The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-06-30
Col. Curtis Address to the People
of the First iowa District.
g.-..
CONCLUSION.
AGRrcULTuRE AND MANUFACTURES.

AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.
The foundation of all our wealth is de-
pendent on the prosperity Of Agriculture and
Manufactures. The first command from
Heaven directed us to ''repenish the earth
and subdue it." Where food ID raiment
are easily and constantly produced, human
woe and want must be of rare occurrence.
The most benefits to society have grown out
of the progress and application Of science TO
these primary pursuits. It is now hardly
possible, with our knowledge and means and
variety of production, that the world can be
decimated with famine, as it was in ignorant
early ages; but there is great room yet for
Improvement, and statesmen and students
can find no field more worthy of their re-
search and exertions, and none where the
fruits will be so advantageous to mankind.
Needless and ignorant observers scout the
idea here suggested; but little study of
the history and progress of husbandry will
satisfy the most incredulouS of the truth Of
these remarks. ..
Two measures of great Importance to these
branches of industry were presented to the
late Congress, and received my support
One was a grant Of land to each State, to
secure the establishment of Agricultural and
Mechanical Schools And why should these
interests have no special head, and careful
national supervision?
We have a Secretary ofthe Navy, the For
eign relations, and Interior surely, Agri-
culture and Manufactures, upon which all
these depend, should have some national
cultvatioh. The Agricultural Bill passed
both Houses, the Republicans generally vo-
ting for it; but it was vetoed by the Presi-
dent, in accordance with the wishes and
| votes of Southern Democrats.
The other matter which was intended and
| calculated to unite and foster these great
industrial pursuits, sas a proposition to
amend our tariff, SO as to encourage Home
Mauuiactu es. Our present tariff operates
most fatally against our worthy mechanics !;
| Thousand workmen were thrown out of en-
ployment in Pennsylvania. Our ores lay
buried in, the earth, while we send to Eng
and to GET iron for plow-shares. Our hides
a.e sent to Europe, and shipped back to Us
| as boots and shoes The farmers wool has
| 10 be sent to England and manufactured
ilrl II IN hac Ht 10
wear as clothing. 1t would be interesting
to follow a sack ofwool, to see the clipping
and shaving, the commissions, tolls, and
| transportation charged on it, in travelling
eight thousand miles. Why not manufac-
| ture the sack of wool at home, where our
farmer could pay for it with shoulder of
mutton thai would feed the workmen? And
| why not make our shoes, where we can ex-
change forthe work a quarter of the beef
| from which the hide was taken? Agricul
ture and Manufactures should be united in
the state and in the neighborhood; and to
that end, our tariff laws should be re.adius-
ted so as TO foster and favor such union OF
| ttleSe pursuits. w lieteFet uallohs VIII open
their ports free, I would reciprocate; but
while Cuba charges our farmers nine dollars
for the privilege OF selling barrel of -four
! in Their market, | would reciprocate. that
also. | would try, on their imports, to Sc
cure like sum, and thus incidentally try to
secure lair reciprocity, The Republicans
generally voted for a change of the tariff,
but il was effectively opposed and prevented
by the Democratic members,
Ajpdicious reciprocal ta,if, with inciden-
tai alprotection to home industry, is necessary
to revive our hame manufactures and pre-
vent the further accumulation of a national
debt. ''.' - ... .-"