Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-16
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
DIGNITY OF AGRICULTURE.

the promotion of their common interests, and have
established what is called I" The Union Agricultural
Society of Virginia and North Carolina" On the 4th
os August last an Address was delivered at Peters
bs,r.y by the President of the Society, JAMES Z.
HnIoE Esq, of Halifax county, Virginia, which is
d production of great merit. We may serve the
saase OF agriculture and crafty some of our readers
sy few extracts from this excellent production
We begin with some passages on the dignity OF
agriculture and the duty of all to endeavor to ele-
SEa1s 1t: s,.
az suppose gentlemen, that it is leading object,
sed purpose in the formation of society to elevate
and dignity agriculture 1t is in vain for you to attempt
excite professional enthusiasm without first arousing
professional pride Agriculture before the last century,
could hardly be called profession, much less science
Ea was necessity, mental employment, whose opera
gives the lowest and most ignorant class of laborers
aud there is incorporated in the very framework of
usIher tongue numberess sneers and sarcasms at
esir character and their calling The English language
hs borrowed of its lowest words and epthets of
degrading signifcancy from the life and habits of
che caltvator Of the soil Hind, villain, clown, chur,
Snor, and perhaps Heather and Pagan words with
ssch profession has enriched the English vocabua-
r Now, whatis the of this! How is it that the
scupation which ministers most largely and most bene
r2Ny to the wants Of the whole human race should
y have been considered degrading to its votaries
N would not in this age Of light and knowledge claim
fr agriculture any absolute independence of other call
Eszs, and while acknowledge that all pursuits are but
s IN the long chain of mutual dependencies which bind
Saer i'll harmonious brotherhood the cashing interests
ar mankind yet do assert that profession the base
mod supporter of all others The philosopher, the poet
ss astist, and the mechanic must eat while the cuya
chr st the soil might get along badly to be yet he
cou4a live, without poetry, phosophys or the arts The
raad palace the stately column, and the heaven pierre
Iy shaft do surely the solid foundations
f earth than do all the professions and trades and avo
aras of rest the labors of him who holds with
t1is hands the sickle and the plough. ..... !. ~
The of past degradation is the same which
s long lowered the many and elevated the few Agri-
!sure carried by an inferior of human
degs, things of and sackcloh and hobshoes and
die laborer with intellect dignity ennobe his
ta- passed his life without hope, without thought and
withaut congratulate you tonight On brighter
prasgect. Agriculture begins to lift up its head from
che dust in which it has long been buried 1t cling
Ig the skirts Of liberty, and will rise and sink and fall
with It, The of the world the cultivators of
,e sa and whatever eevates them and gives to them
Ssrce and influence and expansion, far to the
3sasiI of agriculture. Show nation whose people
possession of we'll titled fields and smiling harvest
and will show you nation of freemen the character
II whose government is written in golden letters the
saee Of its landscape. .r.. r'* @.
The respecaby of every profession is graduated by
Gs Of intellect which is made to lear on it. Agr
iire is the calling of the masses and to elevate it
must elevate the General education and wide
sgrsad popular enlightenment is much the basis of
prosperous agriculture It'll of rational liberty; and
"a Improve the cultivation of States the light of
IsaGeGse must first fall the minds of their citizens
The principles of scientific agriculture of wise
practical age cannot be instlled into the minds of the
Iuorant 1t may be safely said them that the
wfT the agricuurst is laggard in the of improve
is that his competitors have always had the advan
Ss Of intellectual culture There abundant
Jr this The cultvators of the soil scattered
Tsryn surface; their employmens independent and So
Isary they the artiou of social intercourse by
wch the mind polished and sharpened and the intel
fcct lighted up The yotares of other trades and profess
live in Cities brought into daily contact and
ays their colleges their guilds their trades unions and
associations Union not only gives light and knowledge,
nua energy, confidence, and boldness.'
There are some appropriate views as to the duties
Ut the State Governments in regard to the agricul
srral interests, portion of which we append:
s"while, gentlemen it may not comport with our inte
RESTS tastes to mingle in the strifes Of political par
yet it is proper that should avail ourselves OF our
rzalxation for the purpose of making such impress
State legislation may serve to place our inte
under the protection Of law than they at
yrsssat Our fields not defended by strong barbados
IRE rot protected at all Our lands in the eyes of the
Law commons, and the only privilege which it allows
On the is the privilege of enclosing them. 1t
zrams them back in state of nature and, refusing all
r,fecton graciously allows them protect themselves
There is for this The landholder is injured
without compromising advantage to any class. hope
lax will be the pleasure of our society to demonstrate
ssny and theoretically against such barbarous egs-
Axsioa- I'D: .-.
The farmer has right, too, to claim for his hocks
s protection of the law. The Legislature has passed
repeated for the protection of sheep against the rava
yss Of wolves but worthless dogs destroy in year
NaEe sheep than be fairly laid to the account Of
sEges since the days of Esop. Without some more eff
xnf legislation this subject sheep husbandry any
respectable scale be abandoned, and thus i'm
arant agricultural interest will be sacrificed and mil
sn lost to the country This evil calls loudly for some
rc1nedy These modest demands, and should be
aru pity and unhesiatngy conceded The truth 49, the
agculturist wants but little positive legislative aid We
rsa for laws protective tariffs but simply TO
be alone and them with the smiles of kind Provi-
feree labors will be content. think, gentle
s that when society is fairly under way, with all
s appliances which hope to see it in possession
A. trey well declare its independence all State aid
Sor have disposition to call on Hercules fair
a and that amount Of protection which every citizen
ras right to claim at the hands Of his Government
nil Chxt require"
al am happy to see, from the published proceedings
M society that it is contemplated to hold fair in
scber for the exhibition of specimens Of the
f1p.tIon Of fields, herds and focks Let it
eremenbered that society will derive neither honor
ar shame from this exhibition for tits too young to have
incurred any responsibility We cannot in moment call
1v xr fat order out Of chaos light out of darkness
Az that we promise is to show the condition of agr
.a,ure at the commencement of abors to what
ys. have and what have not In order that this may
s done let every member bring up specimen Of his
uxu Let him present his frstlngs his sacrifice will be
,,rrepted Let no one up here in October empty
auaied Let him who pleads his poverty show speci-
men of his poverty II show nothing else let us show
w wants This is what society ought to know, 1t Is
what our society ought to relieve and for this purpose
IS was called into being 1t is not vain show that we
desire 70 make; want to see what we are now that
nLac narisn n