshOn-
ored and discredted when brings degradation legal
convenIiona-when the mark ofcontempt upon the
forehead OF the aborer and he feels and all feel that
his place is considered the lowest the scale of human
employment. Thank Cod this state of things is-un-
known in country but it has extended beyond its i'm
mediate circle by the prejudice respecting the education
of those engaged in agriculture, which it has created
and fosered Where the of the soil and the til
ler OF the soil separate classes divided by legal
social barriers-where the institutions Of country op-
crate TO accumulate land into masses, still augmenng
as wealth increases, and repress all tendency to dtT
button by laws OF primogentue and by the other legal
machinery by which the strong made stronger and
the weak weaker-wbere the many without reap
ing. and the few reap without sowng-who wonder
that the intellect is without cultivation Industry IS
without encoura cement? The wrctched institutions Of
the middle ages-by which power and property were
wrested from the OF the people (from almost the
the leudal nobility and guarded by the iron hand
and by the rule of legal exactions and penalties
made part essential one, too, of the political cond
ton Of the European nations, and yet sUryyen fall force
in of them while in others they have yielded the
march Of events hut in ALL their impress marked upon
the constitution Of society," and exerts powerful inu
ence upon the whole social system. And thus deg
radiation brought upon the laborer and disgrace upon
his occupation and the impression left legacy,
which time alone remove, that he who ts the soil
pursuos employment which, il not totally neonsis
liant Icfnf nl 1arr
better without IT, and should content himself with hold
ing the plough and talking Of buHockS-
' Strong as his and ignorant as strong
Many deep-rooted prendces have passed away in this
country and many others destined TO follow them.
There miracle like that of old the shadow
backward which marks the progress Of these events
This prejudice against the necessity Of educaon-of
enlarged education for the agricultural class OF society
Though it has wholly disappeared has waHed be-
fore the light Of knowledge, and will, long, be
membered but among the perversions of the human in
teect In country the face of the globe there
such motives here for the carly diffusion Of inlor
nation among this great body of fellowcitizens.
Land is open all There no barriers which guard
against the approach of honest labor He who does
acquire it prevented only by himself; he either
does desire live the life of farmer, he want
ING in that Industry and good conduct which open all the
avenues of property all who seek them. The relation
of landlord and in the cultivation OF the SOIL If not
unknown is limited that creates social castcs,
divided by those conditions, and almost necessarily anita
gonstic each other. Our boundless public domain in
industry by the facility Of acquisition and rewards
it by such advantages never before offered to
those who seek moderate competence with personal in
dependence.
But there still graver considerations which arc
connected with this subject, and which force themselves
upon attention with peculiar interest at the present
time. | need not tell American audience that the
signs OF the political atmosphere porentous and
alarming. The cloud that was bigger than a mans
hand like that by the prophet from Mount Carmel
has spread the heavens and threatens TO burst IN
upon country. am dealing with great nation
al facts, and with questions OF pary-wtb the dan
gers that encompass us and not with the causes that
produced them That the attachment of the Union IS
weakened-almost broken, ndeed-In large portions oil
the confederation he who may read In all that
passes around him. Our day of trial is come as theirs
came to fathers. III meet it they met IT, IN
sprit of patriotism and Cancellation, may strengthen
their work by own and transmit great and good
IN heritage hope and the worlds example, TO those
who are 10 follow us-the most magnificent legacy, al
ter the religion of God that bequeathed by
generation since human governments
were instituted And upon the intelligence and virfue
of the countryand especially OF the farming interest,
which constitutes so largo portion oil ltmust we rely
for that active and ardent patriotism which IS the more
devoted the more perlous the crisis; which looks to Es
claims of all while maintaining the rights Of each stead
y seeking in the constitution the true principles OF ac
ton and rbearance and tempering its Judgment with
that brothery affection - TO use the language OF
Washing ton-without which il were idle TO expcct-to
hone indcedhat the bonds that unite retain
together. Withdraw this power OF attraction, and our
will be broken up leaving Its members 10
wander in space to form new combinatlons
with their elements OF destruction, and with SIM
liar fate before them. God grant that we may be wise
in time and that for ages hereafter the American far
mers from the ST. Crox the Pacific, wherever stua
ted or whatever the products Of their agriculture, may
come together have come to-day assembling, not
upon backgrounds but upon fields OF
10 contend in blood for political supremacy, aided by I'M
,f doafh buf tn