The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-04-03


sessing themselves Of these, they were
also soon forced to invade Others more
remote. In great bodies, like to the de
vouring army Uorn,, they marched forth
from home, with hunger and starvation
driving them forward IL the work of des
truction, which, awaited the countries
through which they passed ; they plum
dered and destroyed every thing before
them. Putting the inhabitants to the
sword, without regard TO age, sex, or
condition, in one distric,y or country, il
only furnished them an easier entrance
TO another and another. Wherever they
marched, their route was marched with
blood. They continued this ex,ermiua-
ting warfare, until they overrun most, il
not all, of the countries Of Europe.
History tells us, that in less than two
centuries, FROM their first eruption, these
Barbanans of various names and liuiage,
plundered and took possession of Thrace,
Panomia, Gaul, Spain, Africa, and at
last Of Italy, and Rome itself
Thus the vast fabric of the Roman
power, which It had been the work OF
overturned, from the foun daton. Rob
ertson, the historian, in describing the
desoIating rarages Of these people re.
marks III a man were called upon, 10
iix period in the history Of the world,
during which the history Of the race was
most caiamitous and afflic, ed, he would,
without hesitation, name that, which,
elapsed from the death Of Theodorius the
great, to the establishment of the ON
bards III Italy. The cotemporary au
thors, who, beheld that scene Of desola
llon, and horror, labor and are at loss
TO describe its true horror and enormi,v.
The scourg. Of God, the destro, er OF ma
tlons are the dreadful epithets by which
they distinguish the most noted of their
barbarous leaders and they compare
the ruin which they brought on the
world, TO the havoc occasioned by
earthquakes, confagratons and deluges
the most formidable and fatal Gallant
ties which the imagination Of mar can
conceive.
These savage tribes, on settling the
countries. which, they had subdued, divi
ded the land among themselves, aIlo:tins
to each soldier his proportiona,e part
This Le claimed in his own right, for the
services he had rendered, ,in the acquisition
of,he country, and took i, as free man in
full property. He enjoyed it during his
own life, and could dispose Of it at pleas
ure, OF transmit it as an inheritance TO his
children.
Thus property in land became f.red.-
But as these barbarians were strangers TO
government, and consequently without
any defensive system, necessary TO secure
them. their possessions, against the vio.
lent ncnrsions Of other tribes, equally, AS
fierce as themselves, it became necessary
for them to provide suitable means for
their defence. The allodial property
which each soldier thus acquired by con
quest, to the parcel Of land which fell to
him, though it imposed natural obliga,
tion upon him, to uuile in the common
defence OF the whole, it WAS still. without
that sufficient legal obligation necessary
to enforce this duty II was necessary
for them to 60 a step further. This step
led them, to establish the feudal tenure.
whcE mos, scrupulousiy eracted this ser
rice.
We have thus far, noticed the relation
which man suslains to The earth, ia order
10 show the necessity Of u fixed property
in man TO the soil. This naturally led
us to notice, in brief manner, the evils
incident 10 those nations, who TO the neg,
lect of agriculture, continued to exercise
only temporary property iu land. We
have thus, seen, how little improvement,
centuries made upon these Barbar
Gus nations of Europe, in consequence OF
their total neglect OF agrculture-how
this neglect drove them from home in
quest OF subsistence abroad--how thew
piitoged and laid Waste the countries
through which they passed in their way
to the seat Of empire how at length they
were compelled to abandon rowing for
settled life, by rellnquishing temporary
for a fixed property in the soil, and last
OF all, how they were driven, as means
OF defence against invasion, to establish
the Jeudol tenure. which in its operation,
brought them peace, aud gradually con-
Quoted them to civilization. Thus far we
have viewed our subject only in the dark
Jet US now bring it forth to the Eight,
and notice rs briefly as we can, some of
the positive blessings which flow from ag
ricul,ure rs they appear, in the social con.
d,ion Of those nations who have paid a
proper attention to the SOIL. by means Of
encouraging a thrifty agriculture. In
wha' different light do the Italian State,
appear under this view OF our subjec, -
The Romans, in the earliest and best ages
OF their existence, were much given to ag
rcuture. Except that they were frequent
Iy interrupted by war, they might be con
sidersd as an agricultural people. They
we're at once soldiers aud farmers. dis.
tory Informs US that many Of their most
distinguished men and Generals were
called from the plow to the army. This
was the case with Cincinnatus, Marcus
Curiss, Cato the Csnsor, and Seipeo Afri.
cauus
Cincinnatus left the handles OF his plow
for thu Aufia. nf tho oasnn k,t $1,000