Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-07-05
Gov. whght's Agricultural Address.

w Will Dc octN ehN AbeCt-
csting
II hail among the favorable signs of the
times these very assemblages-these collec-
tons of the people all over the land-this
mingling together of all classes of our peo-
pie, for the purpose of improving their con-
dition at honle-thus interchanging views and
opinions and making experiments, trials,
and tests upon the various branches of In
dustry.
"Let not the charge be laid at our doors
that was brought against the ancient Ro-
mans, which was that they made a country
desolate, and called that peace. May it be
ours to boast that we found wilderness and
converted it into fertile fields; and that, by
our policy, we have covered over this conti-
nent with prosperous, happy, and inteli-
gent people actively engaged in the pursuits
of life.
"To accomplish this We should remember
that it behooves US to do all within our pow
er to give beauty and dignity to the pursuits
of those who toll, and thus to make labor at
tractivs At the base of the prosperity Of any
people lies this great principle--make labor
fashionable at home. Make it an essential
part of the primary education Of every youth
Of the land; and, above all, bring, by every
means within your reach, the undivided and
united action, the whole strength. talents,
ef>rgyy yesfscslsEs, motives, and spewsr of the
people to bear upon home policy.
"We have bcen looking in the wrong d.
rection for the sources of individual, town.
ship, county, State. and even national pros
psrity. Take your stand at the capital of the
nation; contemplate the vast machinery of
the national government; sec for yourself
the growing interest which is manifested in
the management of national affairs; the great
expenditures made for the improvement of
public buildings, the increase of offices and
officers, and the vast increase of general and
specific appropriations of the public money
view the crowds that are pressing for execu-
tive favors, great and small, and then turn to
the States of this Union. What contrast
If you were stranger to our Institutions, and
were to form your opinion from the interest
that is taken in the national Government, and
the almost utter neglect of the State govern
ments, you would suppose that our fathers
designed that the legislation, favors, and
strength of the republic which they founded
should be centered in the capital at Wash
ington.
"The evidences of the interest manifested
by politicians, presses, and people, in national
affairs, over those of State county, or town.
ship are before us every day.
at is a rare sight to witness the people
holding primary meetings to discuss the mer-
its of the school law-the provisions of the
code that affects property, character, or life
or the law that governs and controls YOU
estate at the time of your death. These ar,
minor considerations in comparison with the
great questions as to who shall fill the vacan
seat in the cabinet at Washington, or dis
charge the duties of collector at some port o
entry on the Atlantic. Public meetings ar,
held all over the country approving or disap
proving of the appointment of this or tha
man to Office but courts, Congress, Legisla
lures, and Governors may do acts that seri
ously affect the peace, happiness, and pros
perity of the people, and yet such acts d,
not seem to make even a ripple upon tn,
surface of public opinion.
"The truth is, we must tall more, tCori
more act more and think more on question
relating to home and home policy
ave have at home many subjects OF vas
interest that mus. not be neglected, and thi
u a DtOpcl OISdoiOu W Cdi
your attention to some of them.
"The wealth of an agricultural State like
ours is not found alone in rich and produc
tive lands. We have other elements Gu
mineral wealth and our manufacturing wealth
are parts of the great resources of the State
and no community has discharged tho dutie
which it owes to itself until these great ele
ments of wealth have been developed anC
IL kl,
ton of the capital and labor of the country
Indiana this day is not selling two mil
lions of bushels of coal per annum. Sh
should sell twenty millions. We can furnisl
at the Balize the government vessels and tn
} steamers of the world with coal, at cos
of three dollars ton for carriage. Tn
rock and the marble are all around u.
suitable tn build the custom-house at Ne,
Orleans; and if these materials were used fo
that purpose, thousands of dollars would b
saved to the treasury of the nation.
"Your pig-iron is taken from Yermilio
and Greene counties, manufactured abroat
and brought back to you, and sold at hig
, prices. The very stones, now almost in sigh
5 of u.s. are taken from the rich quarries {
Orange and Martin, polished by eastern labo
and then returned and sold to you as Turks
oil stones. Walnut knots, taken from OF
!, forests, are, by the labor of Others, polishe
,, and used in making the most valuable furn
ture. The timber upon our hills and in OF
1 valleys affords superior varieties fof the bui
0 ding of steamers for rivers or oceans Indian
J has water power equal to that of Connecticl
}. or the Merrimac, though scarcely known b,
= yond the sound of the falling waters. Ye
time for in hictnrx- offarf xr-r,ioh n,
0 succeeded in laving fairly before the capit
and labor of the world these great elemen
$ of our wealth; and at this day less is know
d abroad of the resources of Indiana than tho
y of any other States of the confederacy.
"If your representatives at Indianapol
will not send out competent and scientii
# men to explore our hills and valleys, and Ia
: bare the now concealed wealth, consisting
g iron, coal, salt, rock, &C., you must imita
IS the example Of the good people of Evan
d vile, who, l am informed, some time sine
e sent out at their own expense the practic
Z geologist, David Dale Owen, on a visit to Il
st county of Greene, to examine the rich irt
n, mines Of that county.
l. "The Old World manufactured for d
10 New for hundred years. New Englal
! has manufactured for us for nearly half ce
g, tury. A change must take place. We mi
& if we pursue our true interest engage in ma
h ufacturing articles, not only for home Il,
s. but for expectation.
g "Indiana is one of tho central States of t
Is Union, with advantages equal, if not sur
O. ror, to those of her sister States. She is in
Sc vely heart of what Is destined to be gre
10 agricultural and manufacturing region-a l
II gion known as the valley of the Mississippi
ne the population of which, if they faithful
1t, pursue true home policy, will soon be al
C. not only to feed, but also to clothe, Old
et well as New England.
W "But turn in another direction. Look
our township, county, and State governmer
and you will find that they are overshadow
on and almost lost sight of in the unceasing ct
ne tests growing out of national subjects.
IL shall never arrive at that form of governm
nt so much desired by our fathers, until tn
mt o,,oet;opa NJ hnrna ora rnada fha an hi acfe