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

teal Judgment and OF sound theoretical views with dis
eliminating observation, the intellectual power OF the
country well it, numbers must be largely enlisted
TO promise the highest In this respect In 9th
the United States have bceo cmiDentlv happy.
naugurated by the great ef Washington and
Jefferson aud illustrated In times by others
whose brilliant renown canonsed by death. form the
Just pride of tho country by the names OF Clay aud Web
ser OF Jackson and Cahoun-has been slow draw
Its aid talents and attaumens fthe highest order aud
OF every diversity OF character whether practical sci
entc But there one portion Of the mental
OF the country, obviously and visibly connected with
the operations of agriculture which is impossible pass
by unnoticcd the present occasion. refer 70 the
extraordinary fccundy and ingenuity Of tho American
mind In species OF mechanical continuance aud
pecay those intended TO ecouomise human labor and TO
augment It's productive powers. That this Isl peculiar
degree American attribute Is by all the
world since in the OF 1881, you forth from
your port the gallant little America, to give lesson
in naval construction hinder the modest aud innocent form
of yacht the Oldest aud renowned maritime
power in the world, and since In the summer, at
the great London Exhibition the Virginia and MARYLAND
respers augtthc English farmers how gather In their
harvests with expedition economy and complete
ness which FOR has century they had been attempting
but in vain, under the stimulus Of Parliamentary
reward. IL Is hardly possible TO form ado
adequate conception Of the immense importance to
American agriculture of this peculiar characteristic OF the
national genius. Even In England where human labor H.
cheap is estimated by the highest auho
ty Of that county refer the present able aud dlslu
gushed President OF the Royal Agricultural Society that
by means OF the invention oi implements the I'M
provemens of old there has been effected within tho
last twelve years saving OF nearly half In tho expense
Of all the principal branches OF English farm labor.-
(Sce the report Of Mr. Puscy H. r. H. the President Of
the Royal Commission for the exhibition Of tho works
industry of all nations agricultural mpcmcnis Ia
this country, where labor much and dearcr
he extent TO which the productive powers of agriculture
aided by the nventvc genius OF counymcn, like.
~ be yet farther increased by the udicous aud more
general adoption Of labor saving machinery well by
the progressive improvement of agricultural implements
in general ia question Of the deepest interest How de.
pendent the ahOrs Of the hubandln upon the inge.
nuitp and skill OF the mscSanician Il sufficiently apparent
FROM the fact disclosed 10y the late that imperfect
as our agricultural equpmcns in there
yet invested in the various descriptions of farming mpe-
ments and machines in United States that time an
aggregate capital of hundred and fifty millions OF
dollars Associated with the inventive powers of American
mind is another Tat of the national character which has al
ready excrted and will continue the favorable
influence the progress Of American agriculture The peo
pie Of the United States while they have themselves
happy and fertile in the orgnaon PRINCIPLES and
pedieni demanded by their particular have been
always quick and discerning in the adoption of whatever
experience has demonstrated be good aud valuable in
the customs and nstt tOns Of other countries and which
could be advantageously transpanted to own. The
American mind iuquisve and eclectic well rs oric
nal and inventive Our political institutions are in a great
degree eclectic for with much that wholly original and
gurey American devised by the wisdom of ancestors
10 suit peculiar circumstances there many things
which were suggested to them by the
pie o.. the ancient and modern republics well by the
institutions OF atherland Our national population
itself eclectic for however common it is speak our
selves Anglo SaNons it impossible 10 ignore the many
other aud important elements that into the compost
ton oil the great American family. So too agricul-
eclectic and farmers practical eclectic
philosophers in appropratng and transpanng here what
ever the systems Of agriculture Of other counries and
their improved breeds Of domestic animals particularly
offer worthy of adoption Your yourself Mr. President
have rendered important services the country in this line
and have not forgotten that 1t great cattle show
ia England where you periodically employed in
making selections Of the finest animals OF that country
to improve native stocks that had the pleasure OF
hrst forming acquaintance which il ripened here to-
day in our own happy and under the beams of our go-
rious autumnA sun. Others of our agricultural brethren
of this end other States have been long and most use
fully employed in Cnchng the country with the choicest
results ci iureign breeding and their uames identified
with great national benefit familiar household
words in the calendar Of every American farmer
shall be pardoned If IN this connection | speak OF this
class Of public who in the opinion of many
are rather superiuous incumbrauce upon the State
or nj best wisely kept for show but who from the oppnr.
