Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1855-02-02
A View of American Agriculture.
CHAPTER I.

Tile Position Of american turner's.
Every one that eats bread or wears cloth
made Of wool, cotton or fax, has a direct
personal interest in the results of tillage
and farm. &C nomy. Hunger and naked
ness are wants Of the most pressing char
acter and Providence has placed them
alike in every human being. In civilized
communities, all are equally dependen. On
successful agriculture for the means Of
subsistence. Let the soil be permanently
exhausted, or fail but for year to reward
guage can adequately describe the intensity
Of the universal suffering that must ensue.
Hence this branch of national industry has
peculiar and paramount claims to the ear
nest attention and the fostering care Of all
governments which are regardful Of public
safety, and sustained by COMMON sense.
American agriculture offers for considc-
ration several interesting aud striking fea-
lures: prominent among these, is the fact
that nearly thrce-fourths of the labor and
capital Of the country are employed in
this single pursuit. Agriculturists are
themselves large majority of the voters,
taxi payers and consumers of all domestic
and foreign goods. Under our republican
system, they are mainly responsible for
the good government Of each State, and
of the Union. If their public servants,
whether in Congress or State Legislatures,
fail to promote improvements in agriculture
as recommended by President Washington,
the fault is not in their representatives, but
in those who neglect to ask for such aid as
Government may properly grant.
American farmers enjoy advantages
superior to those of all other nations, for
improving both themselves as class, and
their landed estates, M to the highest
capabilities Of man, and Of the earth which
he cultiyates. This Republic proffcrs to
rural art and rural science more than ono
thousand millions Of acres Of available
farming lands, of which as little or as much
may be subdued and improved as wisdom
shall dictate. There is neither compulsion
nor restraint in either direction. With this
entire freedom of action is associated a
degree of security for life, liberty property,
.oleration of religion and exemption from
onerous taxes, without a parallel in the
history Of the world. In extent of sea-
coast, facilities for river, lake, end canal
navigation in variety of climate, soil, ve-
petable and animal products in indefinite
and almost unlimited commercial, manu-
featuring mineral, ,aud hydraulic resources,
no other country equals this. There Is
some danger, however, that We shall prove
unworthy of so great blessiugs-that we
may forget the source whence they
come, abuse the peculiar advantages and
exalted privileges which We possess and
blirdly cling to the barbarous practice Of
impoverishing the soil, to the incalculablt
injury Of coming generations.
Instead of exhausting millions of acre:
without any adequate recompense, instead
Of looking longingly toward the wilderness
of forest and prairie at the west, we should
search closely into the lands already undel
the plough, and learn what can be dom
to add two, three, and fousfold to thei
present productiveuess. The time has 4
last arrived when it is indispensable to tn
continued prosperity Of all the older State
that the principles both Of renovating an
T exhaustipg cultivated fields be thorough
anl unirorsa,l- unler'c9l.