The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-05

u,
every man who is the head OF family aud citizen of
The United States, homestead OF hundred and sixty
acres OF land out OF the public domain, upon condition of
and cultivation OF the same ior the period
herein specified. being under consideration in Committee
Sir. NEWTON said; Mr., Chairman. am much
Obliged ior the oor even after four weeks struggle for
It, not SO much my account as for The subject
advocate am in favor OF the bill now under considera
ton and have prepared some remarks directly applicable
to ~ which will give pleasure at some future day TO
make 10 the House or committee. The remarks 4 am
about 10 make were prepared to he made upon reporting
bill from the Agricultural Committee, of which am
NJ mer, and which has been in the hands Of my honora
bic friend from Wisconsin for the last two months. for
The establishment OF an Agricultural Bureau. My re
marks are however applicable more or less 70 the sub
Ject now immediately before the committee and made
now because no opportunity has been afforded report
the bill to which have referred
From 1896 to the present time the subject of an Agr-
cultural Board, or Bureau, has been object OF
tive consideration and recommendation 10 the national
leglsature and yet liite formally and nothing effect
lv,y, has been done While all our other interests and
relations have been sedulously guarded and literally pat
roniZed agriculture, the foundation which all others
rest and The source from which all others flow, and the
fountain, from which all others sustained and in
creastd, has been left TO struggle aone and acknowl
edged IN the great family OF national relationship.
From that period 10 the present. we have increased in
numbers with greater rapiity ban any other nation
peope-advancng from lees Than four millions 10 nearly
twenty-five mons-possessing territory extending
from ocean TO ocean, and from tropical the
polar region, embracing all the various climates. soils,
Inhabited by people from all nations and OF all kndreds
and castes with intelligence and enterprise gener-
ally disseminated than any other people earth, yet,
amentabie it is, in national agricultural science,
patronage and attention. behind any other enight-
card na'Ion under Heaven
Our soil is generally adapted agriculture, any
more OF our people engage in that pursuit than in any
other country. 1t the hrs-t is The chief and gen,
eral employ ment OF nhabI,ans and than egh
teen millions are engaged IN It's occupation. The freedom
and facility 10 acquire the ownership OF the so1l is that
There is prominence in the absolute ownership OF the
SOIL aid It's general occupation BY our citizens that gives
us more general and important national character than
any other nation.
II Anerlca is guided by wisdom and patriotism, forty
years hence she will probably contain absolute tree
holders than all the world besides Improvement OF
national agriculture is the strongest bond of union with
which The nation encrcle territory It's negec,
Is but too iesihle IN this aspect Whle other conntes
are under The necessity oil furnishing of
men with which TO employ their inhabitants, we EN-
poy ourselves in culuvatng the soil.
Nature is good agricutuTst she has guided her cit
Krns, and not this naon her subjects She hls the soil
originally with all The properties necessary for The growth
of all the plants And IRON the large quantities of vir.
gin soil IN almost all parts OF extended country, that
have been from earliest history and still being
brought into actual occupation and improvement our
agricultural products have been arge that the public
mind has been uled into apathy and indifference 10
the necessity OF Tenovang old aad dapidaied
Soils or OF increasing the aggregate amount OF pro-
ducts.
This morbid national feeling is having a deieteriou,
influence upon US nationally and individually As
sequence, land in America is worth half what il
should be, and Otherwise would be- il The standard Of
agriculture was elevated. Americans do not become
farmers from choice, but from necessity. and for of
other adequate employmenis Sons OF wealthy and nu
entail men loaihe the farm as they would prison. IL
The drudge OF youth and the servant OF old age after
ambition has been coyed and salisred According TO
the prevailing fashion and popular feeling the farm iur
nlshes lew inducements for The youthful aspant for
tonal honoTs and preferment.
While every other profession and calling, from the
highest TO the most inconsiderahle doorkeeper in the
land is sought after and hunted up with asidity that
is truly supr.ng-professons trading, Offices, and agcn
cies among the most fashionable empoymenis OF the
ages yet how few, compared with the number OF those
engaged IN those pursuis, ever arrive at any emnence
or competency Tor themselves or families.
The tenure by which most OF these are held and en-.
oyed so ransient and fugitive that permanent pre-
paralion be made Tor home and it's ebjoymens The
employmenis OF The families oil those engaged in these
temporary pursuits are so ephemeIa thai they are unit
ted Tor the substantial business oil lie, and cspe.
cIay for those adverse circumstances that frequently
occur.
II the nation wish 10 people her farms with skful
and scientific farmers, elevate her standards give her
name and place, and an independent position among
national palaces where the Father OF our Country
srove with his own hands to place her, and where he
earnestly recommended the nation 10 place her. and
not turn her oil with the crumbs that fall from anothers
table 't.''
Methnks see him yonder, over the way with the
manuscript OF his plan in hand and the wisdom Of hs
guiding deliberations in periecng his
host tayorite object
Remember beseech you this great and practical
truth, that whatever emanates from the nation has
national influence aud national example, and do not
turn oil with the inhostabe that another and
inferior jurisdiction may do this, and not the nation
Through our whole history the nations voice has
heard effective effort to recognise agriculture
by separate institution. TO throw around any OF the
governmental patronage or influence, to clothe it with
science and SKILL that It's national honors may be borne
and enjoyed by Its occupants,
From General Washington down to the present Chief
Magi-rate, every recommendation TO establish bosrj
tor ITS elevation and Improvement has been entinely
nrgleciei. nH
Every report from committees upon this subject bas
been permitted TO sleep upon the table, and not even
discussion provoked
The great and primary object OF this bureau 10 ee
the social condition OF the agrculturst and increase
his means and facilities for Improvement. That this ~
necessary all will admit We need not 40 beyond our
hall to how few farmers selected national es-
lators Look 10 your professions and mechanics, and
see their skill and productions then the mind OF the
country let each congressional district be examined aud
zee how few model farms TO be found, and how lew
prize articles possessed See how few farms that may
not be gfealy improved in price, value, and productions
Look our agricultural products that sent abroad
and see how many branded as unmefcbantacle, or
second rate, and compare the general reputation they
bear abroad with mechanical inventions and improve
ments and The answer better be understood than
pressed lt is the sentiment OF every patriot that II
should be the study OF every statesman and the primary
object OF every legislator elevate The agricultural in
tsrest" IL be done any other way tian by
the action OF the nation u never has been ~ any other
country and never will be IN this There are in all rev
there general power above and below to guide
and sustain them they will fade away. Here the science
be concentrated and dfused BY the national repre-
senatves Let the farming interest that the general