Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-09-29

Of practical agriculture and an exactness OF
and detail in regard to his system OF husbandry which
could DO the result onlS OF familiar practice during IN,
and that he be had been farmer
This Is part of the history of that extraordinary man
whose profound political wisdom and magnificent eloquenc
have been the admiration of the world that has hhertS
attracted but little attention, but which, recalled by IN,
incidental mention Of his name worthy OF
bance here to-day. Indeed know nothing the histcr,
OF the human mind remarkable than that comhina
ton OF high philosophy In the ahstruse questions
legislation and political economy, with practical Sgaciou
knowledge in the ordinary OF human life which
the paper in question exhibits; aud rises from it, per-
usal hled with species OF at the compass
the human facilities and perplcxed which most to admire
the farmer statesman, the statesman farmer. II
agriculture has been much honored aud cultivated ia
other great aud powerful States distinguished by their free
Institutions 1t must be yet in this land of ives
tern liberty and progress In the first place. there Is
other country in which large proportion OF the
population enjoying competence aud possessing adequate
means for tho liberal exercise of the art engage in
the abors OF agriculture. In England according the
most authentic statistical returns somewhat less than
third OF the industrious inhabitants of the
employed In France the other hand where the sub
division OF landed property has been carried to very
great extent under the encouragement OF positive egsa-
on as well as the influence of traditional habits is
mated that two thirds OF the whole population actu-
ally engaged interested landoi s and propreors in
the pursuits OF agriculture. But great this proportion
Is and accompanied in that country with
raiiened resources, which forbid genera attempt at
an improved husbandry il is yet less than the relative
number OF our people shown nv the latest complete
data IN our possession be employed in the operations
of agriculture. The full details OF the ofls50
having yet been given the public only refer for
information ON this point to that OF lSIO from which il
appears that out OF the total population then existing in
the United States of little than millions
an effective force Of 3OI persons employed in he
pursuits OF agriculture, manufactures, and
and of that number S5l99Sl persons, 50 4.lO per
cent engaged in agriculture 79l II lilo per
cent in manufactures and ll7,6O7, 5lO per cent.
in commerce Though these proportions have varied
somewhat since aud will doubtless continue vary in
greater or less degree from time to time vet nothing
more certain than that for ages come agriculture
be the chosen occupation OF large majority Of the cpub-
can people of America The Of territory,
now stretching from sea- and embracing
three degrees OF latitude Of the temperate Eone from the
Lake of the Woods to the Rio del Norte, aud vet
very thnly peoped-mAke this by irreversibe
law OF political economy the manifest but peaceful,
destiny of country Ebounding in cheap and fertile
lands, with rapidly increasing ard literally consuming
population at home, and extending commerce with
the rest of the world absorb its productions While
agriculture employs and must long continue to employ
much the largest portion OF American labor it contributes
also, by its annual products much the largest amount
to the sum OF the national income and wealth The
whole annual products of industry Of every kind in the
United States IN 1870 have been estimated by learned
and Ingenious siatSt professor Tucker, in his Progress
OF the United Siatcs) drawing his conclusions from
the document TO which have just referred at the sum
total OF 81 ,O6S 1884, 736 Of ich 6543S7 5SI de-
rived from agrI uJur, 2S9 $50 224 from manufactures
7e,IslOs6 from commerce. and balance from Ininng
the Forest and the fisheries combined. Far be it
from me 20 refer TO these statistical details in
any spirit Of nyidous comparison for the purpose
OF derOgating in the slightest degree, from the
itive value and Importance of the sister branches
OF the national industry, which the Indispensable
supports of prosperous agriculture. Ii is TO the
uactures aud commerce that the aCricuurs look
to give marketable value to all that great mass OF
his ouctiOns which needed his consump
ton, while al the time, il is by them that
are supplied his various additional with
promputude certainty aud economy, which enable him to
devote his energies without distraction and with the high
est effect, to his proper calling. Hence it has
been found that agriculture ourishes 10y the side of
