The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1857-02-05
WAsnINaroN. ] m. qo. is57

.fs a o. w ASdlhGTON. u tus IOs iO0ts
oDEAR BLADE In one of my letters few
| ca led attention to the fact that
the Government was lavish and reckless in
the destructive agencies, and
mean and nigardly in encouraging the creative
agencies of the country.
The question of the establishment Of
DEPARTMENr OF AeRrcuETURE, has been aglta-
ted by a few ninds Of the country for several
yeats, and was recommended urgently at the
recent meeting here of the National Agricul-
turaI Society. No object, certainly, was half
80 worthy of its att, ntion. Indeed, perhaps
the only National Society that can ever be
productive of great results, in an organized
Department of the government
= .AeRicuLTuRE, (including the pastoral con
dition) the FI,HERIEs and MINING, are the
original and primary sources OF all wealth
There is rarely period in the history and
progress of Nations, when the cultvators OF
the soil do not embrace hve-sixths of the
population. The Dritsih Islands exhibit the
greatest concentration of manufacturing and
commercial Industry ever known; yet the
-tilleIs of the earth constitute even there a
majority Of the whole population. The human
race would be K iuguish.d by famine, if earth
should cease TO yield up her crops and fruits
for six months beyond their natural period Of
return. Commercial disorder, Bankruptcy
and ruin follow as a consequence Of mere
in crops. Crime multpes and
want and famine increase. Abundance af
fords leisure for the acquisition of knowl-
edge, and the cultivation Of the social reia
tions. The same being, whom ignorance aud
want fashioned into a boor, becomes a culti-
waited instructor, dffusing peace and comfort
atouhd him, if plenty crowns his tolls. To
protect and stimulate the health and develop
ment of all vegetable and animal life, which
conduces to sustain our race, should be the
first, and most imperative duty of all Govern
ments, after personal rights aud personal pro-
lection are insured. Battering down Grey
towns, massacreing Indians, or surveying the
Dead Sea in Asia, may be worthy objects
for the employm ment Of powerful Govern
snent; but il would be more worthy Of its
dignity and design, to employ its functions in
making two spires Of grass grow, where one
grew before. .FFe..r ~ ,-- .a +.
,sst We. have every variety of soil. of tenn
persture, ,Tof elevation, in our widely extend
f.ed empire. Many rare articles Of imi ortalio
Vand cthsumption, for which we pay millions
,snd tens Of millions, could be produced at
less cost in our own country. For want of
knowledge Of the nature of sois, and of the
physiology Of grains and vegetables, not only
: single farmers, but extensive communities, are
engaged in one kind Of unprodu1tve cultiva-
-tion, when, by little alteration of culture
their condition would be profmbly changed
That intelligence and energy should be turned
,sin the right direction, is no less important
olhan that they should be exerted at all
ta1; ats
which must attend the introduction of new
article Of culture, are beyond the means of
individuals. Where single public spirited men
fail in their attempts 10 remedy known errors
or supply acknowledged wants, and are ruin
3D. contempt and neglect are their usual re-
wards. That aggregation Of know eige and
cofhPdrison of facts, which alone will enable
bthe most judicious man to plant and reap with
a moral certainty of success, are beyond the
reach OF the most inquisi.ive and industrious
private individual. Many Governments are
detesttd instead Of cherished, because only
feltm tleir repreSsive aud odious exercise OF
power. Any Government would be loved
and honored, il known and felt only by the
ypaternal, instructive, deucibie exercise of It's
functions and capacities Ii this is truth
then our Government is criminaly negligent
Of the greatest of all interests to humanity
that of AGRICULTURE.
&. Z. The whoe..expenditure Of the Government
at this lime in the cause of Agriculture, will
o. not. exceed 100000. 1t supports Clerk
and his Assistants in the Patent Office, who's
duties are to receive, a:sort pack and dis
tribute seeds and cuItir gs, and collate and
prepare the Annual Agricultural Reports =
Anapprop,iation has been made for obtaining
new and rare plants, seeds and cuttings from
abroad and during the present year 26T92C
copies of the Annual Report have been order
ICED and distributed by the Houses of Congress
:. failed to embrace the entire number printed
in my letter few days since relative to tn,
Patent Office. Yet the Expenditures for Agr
,cnlture are double what they have ever beeI
b, fore the present year. According to thu
siOensus Of 1850, three-ffIhs of our who'll
population are employed in, while the yer,
saxistence of the whole is dep, ,ndant on, thi
primary and most important pursuit of man
81 Every year, in the construction of the Cap
stol here, the government is gouged ami swim
died cut Of more money than is directly ex
pended by Government to promote the IN er
.iests OF husbandry in the whole confederacy
TO send single National ship abro d OIL
tseyen short voyage, will cost more than i
expended for the same purpose. Tn
coast of the Indian wars in Oregon, pro
voked by our aggressions and cupidily, wou!'
aione establish an Agricultural Department
---- Even the little that is done. is creditabe t
our Government. The 267 92O volumes O
the Agricultural Raport, are scattered bread
cast oyer the land. The number distribute,
is one to every fifteen of the whole numbe
of voters, Of the country. Whatever charg
may be made Of extravagence in other items
these volums ave printed with great ecoaomy
Theyisost, in facet, but about sixty three cent
per volume, or the gross sum including paper
printing. plates, aud hioding, of $3.50 4l2
THE work is full of information and valuab
eEnpoesIinns Ii will nut lhonsands Of mind