The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-06-02

the Piow, ana In oil the various operations {
! the field. In Europe the people arc divide
INTO classes by the accident of birth--crown
and rank, distinction and wealth, are hered
tary-labor is degraded, and the laborer
ignorant, superstitious and poor. Tn thos
countries where it is most degraded we Fin,
the greatest national weakness and decay
Spain, Portugal, and Italy are illustration
of this fact. In the Southern States of on
country, tho labor is performed by African
slaves, and it is deemed the policy of thei
masters to hold them in the most profound
ignorance and to guard against any approach
OF knowledge towards their dark minds BY
tho severest legislative prohibitions. 1t !.
deemed disgraceful and degrading for the
white man to labor. The dreadful conse
quences whict naturally flow from this degra-
ton OF labor are made apparent when we
contrast the growth and prosperity, in the
clements OF national wealth, of Virginia with
New York, of Kentucky with Ohio, of Mis-
sour with Illinois, or of Arkansas with Mich
lgan. l flatter myself, therefore, that l
trench upon no improper ground when l say
that the interests of this nation, its wealth.
Its strength, its perpetuity, demand that the
labor OF tho country shall be free labor, guild
Cd Sy Intelligence and skill, and that the la
borer should be made the equal. in respccta-
piiity and position, Of any other class of
community. General Washington, the faith
or OF his country, whose name should always
DO mentioned with vencration and gratitude,
was known to be an intelligent and practical
farmer. Ills tastes for rural life were refined
and cultivated, and his beautiful scat on the
bank OF the Potomac attracted the admira-
tlon OF all who visited that delightful spot
He left his dying testimony in favor Of free
labor by the emancipation of all his slaves;
put his estate, falling into the hands of his
heirs, has been cultivated ever since by slave
lubor. "A few years since, in the month of
June, l visited that venerable plantation,
with curious eye, to sec how its farming
operations were conducted. I need hardly
assure you, for it is but type of Virginia
that all over its hundreds of beautiful and
once productive acres, there were the eviden-
ces OF dilapidation and decay. 1t was farm
ed upon the exhaustive principle. No ma
nure, no clover, no rotation of crops had
found its way into the management of that
estate. When a field could produce no lon
ger, it was turned out to rest. 1t was lust
the beginning of'harvest. The wheat, tho
small, yielding not more than five or six
bushels TO the acre, was beautiful plump
berry, indicating what Virginia soil might
produce with efficient and proper tillage.-
turning my attention to one of the shops on
the farm, | saw an old Negro repairing the
rude implements preparatory to entering tho
but none Of the highly improved
modern farm implements were there. The
light and easy cradle, the handsomely turn
ed threc-tncd pi,chfork, the light, bright
hoe and handy rake, wero wanting-everv-
hing was clumsy, and rude, and old fashion
ed. The necessary consequence of this was,
hat not onc-tourth the amount of labor was
accomplished, nor one-fourth the amount of
production obtained from the estates, upon
which reposc the ashes of Washington, that
night have been if modern improvement
intelligence, and skill, had been introduced
nto Its management. When witnessed all
hls, felt proud Of Michigan-of the ad- =
'ance which her agriculturists had made, of
he comforts and improvements which are
v>rywhcre visible, and of the character of
Ter intelligent and Independent yeomanry.
Formerly farming was considered bust
less requiring mere physical power, with
which the principal of natural science had
title or nothing to do. To plow, to saw, aud
o geathcr the crop, was tho general routine
Il farming Operations, regardless Of the pow
rty which the practice was inficting upon
he soil and upon those who owned it. But
cence and art are now uniting their labors
nd are drawing mutual aid from each other
N tho farm rs they have for some time been
oing in the manufactury and in the shop of
he artisan. A new era is drawing upon the
ision of the farmer-new light is illumining
lis path, and new interest and new pleasu-
or are urging him on to improvement. His
Intellect comes to the aid of his hands; and
S he traces effects to their causes, searches
or the reason of his failures and disappoint-
nents, famimarizes himself with the oppe-
ations Of nature and devses improvements
n his art, his interest is increased, his profits
realty enhanced, and he appreciates the full
ignity of his chosen pursuit. Science is
'robably capable of rendering moro impor- ,
ant aid to husbandry than to any other
ranch of labor, and presents wider field of ,
seful study TO the cultivator of the soil than
o any other class of society.
IL this be true, how great is the oppertu-
ity, young gentlemen, which is afforded you
An opportunity for which your fathers ;ght
ave SIGNED in vain--for it is nothing les ;
han free education for one of tho noblest
allings Of man. 1t is hoped that by resort ,
ng TO tho Collogc for your education, you
will acquire high sense of the dignity and
of labor. It is no uncommon
hing for young men to leave othor institu- =,
ions of learning with distastc and dis I,
ike for word-with their pisical constitution :
nervated, their usefulness impaired and their !
ays shortened by severe mental application.
We trust that your labor here will aid in Sc
uring for you strong vigorous, healthy do
elopment-that your industry will aid in
ecuring for you strong, vigorous, healthy I
'hysical development; that your industry will [
70 so directed, MS to make labor pleasant and
nviting--that your tastes will be refined and
our thoughts purifed-that instead of tho
-. Al a