Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-16
Dignity Of Agriculture.

heir common interests, and have established what
called "The Union Agricultural Society of Virginia and
North Carolina" On the 4h Of August last an Address
was delivered at Petersburg by the President Of the So-
ciety, James Q. Bruce, Esq, Of Halifax county, Viz
GINA, which is q production of great merit We may
serve the cause Of agriculture aud crafty Of
readers by Few extracts nom this excellent produc-
ton. We begin with passages the dignity
oil agriculture and the duty OF all to endeavor elevate
il:
"a suppose gentlemen, that leading object set
tied purpose In the formation OF society to elevate and
dignity agriculture 1t Is in vain for you attempt
cite professional enthusiasm without first arousng profess
sona pride Agriculture, before the last century could
hardly be called profession much less science II
necessity mental employment, whose operatives were
the lowest and most ignorant class Of borers aud there
is Incorporated in the very frame work of mother
tongue numberess and their character
and their calling. The English language has borrow cd
some OF It's lowest words and epithets of degrading
sgnicsncy from the life and habits Of the cuvator of the
soil Hind, villain, clown, curl boor, aud perhaps Hea.
then aud Pagan words with which profession has
enriched the English vocabulary. Now, what is the cause
OF this! How s it that the occupation which ministers
most largely aud most benefcially to the wants OF
| the whole human should long have been
considered as degrading to its votAricss While would
in this age Of light aud knowledge claim for agricul-
ure any absolute independence Of other callings and
while acknowledge that all pursuits but links in the
long chain Of mutual dependencies which bind together
in harmonious brotherhood the clashug interests OF
|
supporter Of all others The philosopher the poet the
artist, aud the mechanic must eat while the cuvaor of
the soil might get along badly, to be sure, yet he could
live, without poetry philosophy, or the arts The proud
palace the stately column, and the heaven piercing shaft
do not surely rest the solid foundations OF earth
than do all the professions and trades and avocstons OF
rest the abors of him who holds with his hands
the sickle and the plough.
1.-THE cause Of past degradation il the same which
has so long lowered the many and elevated the few Ag
rcuure once carried on by an inferior race { hu-
Of md hobs
and the ioore with intellect to dignity enoble his
toll passed his life without hope, without thought and
without care congratulate you tc night brighter
prospect Agriculture begins to lit its head from the
dust in which has long been buried 1t is cngug
to the skirts of liberty aud will rise aud sink and fall
with It. The masses Of the world the cutvators Of
the SOIL and whatever eevates them aud gives them
force and Influence, and expansion, far the
beCeht Of agriculture. Show a nation whose people
in possession OF weltilled fields and smiling harvess
aud will show you nation OF freemeu, the character
OF whose government is written in golden letters the
face ofits landscape.
"The respectablity of every profession is graduated
by the amount OF intellect which is made to bear it,
Agriculture Is the calling of the masses and to elevate
We must elevate the masses. General education and
wide spread popular enlightenment much the basis
prosperous agriculture is Of rational liberty; and
TO improve the cultivation Of States the light OF
knowledge must first fall the minds Of their citizens
The principles ofa scientific agriculture or even of wise
practical tsge cannot be Justified into the minds of the
ignorant II be safely said them that the why
the agricuurst is laggard in the of improvement
is that his competitors have always had the advantage
more intellectual culture There is abundant cause for
his The cuityators Of the soil scattered large
surface; their employmenIs independent aud solitary
they want the attrton of social Intercourse by which the
mind Is polished and sharpened aud the intellect lighted
up The votares Of other trades and professions live in
cities brought into daily contact have their
egcs, their guilds, their trades. unions and associations
Union not only gives light aud knowledge but energy
confidence aud DO lduess"
There are some appropriate views to the duties Of
th
| ests, portion Of which We append
"whe, gentlemen it may not comport with our inte-
rests or our tastes TO in the stries of political
ties yet proper that should avail ourselves of
organization for the purpose OF making such impress
sion on State legislation may place int
rests more under the protection of law they
present. Our fields If defended by strong
not protected at all Our lands in the Of the
law are commons and the only privilege which allow
TO the owners is the privilege OF enclosing them. Il
throws them back in safe OF nature and, refusing al
protection, graciousy allows them to protect themselves
There is excuse for this The lsndholder is injured
without compromising advantage IN any class. hops
that will be the pleasure Of society
strongly and geiica!y against such barOarous egs
| lation.
"The farmer has right, too claim for his focks tn;
protection OF the law. The Legislature haze passed
peated acts for the protection OF sheep against the
Of wolves, but worthless doss destroy 10 year
sheep than be frly laid 10 the account of wolves
since the days OF .fsop. Without elf cen
legislation this subject sheep husb,ndry any respect
able scale must be abialoned and thus important sg
cuura interest will be sacrificed and millions lost TO tn,
country This evil calls loudly for remedy. Thes,
are modest demands. and should be promptly and unhes
atiag'y couceied The truth s the sgticuurst wants
bu. little positive legislative all. We ask for corr
laws, protective tariff but simply let alone auC
then. with the smiles of kind Providence abors
Ne will be content. | think, gentlemen that when Out
society is fairly under way, with all the appliances which
hope soon 10 it in possession Of il may well declare
its Independence OF all State aid Tor have dis
position TO call on Hercules. fair field and that amount
OF protection which every citizen has right claim
the hands OF his Government are all that require.
% AN happy 10 see from the published proceedings
OF our society, that it is contemplated to hold fair il
October next for the exhibition of specimens Of the pro
ducton OF our fields. our herds. and locks. Let ii
be remembered that society will derive neither honor
no shame from this exhibition for il Young
incurred any responsibility. We cannot in a moment cal
by Fat order Of chaos light Of darkness-
Al. that We promise is, TO show the condition OF agr
culture at the commencement OF our labors to what
We have and what We have In order that this may
be done, let every member bring up specimen of his
land Lat him present his frsngs his sacrifice will BIT
accepted. Let no come up here 10 October empty
handed Let him who pleads his poverty chow a spec
men OF bis poverty Ii we show nothing else let show
our wants This Is what our society ought to know il il
what our society ought relieve and for this purpose
Il was called into being. II is not vain show that we
desire to make; We want TO what now, that
We may hereafter make comparisons, in order know
society doing good and whether the country pros
pering under it auspices This is the object of the s5ce
v in holding its fair and all must acknowledge that il is
/
exhibition should be literal SCALE should exercise
at the same time iudicous economy OF means We
have 10 myjudgmen other objects, less striking perhaps
but fully as important, which appeal liberaty.
wish 20 our society take wider range than any other
which has preceded / see our experimental
farm in operations; and dream, too Of agricultural
school attached to it under the direction aud
ofour society. Why not? There schools ofdiyinty
OF law, aud Of medicine, aud WY should not body o.
agfculturisis like have school Of agriculture
What is organization worth i; does not bring forth
some splendid effort of enterprise An experimental
farm, with agricultural school attached TO it, would
leave US nothing more TO ask for wish. We
engaged ia the task Of laying the stone agrcu
ture Let its foundation be broad and deep Let not ou
work be epheueral aud lot ourselves viii
the exhibition OF an amusing pageant Let be ser
vile copyists, but let lead, let boldly lay down
course for society that useful that will benefit our
selves that will benefit States that will benefit the
world"
TRADE or FRANCE.
Paris Aug 2s) Correspondence OF the London Time,
The export trade OF Paris experienced during the Eesk
marked improvement Considerable orders reached
from Portugal the Brszis, aud other parts Of SOUTH
America, Upper Peru Chill and Caracas. TIE llst adj