and In reciprocal and spontaneous communion with
acturas aud commerce; aud State be said 10 be
I'LL, IN he natural progress of thingS it upon the
triple alliance Of all these arts OF social and civilized life
Feeling then that every prcpitious breeze which fills the
sails Of the merchan'man and every profitable waterfall
that the busy wheel " the mluufictory mplrts
fe>h impulse and offers encouragement 20 the Ia
bls Of the u,bIudmlr have referred the Compare
tive presented by Official statistics with
but place before in it, light great
national interest," the simple aud unpreendng pursuit in
which YOU engaged and which, apt be overlooked
in tie Isolated and sequcsercd lives Of s followers
hc proh"ty appreciated Only 10y is collective results
Looking il from this point view all must acknowledge
that the mission of the aricuturst in our American pub
lie economy Of great dignity and importance; and
happily, never dbl there exist ia any country cumbina
ton of circumstances favorable the highest per
icctiun and development Of the Let US for a mo-
mcut compare his position here with that OF the agicul
turist Of Europe. There but few State quar-
Of the globe in which the eual system which succ-
ded the f Of the Roman Empire, has not left profound
and rl abiding traces Of - peculiar policy with regard
landed property. A. consequence of shat things
this portion Of the original inheritance the human fin
ly remains in the hands OF comparatively small number
at the proprcor In Ergtnd, Tor example, the actual
cultivator aud occupant Of farm J. very rarely its own
In uucty-niue out Of hundred he i tenant
frequently for short term, and sometimes without
the security Of lease IL not IN human nature under
such circ instances that the farmer should be vcrv 80
fictitious make improvements ct which the chief benefit
may enu!e 10 another; and H. indeed, wonderful and
fact honorable 20 the tenant firmers of England
-LI u and hat
other oppressive tradition which, in the shape Of tthes
subjects them to increased burdens in proportion their
skill industry, and expense in Improvements. Epgi-h
agriculture should be what l. Ia the country which
separated from England 10y sea, aud yet more
by strongly cOntrI~ted national character institutions
nlnurrs, thr cicuUragr of agriculture Of pre-
cisry opposite There the monopoly but
the extreme aud unnatural subdivision OF landed property
and the duuuuts Of farm, almost TO tue verge Of
10" Infinite iivi-uily Of matter that opposes tie most
setou obstacle To- thc general progress OF agricultural inn
prOycmcut- What would tluk, this broad CONT
Of uur- Of field mra.Urrg one aud half wards by
two and farmer owning aud cutVslng a single furow
and thHt hy long one. And vet in Lorraine
there examples Of tIe former ac-ed ny tie auiho
IS Of grave lu respectable French writ,r Mons Boo
anI u Brittany the common name applied hy the peasant
% his procession, Is s!on, ~ uroW AID IL j., IN fact
often nothing u II est mated that there are about
million mud quarter Of PROJECTORS Zoo France none Of
whom hoi more tiar two DeciUe five acres u land
aud di,l": .,e whole area Of tho country by the total
number ot propretors OF every grad, the average
sz' OF tue farms j. about eleven aud a half Gct,s-
iGi' mosliTIts subdivision ui landed property en-
cumbercl too, f1r the most part, with hereditary
mortgages which have descended with the land from
father son, must, IL j. evident, m much the larger
number Of ustcc leave neither the space the capt
tai necessary for improved system OF hu-bandry. That
there are, notwithstanding, examples Of high and
fol farming u France j. OILY proof Of the national geni.
us ,r administrative OF sanz i,n, aud the application Of
science % t', ,zeWT pursuit where both are 80
Important Iui fruitful Let u- turn To tho nanny
and privileged I-itiDu Of the American s,ricuitutit
Win but tor" exceptions, he Is the well the
Orcu,ar OF tv fsru hs cIGvatgs. lei. hs aud in at
simple word bound ~ iususye uuI mysterious a.
Ocatyus which attach him % ir with tenOlI poser. IL
s biz aHl h- ohlIr-'s ucr lin. The labor boz b, STOW
upon Do b. Labor of love well interest Every i'm
prOyc.cut hs makes 90 hs bruch: and graft.
hcon and 70 tile bcncl: add qualification of those Who
urc nearest and dearest Co bin. This cherished po..r..
sion too Be- ~ ,Aisut -u cut afford tie means Tor
t- Improvement veil the comfortable miutrI.
auce O ~ owner varying Nuh the circumstance otis
locality, and the culture 20 which tie devoted Tie pro.
prietor s not tstlcfed like h. beast little spot VI
Garth ~ brus-e abugt dy ai.r lay, aud year after year
bro s same weary ad restricted round, Tor sctuiy sub
-'ruc". lie look around hr with erect CDautraucr
aud pit aud aIf conscious piiIe and gratitude, lis