Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-10-14

tage, when he was summoned TO the command OF
that army which soon covered him. as wen as ITSELF
with immortal honor. Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay.
when walking amid their hOcks and herds, and the
gres Carolinisn at his simple homestead, exhibited
more true nobeness Of character, than when pour
ing out their mstchless eloquence in the forum or
the Senate House.
In the United States We have every reasoHt0 sup
pose that this appreeistion Of Agriculture Is no
destined to be less than ct the present period
In the early years Of the Republic It was strongly
impressed on the public mind thst the nations OF the
old world and more particularly that from winch
we had separated, we're Ill at ease under the ne"
form of government which we had established
The apprehension could not for long time De re-
sisted that one or more Of them might seize on any
favorable moment arising out Of our dlssensoos OF
other exterior cause to extinguish the hght OF our
free institutions, which, flashing over the regs gov
ernments Of Europe, might reveal the dssallsisotOn
of their own subjects Hence It was that al that
related N our national defence our army, our navy,
and the Notifications on our extended line OF sea
coast received our marked and especial attention,
as far as our limited resources would aunt Even
when Louisiana vas purchased, the scqulsi'ioh was
hailed chiefly IS an increase OF national Po"el'Ny
which in future times we should be better enabled
n resist aggression and TO maintain, unquestoned,
our new position among the Independents nSuO1s Ol
the earth But the United States have long been
assured against all those apprehensions Lney no"
proudly repose on the firm CONVICTION thst theiI no
critics and the form OF government "HASN tN-y 49,
established can never be successfully sssallea Ihey
! feel and know that whilst they VIII never ssk OF
otSer nations ANYTHING but what is right they can
never be compelled to submit to that which wrong
In orr vast accession of territory IN Texas, Cali
forniR. and Oregon no considerations OF increasing
power, in any possible collision wi foreign ma
lions ever mingled in the slightest degree into the
! negotiations. When these aud other new States,
| formed out Of our own territories, came teeming
| into the Union, the all absorbing idea was more
States and more territory for the future farms and
homes Of the sons and daughters OF freedom-cheap
aud abundant subsistence for them and their deseen
dsnts for ever. No ever thought to enquire how
many new regiments they could bring into the field
or what fleets could float on their magnificent lakes
and rivers. Climate soil, minerals, adaptation to
manufactures and to the mechanic arts we're keenly
enquired after, and were the sole elements thst
entered into all these grand expansions Of our cOUn'
try.
When these acquisitions Of territory shall be fair
" analvzed and the facts connected with them shall
take their proper places in history the American
character will stend fully indicated against the
charge of inordnate lust after power and dominion.
She will not only stand indicated againt the charge
of aggression but she will stand out foremost among
che nations Of the earth, having done than
| any of them in promoting the good Of mankind by
the cement Of agriculture and its dependent
arts and sciences These are the solid foundations
on which must be built the happiness and p OsI err
| ty Of every people, Let England have it, if she
will that she possesses the largest feet that sails
or steams on the ocean, let France truly boast that
she has the best appointed and disciplined srmy in
the world; let Russia exult in her baulemen,s and
towers that frown defiance TO all Europe-but let it
| be the pride and glory of America to have done
more to promote the happiness and prosperity of
| the general masses of mankind than sny nation Of
the old world more. by the establishment of just
and equal form of representative governments more
by the Lawful Acquisition Of terri DRY, best suited to
! furnishing them with the most abundant and even
elegant subsistence more, by the encourR cement OF
manufactures and the mechanic essential their
comfort and convenience; more, by the diffusion
among all classes of the blessings of sound thor
ough education, industrial moral, and Intellectual
Let my country excel in these, and am wiling to
cOncede to other nations "all the pomp and cireum-
/ stances Of Q glorious war"
OF course l have no opportunity TO discuss these
| great elements of national prosperity. Each Of
them is itself theme too vast for the present Oo
cssiOn As agriculture il he Foundation on which
they all rest, shall confne myself TO that subject.
1 shall attempt no lecture on the de'ailS of prso
teal farming The vast and varied exhibition be-
fore US clearly shows that that subject should
be your pupil, not your instructor. The Farmer is
here my instructor in the rich and vari' d prOdue
lions of his fields. The Manufacturer is here, NY
instructor in his cuTously wrought and costly fab
RIGS The Mechanic is here, my in>tructor in the
wonderful ingenuity Of bis peculiar art And above
ALL the fair daughte and mstrOns Of Tennessee
here, my instructors in the beautiful a. delicate
texture Of their own hsndiWork But Will
conscious of my inability 70 eDlighteu you on any
Of these practical subjects, do not feel at liberty
to overlook what have long regarded a great
and injurious defect in American agricul ure
In this country the farmer generally holds our in
defessibe title to the broad acres be cuivstes. He
moves proudly over his fields, and surveys with sat
isfaction the crops which growing upon them.
But he will not stop in his money making career to
build his neat cottage, or his more costly mansion.
according to his circumstances. He will not sdorn
his grounds, plant his orchards of delicious
fruits He viii waste no time shrubbery and
flowers. He will prepare no hesltbful cisterb, nor
lead the gushing fountain to his door. All is left
rude, iucouvenent and uncomfortable around him,
With no. hing TO lure either himself or his family
away from the Establishments of some neighboriDg
town or city Every farmer and planter should
make his home, TO himself or his household, the
dearest and lOveliest spot earth. Though he may
have marbled palace, no rich and costly furni-
ture no lveried servants, STILL there is his homes
stead bsautifed and adorned with every embellish>
ment Of taste and fancy. Who would be willing to
leave such home, with its Rrcadiau bowers and its
pure and sparkling waters for the dust and smoke of
the crowded city
And how strange is this passion for city over
county life which we so often encounter It cannot
spring from any inordnaie desire 10 grow rich, for
agriculture rewards her followers more beautifully
than any other pursuit It is passion for pleas
ure and display more than for riches. Some men
desire to live in palaces built in the city that they
may be seen and admired They desire costly |
equipages; but they must glitter in the city, at
tracing the admiration Of thousands who would |
never behold them in the solitude of the country.
The Theatre the Ball, and the Masquerade present
their nightly attractions whilst they are seldom |
heard of in rural life The devotee Of more uues>
tionsble pleasures finds in the city ready facilities
of indulgence, which entirely removed in the /
plain aud virtuous organization of country society
Whatever the motive, this preference given by so /
many TO city life, is productive Of some of the great
est evils Of the present age In the fopdness of hope
that something may chance to turn up in their favor
hundreds and thousands precpitate themselves into
towns and cities without preconcerted arrange
meuts for regular and permanent employ ment It
is the great law of our being, that if would
be either happy or prosperous, we must have EN-
pigment physical or intellectual This is empbat-
icllly true of city life. But this disprOporionate
rush to the city renders such employment impossi-
BILE; no demands of commerce. manufactures or The
mechanic arts furnish it to the redundant crowds
that pour themselves into our cities. Hence, that
mass of poverty and suferiDg-for shelter--for fuel
for rsiment-for bread, which no city ordinances
can relieve. Hence, also those great mObs and
professions through the streets in times of scarcity
employment and subsistence, which of.
tentimes nothing but martial law subdue and
hence, too that oul and fostering Of corruption
aud vice, which, too often sf1iot and disgrace our
over crowded cities
How delightful it is to turn from the cpnempla>
ton Of these to the calm, oontented and vir
70 &c ~ he oil