tunitics Afforded 10y their public residence abroad have
sometimes had it in their power introduce new and
most valuable branches Of hUSblndry from foreign
countries into their Own. Il was Sir Richard Weston
English ambassador to the low countries, who
two centuries ago, introduced from Flanders the
culture OF that Invaluable plant the red clover
and the field culture OF the turnip also, into Eng
land. Franklin, fresh from the field Of its miraculous
elects, made plaster of Paris speak for itself To
tIr incredibly OF the Pcnusy yAna farmers by tracing
its name upon their grasses in powder which, in a
few short months, sprung up into a vegetable alphabet
that one might run aud read General Humphreys Min
i-er OF the United States TO Spain about the commence
ent OF thc present century ts made known to hy
large importation OF lis own the value of the Mctino sheen
which has since been Of much riches TO this
part OF the U"nn, and your Chancellor Livingston
Minister 10 France, out the same time Obtained
from the French EoveIumcbt, aud sent TO the
United States, specimens Oi the famous Rtmbnuet flock
that may he considered the germ in America, of those
French Mernoe- which are now attracting such general
attention Having glanced in rapid, AMI am sensible
very imperfect manner at Of the circumstances in
national situation and history and also some of h.
attributes Of the national nus and character that appear
peculiarly spciOus to the progre-. Of agricultural i'm
provcmeut in the United States allow me To say few
words subject Of great practical cOuccrum n, To all
who engagd IL the pursuits OF lgrcuurc-I mean its
fair and legitimate returns ia the form Of profit Arricul
ture, speak OF it here to-day l. a mere pastime
or amusement lis branch of the ntoa industry ON
which large mjOiiY Of the people 81 the United State,
rely ~ their means OF support aud o. bringing up and
ucairg their families Like every other branch of the ma
tUual Industry, therefore, 10 ought Weld an adfuuate
return for the Labor and capital employed IN It, An opn.
ion has somehow or other strangely gained ground that
the ngrcuturist ought tn he with much smaller
profits hau those to he derived from other cmpovmeuts
because he leads it il imiluc easier and less labo
rDus life, aud his pursuit supposed u be- less liable 10
hazards and ycisltude+ Whatever pocticl views niy
be entertained OF farmers life by those have never
tried IT, the farmer himself knows that there il no pur
suit, well followed, which demands urtirng industry
aud more ceaSicss vigilance, aud precious
IN ~ results from the effect 81 the uncertainty
OF the the fruits Of biz bors Burke IL the
remarkable paper TO which have already alluded speak.
ing expermentally farmer we'll a. from vide sur
vey Of hun in LIE, says that 1T rcqrc- ten times more
OF LABOR, Of vigilance, Of attention. Of kill and of good
fortune nl'o % carry the bu-res, OF farmer tan
what belongs to any other trade" famous school Of
pc 81 pilp-ophcr- the French economists have con
tc1ded at Kind lablr hnt that employed in the cul
usaion Of the earth properly deserves the Of pro-
dictve however useful they may be in other respects
because no other species Of industry over aHd above the
CcssAty expenses Of continuing itself contributes any
value. that does 10 the snaps Of rent the
Of the national wealth Adam Smith, tire great oracle Of
mJicrn economical science while denying this doctrine Of
tie French economist yet maintains that agriculture IT,
IN it, nature, the mos productive Of u the branches o.
national industry, adding to his words, - much
g'eiter value n tie annual produce ~ hc ald labor
1 The county o. the real wealth aud of IT, in
hani'an's than any way n which cipit be employ
CT Without going Tar ~ either lam Smith or the
French economist the ngrcuuri.t may least claim
equality with other pursuits iu tendency promote the
ritouHl wealth, aud fry aspire 10 Of rcrumr-
ntO1 Tor bis labor and capital 10 be determined by the
same rules oi proportion aud hc principles Of rqu
~ Whether this has been yet fully attained
practice oauy considerable extent either here or else
where, b., uprtehsuda matter of great doubt. S.ill
Le stiniutd Of agricultural profit in ptrts
NJ Europe where both skill aui capital have been
hrg'y applied 10 the cultivation Of land, j. I
ain "a