Washington telegraph., 1852-05-05
We announced last week the formation of


the important objects contemplated IN this
movement. The sentiment has been fre-
quently expressed of late, that our State is
far behind others in point of improvement
in everything that pertains to the interest
and prosperity of people. We have us
tened to this truth, iterated, and reiterated,
until one would suppose its effect upon us
must be considerably diminished. The time
for such general condemnation is now passed.
He, alone, will be regarded as public ben
efactor, who, instead of dwelling upon the
errors of the past will point clearly to an
enlightened, practicable course of action for
the future, and lead the way. The con-
struction of our great central road will ac-
complish wonders in this march Of improve
ment. 1t will open up to us avenues to
wealth which now lie unexplored, and
utterly useless. But, as great as will be
the benefits accruing to all, from the prose-
cution of an enlightened system Of Internal
improvements, these are not all that constl-
tute tie wealth and standing ola people. 9th
er interests must be fostered contemporaries
ously with these facilities of transit and
communication. Other, and perhaps, equal
ly important means must be employed, in
order that we may reap the full benefit we
are naturally led to expect from these ia
cilities We must not forget that proper
regard to manufacturing interests, and
due attention to the various improved sys-
TENS of agriculture go hand in hand with
the work of Internal Improvement. Every
effort, therefore, that may be employed to
perfect our knowledge Of these arts, and
render increased returns to investments
more certain and practicable, tend to pro-
mote general progress, and add to our pros
perity. We hazard the assertion that there
is something radically defective in the sys-
tenn of agriculture as practised in our State.
Why is it, that our farmers, for years past,
have been dependent upon the supplies of
provisions which are produced in such sur
plus quantities in more-favored States p
| Has Heaven failed to visit us with genial
showers and Withdrawn the fluctifying rays
of the summer sun? Not so. True, we
have, for three or four years, labored under
some disadvantages in respect to the seasons,
but, never has the want of these blessings
been such as to justify us in expending all
| Of our means in the importation of such ar
ticles of necessity as should have been raised
in abundant profilsion at home. Thus, we
present to the world memorable instance
of ignorance or improvidence. The agri-
cultural interest is the only one of the great
branches Of productive industry, that enga
ges our attention, and yet, we import for
daily consumption nearly all our four large
quantities of bacon now and then our corn
and a host of other edibles, to the production
of which cur soil and climate are as well
adapted as any other within the compass Of
the Union. Now, what advantage does the
culture Of our great staple to an extent so
great, afford us, if we are compelled to ex-
pend the entire avails which it brings to us
in foreign market, for the necessaries Of
life. the articles Of every day consumption /?
There is screw loose somewhere We
must. if we expect to become prosperous
people, direct our attention more than we do,
to the production of such articles as are me-
cessary to our support. We must not leave
ourselves in such condition. that if a
blight should unexpectedly cut off the
"mast" we will be compelled to depend
upon others more provident, for supply of
meat. We must not feel, that because an
other person settles near us, and fences in a
portion of our cattle range, we must, there
fore, pull up stakes and remove to some more
distant and roomy region. Better would
it be for us if, for the next five years, the
"mast trees ceased to bear their fruit, and
the range" should offer no more the means
of subsistence to our stock.
i Perhaps in no other department of hu-
man industry, has such wonderful progress
been made in recent times, as in se.at of ag-
riculture. The wonderful and valuable
science of chemistry, under the skilful ma
nipulations and brilliant genius of the great
Liebig, has unfolded to us many strange
and important laws connected with agricul-
tural production, and disclosed to us the
means by which the bountiful gifts of the
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