Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-20


way, IL seems rather odd, to find 50 full reports
of Department news" in the Union, just now,
and such meagre accounts Of this class Of news
in the lesser luminary Of the administration
Surely the Ereaing Star has not lost caste
with the administration, after SO faithful SER
vice in its sinking cause! That would indeed
manifest on the part Of the administration the
highest ingratitude towards faithful mirror
of its acts a
High Prices--Scarcity OF Flour and other
Edibles.
The United States ought to be one of the cheap
est countries to live in in the whole universe and
yet, 80 far from this, 1t is one Of the most expen-
sive. As land is more abundant and productive
here than in most other countries in the world,
breadstuffs and provisions of every kind ought to
range lower here than almost anywhere else; but
this is far from being the case. Why is this? One
reason is the very high standard Of labor in this
country, labor being the basis and principal con-
stituent of every product, whether, agricultural,
mechanical or scientific. Another reason is, the
general tendency of labor to seek employment in
this country, in other branches of business than
farming. The great rush Is to the professions, to
trade, commerce, manufactures banking, broker
ing, and general specializing business. The Amer
lean people are generally actuated by restless,
feverish desire to become suddenly rich, and are
too impatient to await the slow process Of acquir-
ing competence by farming.
An idea prevails among them, too, that agricul-
tural pursuits are less gsnteel than those have
named, and less even than doing nothing, or living
by ones wits. Hence it is that even the sons of
farmers instead of following the business of their
fathers, generally leave their rural homes, study
commerce, or turn spectators, walters upon Prov
dence, loafers, gamblers, &c. while those brought
up in cities, towns and villages acquire such fond
ness for excitement company, theatres, balls, par
ties billardrooms, oyster-houses and hotels, that
the idea of burying themselves upon farm, in the
country, is absolutely shocking, and not to be en-
tertained for moment And the same disincl-
nation to live in the country upon a farm pervades
the other sex, especially those who have been
brought up accustomed to all the idleness, excite
ment, dissipation, and hurly-burly Of city life.
From these various causes, and others, it is evil
dent that the proportion of the population of the
United States engaged in producing is unequal to
that engaged in consuming; and that, until the
present disproportion is equalized, prices of all
kinds Of farm produce will continue 70 command
extremely high prices.
In England agricultural pursuits are considered
among the most honorable. in fact, the most hon
orable of all those branches Of industry in which
man is employed. Agriculture there is peculiarly
the business of the nobility and gentry. They
take pride in it. 1t Is carried on upon an extern
sive scale and in scientific manner 1t employs
an immense amount Of capital, and the reputation
Of being one Of the most successful agricutuiists
in Great Britain, is not beneath the ambition Of
the most noble, or the most wealthy individual in
the kingdom. IL is upon their farms ("cstates')
that the higher and middle classes Of England feel
zest It is there that they receive and entertain
vsiters and return visits. 1t is there that they
spend their Christmas holidays. It is there they
rear their families and teach their children TO love
their homes. 1t is their pride and happiness TO
cultivate and adorn these rural homes, and to sur
round themselves there with everything calculated
to please and crafty. So Ear from considering 1t
bore to live in the country-as being buried alive,
exilcd from society, their country homes are the
very places where they look for enjoyment and fe
lefty.
Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, and the
southern States generally, somewhat resemble Eng
land in this respect; but not so the northern and
western States. There the tendency is to congre-
gate In towns and cities, and to abandon the rural
districts TO such as are unable to live elsewhere.
The poverty of the soil in New England affords an
ample apology for this proclivity Of the people, so
far as she Is concerned; but those Of New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the great rich West gen.
orally, have not thisexcuse plead. There farming
should be the most honorable and respectable, as
Il must now be one Of the most remunerative EN-.
ployments. Farming is becoming more of a sci.
snce than It was when carried on in the old slip.
shod way, and without any knowledge Of the quail
tiles of soils or the constituent elements Of its va
rious products, and requires more intelligence
and science to conduct it successfully, than was
formerly considered essential and the best edu-
Gated are now becoming the most successful and
distinguished farmers.
Had we dozen sons, we should desire them all
to become thoroughly educated farmers; satisfied
that Il that kind ofbusiness does not promise such
extraordinary returns as some Others, il is moro
likely to perform what il does promise but above
all, it does not expose its devotees 10 the thousand
temptations, allurements, and vices, which the
walks Of trade, commerce, brokering, and specula-
ting expose men to- Instead Of leading men in
to temptstion and demoralizing them, as these are
apt to do, It Il purifying and ennobling occupa-
tion--heathful, invigorating and useful.
SrASHoPK BURLrIGH.--We call attention TO the