Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-04-20
The Stapoafo.
MIR. ALIENS ADDRESS.

For several wears nv immediate attention has been
entirely diverted from the great agricultural inter
est of the country, and devoted almost exclusively
to another field OF labo.. [ have not, however,
ceased to feel interest in my old and honored Vo
cation. look back to the days Of my youth when
followed the plough in my fathers fields, and took
pleasure in viewing tie beautiful green waving corn.
with more real heartfelt delight ami pleasure than
have ever enjoyed in any of the varied scenes OF my
past life Life at most, ladies and gentlemen, is
c!ieckcred scene Of pleasure mingled with pain. In
deed it is said. perhaps with much truth that every
sweet hath its bitter; but you will permit me here to
remark ard do it in all caldor that the little cXre
rcncc and observation that has fallen 10 my lot leads
nc iiresstibly to the conclusion that the agricutu
rist the ter of the soil, enjoys more OF the streets
of life than any other class of Gods created Intcl.
gent beings. And why should he net: He lisa real
nobleman, exercising dominion ever all he surveys,
the most independent well as the happiest OF hui
man beings
Ihavc said that have not ceased to feel inter-
est in Agriculture You had just we'll tell me
that man can forget The spot that gave him
BIRTH the old heartstonc and tireSide around which
his first lessons of wisdom were learned and where
the feelings of pate-nal regard were first exhibited,
as that one who has enjoyed the life OF an agricultu-
rist has ceased to feel an interest in it, New attach
mcnts and associations may be formed, and our in
tercst to be identified with old native sod
our dlleCtlOIS ulaS Win i'ai-
ticular place VIC may have selected of our own fec
will and accord and still there will be ever as long
the pulsationS of the heart continue to beat there
satst be still small voice within. lingering about
the very soul, that speaks out in acconate so!s:tr
the old native hcarhstone, the old homestead. the
place Of our cherished nativity, the pleasant joyous
scenes of our youth. These, all of them, hnger
about the soul, and whenever anything connected
with them is mentioned, you may see the eye spur
Lilo md tho ro,l forth tS nf soft
tender affection for the scenes OF childhood and The
objects that surrounded it. Even when the last
ti,r of hope of again seeing these dear icctS
is tr removed from the mind, our affections are en-
twined around them, ard cling to them in magma
ton with deathlikc grasp. Talk with the Old man
about the OIL. homestead AMI the scenes Of his YOUTH
and witness the emotions OF his heart as it grows
warnier and warmer, as his interest becomes deeper
and deeper as the voice eleyates itself higher and
higher in eulogstic enthusiasm and tell me if YOU
can that there is nothing sacred in thinking talking
about contemplating upon, the scenes Of our youth
Our affections ought 10 be, are bound up with the
objects and circumstances that surround us. Prac-
tically, we Think talk, act in connection with no
others. Bit then there is tender sadness and plea
in rctlec;ipg upon things OF this kind that COM
pleciy master not the Judgment, but the soft SYM
pathetic feelings of the sonl These things arc
they ought TO be so; and the man who has no SYM
patty with such feelings. has nothing of the refine
lncnt OF the cultivated heart about him.
1t occurs to Inc that something OF these feelings
get hold of my heart when | undertake to think
OF the great subject of Agriculture. love to think
OF it. 1t brings up along with it my boyhood days,
and with them there many pleasant lecollections,
and they inspire the very soul with emotions Of the
te:dereSt "reminiscences
Feelings and sentiments something kindred to
these and earnest desire to door say something that
calculated to advance the Agricultural interest
OF the country particularly that Of nuplin county,
have prompted me to accept the invitation kindly
extended to to deliver the address on this occa-
sion. Not that ain vain enough to suppose that I
am very capable Of advising you OH SO important
subject as that of Agricultural science even say
anything that is very new and original in relation to
the different modes of cultivation and the practical
results of Agriculture subject that has been talk
ell about, written and thought upon so much by the
greatest minds Of the country; but that might at
least manifest my interest in it. have accepted this
invitation In this way | mean to show my desire
for the promotion of Agriculture even though by so
doing subject myself to the criticism of men who
know less even than do.
The day is not distant in the future, I hope, when
the farmer shall occupy his true position in society
This Can, onght to be attained and that position Is
in the front ranks of american society. at least
The enquiry naturally comes up, how can the object
be attained? While do not propose to go m,l,h
into this subject some remarks and observations on
an occasion like the present may not be considered
out of place. 1t is certainly subject worthy of our
consideration. ! approach it with some degree of
dill lence, for the that fear my views NAV
Eeregardcd As somewhat OLD f1gyiM in this progress
i've age. when every thing goes by telegraph |
hope, however, that my remarks will not be so COLI
strucd; Tor profess to be one of the progrcssvcs
myself, thong | am for taking hold OF new ideas
and Incorporating them with the we'll established in
situations and customs of the country which have
worked so well for our national prosperity, onlu
after they have undergone full and fair invcstie.-
ton. In other words am for conservative prog,lss.
if the term is allowable in these days of strict ac-
countability. My opinion is that the farmer has
only to respect himself and his vocation in order to
command the respect of others. In the first place
we must cncavor to correct some errors that unfor
tunaely prevail over the land. In the present day
If Il farmer has son whose promotion he desires TO
forward, instead of assisting in keeping ,,p a good
country or cighborhood school where he night, and
ought to educate his son, at least during his tender
years, when the manners and habits are bepinninc
to FORM and thereby promote and elevate his partic
ular neig hborhoo1 it is too frequently the case that
the little Jetlow is sent to some neshboring school,
and there kept until prepared for college, with no
one to superintcnd and watch over his Young mind
but his teacher and landlord who of course cannot
and ought not to care any for boy underline
charge lhah announcer, and having so many to attend
to, they can DO little else than provide for his per-
sonal comfort and intellectual literary, cultivation
The moral training of the boy, so important in
youth except by preceps be but little attended
to- The important lessons that are taught so ap-
propriatcly around the tireside, and which can be
more forcibly impressed upon the young mind by
mother or father, are too frequently neglected
Besides maintain that but few men have minds
capable Of approaching real practical life, who have
never been taught to work. BY keeping our chill.
dren at home and sending them to the neghborl,ood
school, and learning them to work when not at
school until they are old enough to appreciate their
opportunities when they are sent from under the ma
rental roof to another school of higher grade where
their education may be completed, they learn not
merely to respect their fathers vocation and to an.
preciate the farmers responsibility, but also learn
something of practical life, and live afterwards. not
in dreams and imaginary castles, but are prepared
to battle with the storms of life Understand me
am not complaining that parents learn their chill.