Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-13
Che tormer.
Agricultural Colleges.
SPEECH OF HON. j. S. MORRILL,,


OF VERMONT,
In the House of Representatives., Apr. 20, 1858,
The SPEAKER. The pending bill is bill dos
mating public lands to the several States and
Territories which may provide colleges for the
benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts.
The gentleman from Michigan Mr.. Walbridgel
moved to postpone its consideration until We'd
nesday, the Dist instant and that the bill, and
the report Of the majority, and the views of the
minority of the committee, be printed. The
gentleman from Maine, Mr.. Washburn] moved
to reconsider the bill. The gentleman from
Vermont MIR. Morrill, is entitled to the floor.
Mr. MORRILL,. There has been no measure
for wears which has received so much attention
in the various parts of the country as the one
now under consideration, 50 far as the fact can
be proved by petitions which have been re-
ceived here from the various States, North and
South, from State Societies, from county socie-
ties, and from individuals. They have come in
80 as to cover almost every day from the COM
mencement of the session.
Before proceed further, desire to ask the
gentleman from Michigan to withdraw his mo
ton to postpone, in order that may introduce
an amendment, which propose to offer, merely
changing the bill so far as to strike out all
in regard to Territories.
Mr. WALBRIDGE. | will withdraw it for that
purpose.
The SPEAKER. There is a pending motion to
recommit, which must also be withdrawn, be-
fore an amendment can be in order.
Mr. MORRILL,. ask the gentleman from
Maine to withdraw the motion to recommit
Mr.. WAsHBuRN, of Maine, withdraw the
motion.
Mr.. MORRILL,. now offer the amendment
which | send to the Chair, to come in after the
enacting clause, in the nature Of a substitute
for the whole bill. Mr.. Speaker. know very
well that when there is lack of arguments to
be brought against the merits of measure, 1.-The
Constitution is fled to as an inexhaustible arse
nal of supply From thence all sorts of mis-
siles may be hurled, and though they " bear
wide" of the mark, they do not ''kick the
owner over" I have also noticed that lions
accustomed to roar around the Constitution are
quite disposed to slumber whenever it is desir-
able for certain gentlemen, who carry extra
baggage to leap over the impeachment. But,
while do not propose to consider the constitu
tional argumentat any great length, | shall not
wholly blink it out of sight and all the favor
asked is, that the Constitution may not be
strained and perverted to defeat measure no
less of public good than of public justice-.just
politically, just to all the States, and just,
above all, to the manhood Of our country.
We exert our power and expend millions to
protect and promote commerce through light
houses, coast surveys, improvement of harbors,
and through our Navy and naval academy
Our military &C crown Jewels " are manufacture
ed at West Point on Government account. We
make immense grants of lands to railroads to
open new fields Of internal trade. We secure
to literary labor the protection of copyright
We encourage the growth and discipline of
hardy saamen by eking out their scanty rewards
through governmental bounties. We secure to
ingenious mechanics high profits by our system
of patent-rights. We make munifcent grants
to secure general education in all the new
States, But all direct encouragement to agr-
culture has been rigidly withheld.
When commerce comes to our doors, CAV in
its attire and lavish in its promises, we " hand
and deliver y at once our gold. When Manu-
features appear, with a needy and downcast
look, we tender, at worst, Il " compromise. -
And then the fiery little god of war bristles up
and makes havoc of all we have left, So that,
when Agriculture appears,
=" A creature not too wise Or good
F'r human natures daily food
though taxed to support all her sisters and idle
brothers, and to espouse their quarres-we
oody plead there is nothing left for her, and
even spurn the admission of her affinity to the
family by emitting all mention of her on the
records Of our statutes. Ceres does not appear
among the gods of Olympus-only appears in
picture on one of our Treasury notes.
1t is our province, as nation and as indi-
viduals, to do 1cel whatever we undertake. The
genius and skill of our artists and artisans have
been universally commended. Our naval arch-
lecture is subject of national pride. Our en-
gineers are doomed to no merely local Eme.-
Our agricultural implements are beyond the
reach of competition. Yet, while we may be
in advance of the civilized world in many of
the useful arts, it is a bumiliating fact that we
are far in the rear of the best husbandrv in
Europe; and, Notwithstanding here and there
an elevated spot, our tendency is still down.
ward. Does not our general system of agricul-
ture foreshadow ultimate decay? If so, is it
beyond our constitutional power and duty to
provide an incidental remedy?
The prosperity and happiness of a large and
populous nation depend:
l Upon the division of the land into small
parcels
2. Upon the education of the proprietors of
the soil.
Our agrculturists, as a whole, instead of
seeking Il higher cultivation are extending
their boundaries, and their education, on the
contrary, is limited to the metes and bounds of
their forefathers.
If it be true that the common mode of cul.
tivating the soil in all parts of our country is
80 defective as to make the soil poorer year by
year, it is a most deplorable fact, and fact Of
national concern. If we are steadily mparing
the natural productivenesss Of the soil, it is a
national waste, compensated only by private
robbery. What are the facts?
In New England, the pasture-fed stock is not
on the increase, and sheep-husbandry is grad
ually growing of less importance, excepting
perhaps in Vermont and New Hampshire. The
wheat crop, once abundant, is now inconsid
cradle. The following table will exhibit some
thing of the depreciation of the crops in ter
years:
Wheat-bushes Potatoes-bushes
1910. 1850. 1910. 1850.
Connecticut, $1,000 41000 34l423S 1859 80;
Massachusetts, 'l5,923 3l,2l1 5,3s5,o52 3,3s5,3S