The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-01-06
agricultural.
ADDRESS,,
D.lirered before the Agricultural Society Of
montgomery County, September IAN, 1854,
BY CHAuNCEY p. IIOLCOMB,
OF DEI.AW ARE.
(COaciu

montgomery toWH1, ctPitWoci If'"- ltof,
BY CHAuNCEY p. IIOLCOMB,
OF DELAWARE.
(Coaclnicd.)
or the capacity Of a farm to pay an income
in raising and supporting family, was
forcibly struck on being called on by res
pcctabe old neiglbor in his last sickness, to
draw up his will. Seated at his bedside, 7
asked him what he wished to dispose of.
"My farm" said he. Knowing he had lived,
may say. like gentleman, a country gen
tlcman, riding always i'll good style, dressing
and educating his family well, entertaining
literally, besides having family of grand
children on his hands to support, although |
knew he was good farmer, and an industri-
Gus man, and the hands of his hclp-mcct
were swift to the distaii, still thought that
with his farm of but two hundred acres he
must have got behind, and put him qncs-
ton to learn if he meant to give it subject to
any membranes. membranes, said
he, ''oh, no, sir, the good farm has kept her
self clear: not all acre of her soil, exclaimed
the old man exultingly, els covered by any
mans parchment The farm has supported
me and my wife for nearly halfa century, We
have raised our ten children on it, and it has
been shelter and home to our grandchildren
when their parents were stricken down Of
ovcrtakcn by misfortune. | have it now clca,
TO leave to my children with about 50 geo
its surplus earnings, out at interest"
This incident occurred carly in my farm.
ing life. 1t made a strong impression on my
mind. said after this Il will trust to my
farm, l see it will at least support and lccc
me and mine, will even lend it the last dol
lar can spare" Yes, we may trust the land
The banks and the railroads, the stock an,
the scrip may Or may not pay lis back, but
this nursing mother will fulfill all her prom
Uses, honor all drafts. You may draw on hcl
at six months for your cat crop, al nint
months for your corn crop, and at twelve
months for your wheat, and ifflom any grca
calamity, as the drought or the flood, sh,
cannot always fully pay up Oh the day, sh
will make Il handsome inStalmcnt, ask lit
tie time, and then pay up TO the last farth
ing, and if you have been generous to her
maybe she will make you handsome pres
cnt besides.
There is another strong argument in favor
| ,c, ~, IN ,,i
The value ola fund depends upon its per
| pctuity-the continuance of its existence. !
man seeks to earn what will support am
serve him and his poscrity. lie would de
sire to have the estate or property descend
AS well as his name, to his lineage, to Iii
children, grand children, and great grand
children, for generations. This is the ohcc
Of his toll. What then is the safest fund t.
invest in this country? What is the only fun
that the experience of the last fifty years la
shown, with very few exceptions, would no
be quite unsafe as provision for heirs Sup
pose the most prudent man in the country
fifty years ago, had assumed trust to hin
and his heirs of fifty thousand dollars. to b
kept invested in stocks Of any description
for fifty years. the trustees and his heirs, a
the expiration Of the trust, to account for til
fund. Can any one doubt that the chance
are nincty-ninc in hundred that the fun
would have been lost, and the trustee and hi
family ruined Or, if a like proposition wa
to be made to a responsible trustee now, wit
a handsome commission for the risk. pru
dent man would probably decline the trus
and avoid the responsibility. Yet many al
willing to trust themselves during their life
time to manage this desert ption Of propert
for themselves, and lhey may, with goo
luck, bc equal to the task. But the questio
still occurs: What is the probable duratio
Of such fund in families? What is til
safety of the fund invested in the currcn
stocks of the country, and next, what is tn
safety of so available, tangible, tlansmutab
fund in the hand of heirs ! There are II
statistics that I am aware of, showing tn
probable continuance of estates in land i
families, and estates in personal property
such as stocks. But the remark of gentl,
man connected with large banking institu
ton shows practically how it works. II
observed that he had noticed that an heir wa
no sooner left stock in the bank than tn
first thing he generally did was to sell all
transfer it. and it was often the first motto
they had of the dcccasc Of the former holdcl
Real cstatc-lanls in prctrcncc-or a fun
secured by real estate, is unqucstonably nc
only the highest security, but in the hand
of heirs it is the only one likely to serve
single generation. Hence the wisdom of tn
common law, that neither permits the guar
dian to sell the lands of his ward, or even til
court, in its discretion, to grant the authorit
for their sale, but only upon good and stuff
cicnt grounds shown, as necessity for rails
ing fund for the education and support {
the ward. Even Lord Chancellor can onl
touch so sacred a fund for this or similar rea
sons. And the common law is wise on TIN
subject as most Others. 1t is the expcrienc
and observation of mankind that such a fun
is the safest, and hence the provision of tn
law.
Those who acquire personal property then