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

gress adopted? By THAI treaty, all the agricui;ur-
al products of Canada adLritted to ports
free OF duty, coming in direct competition with
the farmers of all the northwestern States. When
the farmer from Iowa sends bis wheat TO the east
ern market, he viii find the agent of the Canada
farmer there ready to compete with him. The
manufacturer of New England holds on to his
protection and yet he goes into the Canada mar
ket to buy the produce which sastains his labor
ers, free of duty. Have you marked the slight
difference between the price Of -four in New ork
and Boston, and the western lake towns? It
scarcely defrays the expense CT transportation. l
admit tie construction of railroads has had much
to do with this equalization of prices, but the
great reason is that Canada wheat comes in free
of duty Railroads to syms extent, equalizes the
price of sugar but take off the duty now paid on
sugar and let the West India Islands come in COM
petition with our southern friends and what will
be the price in New Orleans. The difference will
at least be equal to the amsant of duty paid
This Reciprocity treaty indCdes almost every
ticle of northern agricultural product, and comes
in direct competition with the products of the
farmers of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. l
again dselaim the intention of holding any politi-
procity Treaty; for during its tendency in Con-
gress there was not whig or democrat raised his
voice in defence of the agricultural interests which
were sacrificed by it.
T Thus in addition to oar government having
failed to perform its duty to the great agricultural
interests of the country, ii has added injury to
neglect. This brings me to speak of another
branch OF this subject, and that is the remedy for
these evils 1t can only be done in one way, and
that is by the farmers giving their atten
ton to the policy Of the government. Send men,
bers of Congress to Washington who feel the i'm
portance of your interests-men that feel agricul-
ture to be the basis of az permanent prosperity IN
this or any other country-the great and para
mount interests of man. Our people are essential
ly an agricultural people. By the census of 1850
it will be seen that there are about persons
gagged in agriculture to one in all other kinds of
business combined. 1t is the proudest feature of
which our country can boast 1t is the bulwark of
our free institutions, VIII lie il is the of
great aud accommodating wealth The who
ts the soil-who forces from earth and air heir
powers of vegetation and production, adds sub
stantia wealth to the nation He furnishes the
means of subsistence to bis own happy household,
and to all who are engaged in the other depart
ments Of life The miner produces from the earth
untold treasures: but the farmer alone furnishes
the means hy which he psosecutes his labors. The
manufacturer is essentisl to the business Of the
country hut the-farn,, ~-s,s,ishes him the
terial of which his fabrics are composed-the pro-
visions which sustain the lives of his workmen.-
The merchant is indispensable to the prosperity Of
the country; but without the aid of the agricul-
turist his business would fail. The mechanic is
also necessary, for he facilitates the operations of
the farmer by the construction of improved imple-
ments Of husbandry. ErPorte-s are essential to
carry to foreign countries our surplus produce, and
bring back such articles Of comor. and luxury as
may not be the product of our cwn country. Thus
are all interests mutual; but "the hand of the Far
me-, like the leader of Israel, smtes the fnty
rock, and the sweet wate,s gush forth-he feeds
the millions-sets the spndes in motion, and sus-
tain all our industrial and commercial enterprises
he animates, he mores he qniekens all"
Hail Agriculture, Heaven ordained
j OF every art the source,
Which man has polished, life sustained,
Since time commenced his course.
Where waves thy woodworking wand,
What splendid scenes disclose.
+ The blasted heath-the ari strand
Out-blooms the gorgeous rose!'
4 Until the farmer shall appreciate his own mpor-
tance, and assume the responsibilities that rest up
on him, so long viii the political policy of the
country be against him. These suggestions are
thrown out for your consderation ard it is for
you to determine their Importance.
H We have thus endeavored to present to you
our humble opinions of the Importance of agri-
culture, and the duty of tie government to sus-
tain it, We perhaps might as well stop here, for
we told you before that We came not here to at
tempt to instruct you in the details OF practical
husbandary; but simply TO endeavor to arouse a
feeling in behalf of that great interest I nay
be indulged however in the relation of few facts
which have come under my own observation, of
the practical benefits of improved husbandry In
the county where / reside, for many years diss-
pated, indolent man owned farm, and for many
wears cultivated certain field in corn The land
was originally about equal IN fertility with your
best uplands here; but by pbughing it year after
year about three inches deep, and planting it in
corn, it became SO poor that FIVE six bushels of
corn per acre was the result It was considered
worthless. An Eastern farmer purchased it
pleuehed II six inches deep sub-soiled II about
inches deeper-put it in clever-uext year turned
it under with good coat Of top-dressng. plant
ed it in corn, and gathered from it eighty bushels
per acre Another instance, farmer had upoa his
farm a swamp. or hillside that was made so
swampy By springs that within my recollection it
coald not be crossed by horse without his being
swamped down. The trees were cleared from it
some years ago, and the surface dried up SO that
of no -.Tf-
ditched it with open ditShes upon each side and
ends. with one or two blind bitches through the
middle. He kept II in grass number ef years,