Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1852-06-17
ADDRESS
HENRY STEVENS, ESQ.

HENRY STEVENS, ESQ.
Delivered before the Members 81 the state
Agfiyuiturai society at Middlebury, sept.
~. 1854.
The pursuits Of Agriculture have been
held ga the highest estimation, among the
wlsest and most powerful nations. Indeed
to neglect that art, would indicate a want
OF wisdom aud the consequences Of such
uegec, would be a want of power When
husbandry cXciies but lltue attention, there
can he ht,e else worth attending to. The
conyeniences and comforts of life must be
unknown, aud even ITS necessarles, It's in
dlspen,IbIes must have a huctuating and
precarious exlsteuce. Distress waits on
inprnvdence; want treads on the heel Of
Incidence Famine was frequent among
the aboriginal tribes of New England. and
together with pesiileuce, MS usual concomi-
tant desolmed the land, and left large tracts
of country without an inhabitant to impede
the settlement OF the Pilgrims.
The natives If this country owed these
oalamiiies, aud at length their utter ex,iuc-
ton. TO Their ignorance of agriculture, and
want Of acquaintance with those arts,
which gives subsistence and minister CONF
fort to civilized man. Had the poor Indi-
ans been Husbandmen, Artisans, Mechan-
les. Manufacturers, this part of the CONT
uent would still have been possessed by It's
primitive inhabitants Should we neglect
the arts, aud pay no attention TO the pur-
suits OF the husbandman, artisan, mechan-
ic ana manufacturer, we too must cease to
be a nation, aud our country be occupied
by stronger because a wiser people TO
whom superior knowledge ia agriculture
and useful arts, has gwen superior power.
The United States will exist then only 10
story, and occupy only few pages IN the
auuals of alien possessers of this goodly
land of our fathers.
Important as agriculture is, artisans, me-
chauics, manufacturers, can hardly be deem
ed Of less consequence. They must adj
vance hand in hand, or they will all 90
backward United they stand, divided they
fall They are the means Of national great
ness as well as the Alpha and Omega of
individual prosperity. 10 talk of any clash
ing, IN their Interests, Is 10 speak of hoslli-
ity between the r,ght and lett hand of the
same individual. Ii one is SICK the other
Is faint; If one pershes, the other will soon
be annlhIlated Agriculture, without aru-
saus, mechanics or manufacturers would
give Us farmers without tools. Artisans,
aud manufacturers without agriculture
would produce mechanics without bread
Adam could not have dressed the garden Of
Eden, without first becoming a mechanic,
or beng furnished with the necessary I'M
plements boy the Almighty Artisan, who ex-
hlbns the universe as a sample OF his man
ulacture.
moi. a gttr
our national existence depends on the sue
ces,iul pursuit of agriculture aud manuiac-
lures, what eau we d. To promote the az
ueullural, mechanical and manufacturing
interests OF tins State aud of ouf country :
THIS is question of as great Importance
as any of finite nature. which can posi-
bly, call for the exercise OF the best Inlellec-
tua powers aud faculties gwen to man by
his Creator. To state all which should be
done, would require complete aud very
voluminous Cyclopedia. shall therefore
conhne myself to some remarks, relative 10
what ought not TO be omitted, If we wish
agriculture to acquire and maintain that
strength and stability which should be the
principal pillars of public and private pros
perliy. In order that agriculture may pros
per, 1t must be made profitable, II must
be directed with skill as well as industry
II must be considered honorable. The far
lner must be contented, economical and IN
uustrous. The pursuits of agriculture are
probably rising in public estimation; sui
we do not believe they have yet risen TO
Their proper elevation. That further as
Cent may be effected, agriculture must con-
hnue 10 command the attention aud patron
al mi Of, Of nf
iation and high official character. Persons
who have II in their power, 10 mould the
manners, aud excite aud direct the INDUS
uy OF mankind, should not consider them
selves too great TO be useful and should
throw the weight of their influence, precept
ana example into the scale of agriculture.
They should employ their heads, if not
their hands, their money, if not their per
soual labor. in promoting an art, which II
neglected would place them, as their inierI-
oTs, on a level with the savage.
We have many examples. Some OF the
principal statesmen in our country, from the
days OF Washington to the present time,
were farmers sons, and many OF them have
ADDED TO their wealth, and gained dIstlnc-
IONS more honorable than those OF birth, by
OeIng authors of mechanical inventions and
Improvements Yet among sayages, dan
ules and fools, who are ANXIOUS to hgure IN
hlgh life, without manners or means; with
oul wit, wealth or wisdom contrary TO the
uecrees aud habits of nature, rural occupa-
lions are thought degrading and to culti-
'aie The ground is consider, as the bitter
est punishment of poverty, or the last shift
oil unsuccessful knayery.