Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1856-02-29
VOL. L, NO. WHOLE NO. 2576.


Connecticut river farmers, though
more favored in soil and climate, are
not the best farmers Of Massachu-
sets. If, IN your minds, agriculture
IS mere means Of sustaining animal
life, then no doubt you should place
yourself where it can be sustained
with the smallest amount Of physical
labor But agriculture takes rank
with the highest forms Of labor and
learning where and only where there
IS opportunity, inducement, and me-
cesslty for the highest exercise Of the
intellectual faculties. Now no man
can pretented that agriculture in the
West is the intellectual exercise that
It is with us. It may indeed be true
that there is as much mind employed
upon the land there as in New Eng
land ; but let no one assume from
existing facts that the equality will
/ be maintained through generations
ana centuries. ne W.. 49, -.
character of its own. Ii is a vast
lake, kept constantly in motion by
the number and force of its tributa-
rles, whose currents are distinctly
marked over its whole surface
When immigration into the West
shall cease, that vast region will be
what It's own wants require, nhuen-
ced in some degree, of course, by
the surrounding country.
We all anticipate that the valley
Of the Mississippi will be the home,
the happy home, Of millions and tens
Of millions Of human beings. There,
no doubt, the graces as well as lux
urles Of civilization will abound but
it is not probable that the chief a
bodies of art, Of science, of intellect
ual labor, of inventive, creative ge-
MUS will be there.
But plains not only fail TO nourish
and strengthen the physical man by
pure air and water, and an ever
pressing necessity for labor, but they
lack proper food for the intellectual
man. Where are the poets, born upon
the plain, or the poets who have sung
of the plain. The plain is destitute
of inspiration. The inspiration com
mon TO all men has its root and sup
port in the feeling that we are in the
presence of God. To be sure we
are in his presence always; but there
is no language Of the plain, it has no
voice, it utters nothing, it reveals
nothing, TO the mind or soul. In
fiat country, hill, however insig-
ni6cant, is a relief A few weeks
ago, friend standing by my side in
one of the level towns of the Old Col
ony, and no part Massachusetts, can
be called a plain, pointed with zeal
to Milton hills, evidently gra,ified
by the view, even at a distance, of so
trlflng an elevation Of land.
1t is difficult TO say how far the
operations of the mind are self-act-
ing. We are influenced by what is
around us. The sun, the moon, the
planetary host, the myriads of stars,
not only perform their parts in the
great system of celestial mechanics,
but they perpetually invite and at
tract men to the paths of science
and religion. Paganism, or that form
which bids men adore the sun, is
sincere worship, though its proper
object is unknown.
Yet it is certain from this that we
are so constituted as to accept the in
struction and influence of Gods rev.
elaton in nature. And what is true
of the influence of other worlds and
systems, is in "A degree true of the
!, globe on which we dwell. A single
majestic tree, forest, cataract, a
mountain, the ocean, will often COM
pei US 10 homage and alteration. So
a stone, leaf, a shell, a flower, we
know not why or how, stimulates
mind so that it advances TO new re-
gions of science and heights of learn
, ing. No part of the world is desli-
tute of these teachers and preachers
} of science and religion yet the
Z mountains and ocean-touched por-
tions are the most favored in this re-
spect. Whatever is majestic, grand,
: sublime in nature, tends to pi ioduce
the like qualities not only in the stu
dent but even in the common obser-
J yer. So true is this, that a race may
|, become distinguished for the quail
; ties which their native scenery seems
, calculated to inspire. The noun
, tain aud the ocean are specially fitted
to exert an influence upon the char
! acler and physical constitution.
There are individual cases OF en-
iuent men who are of inferior ply
, sica development; but il is idle TO
= expect a race of such men. 1t is
/ not necessary 10 urge this view; as
a general truth II is agreed to. 1t is
; not, however, to be assumed that
; mere greatness OF body is an index of
greatness of mind but where a
race is well developed, you may be
sure that 1t possesses great original
/ energy aud is capable of cultivation
, aud refinement. You may see in
Stale street, Boston, at one o'clock
in the afternoon, as fine class of
merchants aud men as any city can
boast but generally they are immi-
grants from Cape Cod, Cape Ann,
Western Massachusetts, Vermont,
and New Hampshire. Now "a great
city and a great plain are alike in
one respect; they must be constantly
stimulated to industry and re-invig-
GRATED b.. the infusion of new eie-