St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-11-05
ADDRESS OF
HON. EDWARD EVERETT.

EDWARD Everett, pronounced at Buf
talo, on the 9th ult., before the New
York State Agricultural Society:
Without derogating from the i'm
, portance of any of the other pursuits
: and occupations, we may safely.
think, claim for agriculture in som,
respects certain precedence befor,
them all. 1t has been said to be the
great and final object of government,
to get twelve impartial and intellgen,
men into the jury box; by which, OF
course, is meant that the admistra.
tion ofcqual justice between man and
man is the primary object of civilized
and social life. But the teacher, sec.
ular or spiritual, might plausibly urge
that 1t is of prior Importance that the
community should have the elements
at least, of mental and moral culture.
and be taught the obligations of an
oath, before any twelve of its mem
bers should take part in the admins
tration of justice. The physicians
might contend that health is of great
er Importance than the trial by Jury:
and with greater reason it might be
claimed for agriculture that it supplies
the first want of our nature; the daily
call OF the great family of man for his
daily bread-thc call that must be
answered before the work of life, high
or low, can begin. Plaintiff and de-
fendant, judge aud jury, must break
their fast before they meet in court:
and, if the words Of witty poet can
be taken. certain very important con-
sequences sometimes happen to cul-
prits, in order that jurymen may get
to their dinners.
But, to speak in more fitting and
serious strain, must confess that
there has always seemed to me some
thing approaching the sublime in this
view Of agriculture, which (such is
the effect Of familiarity does not pro-
duce an impression on our minds in
proportion to the grandeur of the idea.
The human race is usually estimated
at one thousand millions of individu-
ais. II the sustenance Of portion of
these multiduninous millions is deri-
we'd from other sources than agricul-
turo this circumstance is balanced by
the fact that a great deal of agricul-
tural produce is raised in excess of the
demand tor food. Let then the thought
ful husbandman, who desires TO form
just idea of the Importance OF his
pursuit, reflect when he gathers his
little flock about him to partake the
mornings meal, that one thousand
millions of fellow-men have awakened
from sleep that morning, craving
their daily bread, with the same appe-
tltc which reigns at his family board;
and that IT, by superior power, they
could be gathered together at the
same hour for the same meal, they
would fill both sides of five tables
reaching all round the globe where it
is broadcast, seated side by side, and
allowing eighteen inches to each in
dividual; and that these tables are to
be renewed twice or thrice every day.
Then let him consider that, in addition
to the food of the human race, that of
all the humber partners of mans toll
the lower animals-is to be pro-
vided for in like manner. These all
wait upon agriculture, as the agent Of
that providence which giveth them
their meat in due season; and they
probably consume in the aggregate
an equal amount of produce: and final
ly let him add in Imagination to this
untold amount of daily food for man
and beast the various articles which
are furnished directly or indirectly
from the soil for building materials,
furniture clothing and fuel.
What is there on earth, which can
more entirely charm the eye, or crafty
the taste, than noble farm? 1t stands
upon southern slope, gradually ris-
ing with variegatcd ascent from the
plain. sheltered from the northwest
ern winds by woody heights, broken
here and there with moss covered
boulders, which impart variety and
strength to the outline. The native
forest has been cleared from the
greater part of the farm, but suita-
bic portion carefully tended, remains
in wood for economical purposes, and
to give picturesque effect to the
landscape. The eye ranges round
thrce-lourths of the horizon, over
fertile expanse-bright within the
cheerful waters of a ripling stream,
generous river, or a cleaning lake
dotted with hamlets, each with it's
modest spirc; and, if the farm lies in
the vicinity of the coast. distant
glimpse from the high grounds, of the
mysterious. everlasting sea, completes
the prospect.
1t is situated of the high road, but
near enough to the village to be easily
accessible to the church, the school
house, the postoffice, the railroad, a
sociable neighbor, or a travelling
friend. 1t consists in due proportion
Of pasture and tillagc, meadow and
woodland, field and garden. A SUBJ
stantial dwelling, with everything for
convenience and nothing for ambition,
with the fitting appendages of stable,
and barn, and corn barn, and other
farm buildings, not forgetting the
spring house with living fountain of
water, occupying gravely knoll,
position well chosen to command the
whole estate A few acres on the
front and on the sides of the dwelling,
set apart to crafty the eye with the
choicer forms of rural beauty, are
adorned with stately avenue, with
noble, solitary trees, with graceful
clumps, shady walks, velvet lawn, a
brook murmuring over pebbly bed,
here and there a grand rock, whose
cool shadow at sunset streams across
the field; all displaying, in the real
loveliness of nature, the original of
those landscapes of which art in it's
perfection strives to give us the coun-
terieit presentiment.
Animals of select breed, such as
Paul Potter, Morland, Landsecr and
Rosa Bonheur never painted, roam the