Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-11-30
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hSrlculturhl pursuits IL is cquu! csSe!l'i " ''''
well.bcins and prosperity Of civilized society, and
when carried on fairly aud honestly, IA it generally
is, il is equally honorable. The great temptations
which it holds out TO gambling, speculation AM fraud,
probably rendered it dscredituble in ancient tines
and continue to subject i, to obloquy and opprobr-
uln, even nj the present day. in most civilized coun-
tries This prejudice against the pursuit, bcgets the
OWLS which 1t condemns, drives the honorable and
high-mimdet to other vucstors. and leaves trade in
the hands the worthless, in those countries where
such prejudice exists Hence, the tradcsmen Of Paris
arc provcru cheats and the merchants of London as
honorable tnd enlightened us any ia chrsteudnm.-
Agriculture offers no temptations 10 fraud but, on
the other hand, it holds ont no peculiar rewards to
virtue nor opposes any checks 10 vice and dishone5
ty. The good or bad character Of the frner does not
affect the growth of his crops nor the amount Of his
profits. Inc Character Of the merchant for punctn-
ay, acc"nlnodntiveness and honesty, is, in the long
the better part OF his capital. The objections to
agricultural pursuits IRE, that they render men too
Independent ii each other and of public opininn.-
The objections to trade are that il is too much beset
by clnptaoa, aud sometimes rubs men Of tlitr in
dependence aud renders them obscquous rather than
| obNSing. In the eye of reason and philosophy, all
necessary human pursuits are equally honorable
Sill, We confess, That irul common with the
rest "i mankind, purality for farming. The inde-
penaence OF the life, and tue pntriarclIa power,
which 1t gives the owner Of the farm over his labor
ers he they nominaly free or slaves, may be the
charm that aures Us, unconscious as We are oi any
love ol power, however much we may desire inde-
pendence.
These remarks have been elected by the prrusal OF
aserics o very able ESSAYS by contributor to the New
Orleans Delta who sciis himself Southern Policy.
We entirely agree with the writer, i'll tho Importance
to the South Of dversfyng aud multiplying her pur-
suits. We, however, think she has acted most wise
y III the past hy cOu!nng herself to agriculture, and,
thereby enabling her tu become possessed OF an inn
mcnse and fertile territory in the far South and West
which she could not have approprn'edhad she follow
ed various pursuits and retained her population and
her capital in their ante-rryolutionary homes. BY
conniag herself agriculture, ha. acquired vastly
more OF actual mnpershahlc wealth, than che other.
wise would have done, and, at the time ncrcaS-
ed her political power and fortified her peculiar nsti-
tui"ns. Even now, il the South can secure to her.
self k,nsas and all of Texas. she will, thereby add
more 10 her real wealth, in q few years, than she
could acquire By centuries oi the mos: nssIduous cotton
spinning and shop.kccping. But she should do both
Settle kansad and Texas, and improve our present
hone. by divereying our industrial pursuits
She will do both, and is about il. Her system
OF railroads penetrating the mountainous Interior
where living i. cleap, health secure water-power
and coal aud iron and minerals Of all kinds abundant
and farming Improbable, will build up Sr"a'
mcrCal one.
Commerce in moderation s q blessing. bnt it tcnds
10 excess aud ther becomes curse. Foreign com
merce imports foreign fashions, and the two bring
into Use many Unnecessary articles and costly l'ixu
-ies, thus equally inuring c rich and the poor. Al
commercial nGti,ni, except England, have been very
corrupt and short-ived, ard she is tottrrinS to he
fall Phrnica, Carthage, Athens, Venice, Genoa
Spain, Portugal and even Judea, twiness the DAY
OF Soomon,i had hardly risen to commercial rm'
hence ero they bscame corrupt and fell Ecvcr % ris
again. Their fall was sudden, their ruin complete
National and individual character were emaocuiatr'
and eleminntcd, and no Promehean spark could r.
store their vitality. Agricultural Rome iioursled L"
d thousand yeais, fingered for several centuries thc'
bu, seemed to expire she burst forth with renewed
light, the spiritual mistress oi !c world Bu! ION!
before Rome was, Italy the favored seat OF aSr1
culture, and Of iunocence-may We mot also say "
religion She worshpped nature, and offered on ih
aars of her peaceful rural dIvini,ic-, the fruits o tn
earth, not the blood Of victims. Her Ncstals, watch
in the ever living Fire, engaged in prayer and Goo
deeds, bad aTtyprs oi the Sisters oi Churty
The demon gods of Greece, Of Egypt and of Asia
had no place in her mythology.
But we are becoming enthusiastic, and wandern:
from our subject. Nature, when she bestowed OF
the South bountful and fertile SOIL and Sena
climate ordained agriculture TO be her choice an'
chief occupation. Still, agriculture is dependent OIL
all the other arts and pursuits of life and high civil
zaton can only be attained where they are all follow
ed. For these rcasons, we are the un!inciing, uIi
swervng friends Of encouragement, By state acton
to all aud every honest industrial avochton.