The republic., 1851-10-31
iIEL WEBSTER, Secretary of State.
Aadress OF senator pouglas,

Address OF Senator Douglas,
Dsiiuered at Me agricultural Far in Baltimore on
the 24th instant.
Mr. DOUGLAS addressed the society and people
In some familiar and extempore remarks, and in
strain of practical observation which enabled him
to command the unbroken attention of the audience
Our space permits US to allude but briefly to the
address.
After speaking of the unexpected call which had
been made upon him, and asking the indulgence
of the audience, he adverted at the general
subject of agriculture, and especially to the sys-
tenn as itAhad prevailed in Mary land, which he
very frankly disapproved. He spoke of the prac-
tice which had induced the abandonment rather
than the improvement of exhausted lands, and the
sterility which consequently betrayed itself fire.
quently and extensively the eastern slope of the
Alleghauies. He maintained that il not only
to the interest OF mankind, but religious duty
the part of the agriculturst, to leave the ground
from which he obtained his sustenance in life in
the condition at ieaet in which he found it, for the
benefit of his poserity. On this point he descant
ed at some length, and not without good effect
for observation led us TO infer general acqui-
esccnce in his remarks
lie then proceeded to speak more particularly Of
the stock and said that he had nowhere seen finer
exhibition of cattle, it pertnined to purity Of
blood. He had seen larger stock in Ohio, but no
thing SO pure Perhaps il was the richness of the
n
extraordinary development of size in that State,
but certainly Ohio could not be surpassed in this
particular.
In the display of agricultural mechanics, the ex
hibition of the Maryland Society could not be
passed; but il exceled in some of the exhibit
tions of the East in the department of calicocs
sbaws, and other kindred manufactures. Indeed,
he felt that, in the field of general mechanical in
dustry, there something wanting in connex-
ion with this exhibition, until he apprized that
the society contemplated only fair for those
afoA
however, that great mistake had been made in
not blending with the agricultural display the sis
Ter arts of general mechanics and manufactures.
He had visited the Maryland Institute Fair, and
was there delighted TO find display which afford
cd the most ample qualification as to the capacity
of Maryland to rival any sister institution In those
arts but he felt that mistake had been made in
not planning that hall in the centre of this field,
where our farmers, and their wives and daughters,
could at one place and time have enjoyed visit
to both. In keeping them apart there was often
ground to apprehend jealousies and unkindness;
while, in blending and harmonizing them, their
relation, one to the other, was made familiar to the
mind, and one was more readily viewed and appre-
ciated as the ally OF the other.
Mr.. Douglas then proceeded to a sketch OF the
rapid advance Of the arts and sciences in America;
run parallel between their growth in the two
countries, England and Notwithstanding, by
aiusion to the steamship rivalry, the yacht race
McCormick's and Hussey's mowers and reapers,
Colts revolvers, and that "elegant accomp mpshment
picking locks in which Mr.. Hobbs, cute Yam
trbuted to the fact that, one hand, il was the
Anglo in his slow habiual mode of proce-
dure; while, on the other Chat is, with us,) it was
the Anglo-Saxon greatly enlarged and improved
by the admixture ofthe Irish, German and Polish
character, which had infused into the national
temperament those influences without which we
might have become inert and stagnant
The speaker referred, play fully, to the superiori
ty OF western lands contrast with the sterile quail
ity of the Atlantic States He assumed that the
valley Of the Mississippi would become the great
centre OF agricultural wealth, enterprise, and in
tiuence. But withal, he remarked, although the
western States enjoyed advantages which the
tern did not, still the latter had the advantage of
nearness to the market. This country, he main
tained to be the great source of supply to the
world in meat and bread. They would be produced
cheap and in unlimited abundance, and the time
will come when America may control the nations
of Europe III the production of her food and cotton
And how, he asked, shall these advantages be en-
ployed? Not TO oppress mankind; not TO affct the
nations of the earth with the despotism of power.
No. But we will hold them as bonds and securities
by which we will compel the governments of Eu
rope to keep the peace Will they make war upon
us? Well starve them to death. Will England
assail uss Well stop her cotton, and create
olu'ion amongst her own people; and, at the same
time, act her an example by which she may adopt
the best form of government upon the face OF the
Garth.
Advcrtng to the best use of our advantages at
home, MIR. Douglas suggested the Importance Of
cullivatng tea and the grape. In the latter we
surpass the world in the native variety possess
lie intimated the propriety of insructing our con-
euls abroad not only to report the subject of
commerce and manufactures, but also on agrcul-
ture. They should be required to inform US what
is the leading article of culture in the countries in
which they sojourn, the mode OF raising II, the
price, &c. and also to procure seeds, plants, bulbs
&c, that may try them here's and thus In in
Vulnerable instances, should add to the value
beauty, and variety of our productions. And, fur
thor, lac deemed very desirable that il should be
part OF consular duty 10 ascertain the price at
which all our exports are sold in the countries to
which they are sent, that we may know what profit
ia made by those who sell them.
In returning to the importance of this and simi
lar exhibitions, Mr. ID. suggested as worthy of con-
sderaton the establishment of great national
agricultural society," to which the respective States
should be auxiliaries, just the county societies
to that of the State. Thus the most valu
able information emanating from each might be
concentrated and made available and accessible to
all. Books and pamphlets might be prepared and
distributed, invaluable in their effect upon the ru
raj interests Of the country, stimulating American
genius and agricultural pride. TO this purpose
the Smithsonian Institute might become an impor
tant adjunct. Ii the creature of a legacy for
the diffusion of useful knowledge among men; and
certainly the development Of genius and art, it
relates TO the cultivation OF our broad territory, Is
quite useful and beneficial discoveries in the
moon, or attempts TO establish abstract theories In
science without practical results.
He did not dcsign to disparage science in any
field of pursuit, but he desired that agriculture
should occupy that place in public and national es
sired th0t geology should be STUDIED with reference
TO agriculture botany with reference 10 agricu-
turc, and mineralogy with reference TO agriculture
and mining--that these things should be treated in
clear, specific, practical manner, adapted to the
use and capacity OF the plain farmer the mechanic,
the laborer. national society would greatly aid
this purpose, and we might have annually glor-
Gus fair, at which Illinois and Maine, Louisiana
and California, should be represented and all this
vast Union, and such scene would be second only
TO the display Of the Worlds Fair. There would
be no similar institution, no equal exhibition of the
sort, on the face Of the globe Such n scene would
bring Europe 10 America, instead of America GO
ing to Europe to see Prince Albert and his wife,
and Crystal Palace such grand, national ce
lebration-at which the sturdy agrcul.urist of the
East should meet the planter oil the South, with
personal intercourse under such auspices and the
friendly interchange of hospitalities-would do
more to bind this Union in adamant than laws of
Congress accomplish.
With some appropriate remarks on the subject Of
mutual interests, in relation to the farmer, the
planter, the grazier, the mechanic, and the manu-
facturer, in which he illustrated the dependence Of