The Ohio star. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1830-1854, 1853-10-12

liberal government, has thEs, In q few years,
transformed Northern Ohio frolz. a waste howl-
ing wilderness, into fruitful fields and gardens
--1nade ker the seat of prodigious enterprise,
the storehouse of inexhaustible collective
wealth. and given her proud eminence III the
eyes of the world
Every thing, therefore, that has tendency
to facilitate labor and to render it more pow
erful and efficient, or reduce the price of com
nodities SO as to bring them within the reach
Of all, adds propertionably to the means of OBJ
tanning wealth and riches and consequently
must be of prime importance to every member
OF this society and of the commonwealth
Every new improvement in machinery, every
additional resource from the vegetable, animal
or mineral kingdom, should therefore be hailed
with enthusiasm, and be made at once to con-
tribute its aid to the advancement of society.
Notwithstanding the people in this section
Of Ohio have made astonishing progress for the
last fifty years, and at this time exhibit grea-
ter show of wealth and substantial indereud-
enee than any equal promiscuous population
on the face of the globe; still it cannot be sup
posed that they have arrived at the summit of
improvement, or that they will be content to
remain in their present condition.
Progress is now more than ever the law Of
humanity; and there certainly exists no reason
why human ingenuity should not improve as
much hereafter on the present, as the present
has already improved upon the past. Indeed
for the next fifty years we are to look fer far
greater improvements than the world has ever
seen The time has now come, especially in
the United States, when every improvement
however slight, goes at once to aid in the pro-
duction and distribution of wealth, while at
the same time it difuses abroad the light OF
civilization. The time has now arrived when,
it is the interest of every member of the COM
munity that all the intellect, science and prac-
tical kno,cledge of man, should be brought to
bear upon the economical well being of society.
This happy union Of mental and corporeal
labor will create an irresistible power, which
as it goes on increasing, will cause exclusive
selfshness to fade away and the whole comnlu-
nifty, like one great family, to be firmly united
BY the bands of peace, industry, mutual inter-
est, and common hopes. Then will knowledge
flow apace, human skill triumph over every OBJ
stacle, intercommunications become permanent
and perfect, SO that the isolation of families
will be no longer probable; geographical dis
tance be measured by brief intervals of time,
and wealth and power be proportionally in
creased.
By the untiring efforts of this and similar So
cieties, the way is now open, so that oil may
take part in this sublime march of social pro-
gress; and to hasten on the results of this most
brilliant consumation, let every individual lend
his aid to the immediate advancement aud per-
fection of the great business Of .4g7iculturs.
That business that was pre-eminenty ordained
as mans occupation at the time he was crea-
ted; that business which involves almost
numbered millions of fixed capital, and many
millions of the human family in its daily pro-
secution--the parent of commerce and the arts;
which in all ages and nations has been,and must
be the foundation and top-stone in the broad
temple of civilization, without which the world
would be a desert, and with which, the earth,
instead of being blighted with curse may be
made to glow in all the verdure and fruitful
AcbS vi prllleFdi L drduiSc
It's true that by " mans first disobedience"
and curse was placed upon the ground A
curse was also laid upon Cain for killing his
brother. But let it be remembered that there
aerer was curse laid upon agricultural labor;
and the idea that Adam would have spent
long life on earth in Incidence or without la
Dor, provided he had not sinews, is one full Of
absurdity. Was he not eminently formed for
labor and action; with bone sinews joints and
muscles? Was he not commanded to repen-
ish the earth and subdue it? Was he not put
into the Garden @to dress it and to keep it" and
all this before his transgression? If he were
to remain in Eden without labor and action,
why, senseless statue would have answered
Just as good purpose No. man was espe-
cially to acork and labor, and the inspired
Psalmist in reviewing the wisdom of God ex-
claims in conclusion " Man goeth forth to his
work and labor until the evening" The pun
ishment of Adam, then, constituted not in his
being subject to labor, but in being driven
forth upon the earth and compelled to gain
: knowledge of husbandry by hard experience;
instead of being permitted to indulge in the de-
lghtful employment of dressing and keeping
the garden, and thus receiving divine lessons in
husbandry, as he might have done, had he not
sinned. So likewise the punishment of Cain
consisted not in his being obliged to till the
ground, but exactly the opposite-in not be-
Ing permitted to till the ground and reap the
rewards of industry. And when he was told
that, instead oftilling the ground, he must go
forth as q fugitive and vagabond he in anguish
exclaimed, {" My punishment is greater than I
can bear"
In like manner nations when by their crimes,
they cat themselves off from the delightful en-
ployent of cultiFating the soil, soon find thier
punishment greater than they can bear; for
they sink at once into obscurity and barba-
risn.
: We may be satisfied therefore, that the la
Dor OF man was never intended as a curse
And whatever curse there was upon tho
ground, was removed when Noah went forth
from the ark; when the Bow of promise was
made substitute for the flaming sword and
the holy Patriarch, after having offered un his
sacrifcies commenced tilling the earth anew
Notwithstanding in. later ain,es arricptur-
a. ,1rl I.