The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-11-08

discussion of far less important subjects In short
our government has utterly, shamefully neglected
its duty in regard to this great question of agricu
ture, while it has in too many instances patron
lied with lavish and even a reckless hand
other and less important subjects Notwithstand
ing the fact that Gen. Washington, in his first
annual message to the first Congress, and every
successive President from that day to this has cal
led the attention of Congress to it. and urged the
necessity of devising some means to promote this
interests, yet every attempt has been useless and
unavailing.
Above all other governments in the world, ours
should foster and encourage agriculture. Look
for one moment to Europe. In the Kingdom oi
Prussia, there are five agricultural colleges in
which are taught by theory and practice, the
highest branches of science, together with the cul
ture aud Improvement Of the soil-of agricultural
schools of more elementary character are ten
there are also seven schools devoted to instruc
ton in the cultivation of fax-two specially de-
voted to instruction in the management of mead
ow handsome for the instruction in the manage
ment of sheep, and there are 45 model farms il
tended to for introducing better modes of ag
ricuture. In all Il public establishments for agr-
cultural education and all these institutions receive
aid directly from the government and most oi
them are under the superintendent of officers ap-
pointed by the government. Prussia is monarchy
with u, 100000 of people The United States
Republic with 25 100000 of people. The for
mer has II agricultural schools-the latter not
one.
Belgium, since 1920, has made large appropria-
ton for the encouragement of agriculture.
France under several administrations, has been
liberal in the support of this great interest, and
particularly in the rearing and improving of sheep
and cultivation of the sugar beet. "She has sew
enty five agricultural schools under government
patronage To one ofthese she made an appropria-
ton in 1S49, of nearly half million of dollars
Another has already graduated six hundred we'll
educated agriculturists, who Immediately found
honorable and lucrative situations at the head of
their profession.
Despotic Russia, has 68 of these schools, some
of which are of high order
Spain too, tor many years, has had flocks of
sheep, paying the greatest attention to their i'm
provement, and sending them gratuitously to the
farmers of the couLtry
"
her many agricultural associations, and in Eng
land more especially, has the patronage of the
government been most salutary upon her rural pros
perty In Ireland, that bright isle of the ocean
the benefits of those schools have been marked
There by the rotation of crops, and improvements
founded upon scientific principles, much of the
land which was considered worn out by bad till
age has been redeemed, and now bear most pro-
life crops. The 'bogs Of Ireland so long re-
proach and by-word to that nation have by a
system of understanding been made til,abe, and
in one instance seven hundred bushels of potatoes
are said to have been grown upon one acre of re-
deemed bog land.
You may inquire why it is, that whilst the gov
crnments of Europe have been thus liberal in the
promotion of our favorite interest that gov
ernment, which should be the model of all others
in this respect has been regardless of its duty?
In reply permit me to say, that in Europe, those
who make the laws and mark out the policy of
the government are the landholders-those most
interested in the promotion in this cause. In this
country such is not the fact. The President and
the members Of his cabinet lawyers and not
farmers. Who are your members Of Congress?-
Are they farmers or mechanics, or are they law
yers? Who exert the controlling influence in
your State legislatures? Is it the farmers or me-
chanics? l think not. say this in no disrespect
to the members of the legal profession As a
people we owe much to the members of the legal
profession. In our glorious struggle for indepen-
dence, they foremost in asserting and defend
ing the rights of the colonies and in the organiza
ton of our government they assisted in laying the
foundation stones and have contributed much to
the glorious superstructure which has since been
erected thereon. ! have disposition to draw
distinctions between our citizens; but it must be
admitted by all that the men who make the laws
and control the government act upon those meas
ures with which they are most conversant, and feel
tbe most interest If large number of the mem
bers of Congress had been agriculturists-identi-
fed with the cultivation of the soil-their private
means invested in lands and expecting their child
ren to continue in the same connection, our gov
ernmeut would long since have established an ag-
ricultural Department with an Importance equal to
that of the Department of War, or of the Navy
The people would have had the advantages of
extensive Importation Of the most improved breeds
of cattle and horses, and other domestic animals.
aud the importations of the endless varieties of
grain, that cultivated in other portions of the
world. We would have had model Farms, and.
agricultural schools. as well as military and naval
schools: and every thing that could promote the
prosperity of the country would have the place Of
those measures which now operate 50 disastrously
10 our agricultural interests.
Ia what may say in this connection, 1 discIaim
all political motives, being influenced by partzan
prejudice. Ii matters not now, whether am the
friend or opponent Of the principle of Protection
to American industy, for lay down the broad
principle that if protection Is right for one inter
est it is for another. In other words if it is right
to protect the manufacturer It is right to protect
The VII 10. thi- r,-nro-i+;nr, -