Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-17
By VIM. J. Copp, Esq.

TLESES: agriculture may be defined
to be the Iliiva;ion of the earth In the
production OF the various vegetables,
grains AMI plants demanded BY the wants
OF man.
We have met here to day as an Agri-
cultural Society. but not in the limited or
conf Ied sense which the word indicates.
This Society. as I understand it. is
meant for the encouragement of Labor
generally; but takes its name alone from
that great basis, upon which rests the
whole superstruc;ure of all the pursuits OF
the world, whether they be physical or
mental, vir;uous or vicious.
You, who are more Immediately en-
gagged in agriculture, will pardon ne ifI
dwell for few moments on this aspect
OF the subject. Common place, grant,
Tut no: the less true, and not the less
grand in all its vas; proportions. on that
account.
Food and clothing arc essential to al
classes and pursuits. Without them, ex
istence itself ceases. and the world would
be void Of population. The bread and
the meat which supper: the existence Of
the eGiminalo aud naughty aristocr:t, no
less than the most ablsct beg9ar that
walks the streets. ard whose id'eDess and
vice have occasioaei his destitution; The
ioiiing millions Of agrieulturisis supply.
No less for clothing shan for food are all
dependent on the results Of bis labor
His cattle furnish The leather that pro-
tees tie feet, while his sheep. fax aud
cotton furnish the material for cloth
ing for the body. To comprehend thor
oughiy the subject in all It's vast proper
ticSs, enGncIate al the ayocatiohs of life,
the arts, tie sciences, tire literature, the
politics. the trades. and the vast com
Inerce Of the world. and follow each
through al its ramifcatiors, till the
m.ad becomes weary with the immensely
ri the task, and then in Imagination fash
ion them into pyramidal form, until they
pie Ike moGntaps to the skies, and ret
tho whole superstructurO upon the agii-
cuIturist FOR support. and you have still
bat partial conception Of the truth.
ISTLCEEcz OF AdRIcULTUaIsTs.
One would suppose from this view of
the subject that class so necessarily nu-
meroIs, SO vast in its producing powsr,
would have direct influence upon she
destinies Of the world, to control, 10 reg
u!ate, to govern, so as to be seen and felt
by all other pursuits-that its ipse dirt
would be the law that controlled, and
from its decision there would be no ap-
peal. But The revsrse is too sadly true.
That there is an influence of mere force
of numbers, grant, but it is rarely the
case that the initiation is theirs; they are
much oftener led than lead. | say the
reverse Is too sadly true, that they do
not directly control. Their avocation
makes them the most yirtuOus, aud their
numbers and circumstances more strong
~ identify them with the country than
any other class, aud were they to govern
more directly, much of the fraud and
and yiliainy growing out of law would
be avoided; our governing powers would
be more v;ItGous, and civilization and the
useful arts progress moro rapidly
throughout the world. But there are
causes that produce these results.
"a AVERSION TO LABOR.
No sooner had the Creator pronounc
ed that great blessing upon the race, that
by their labor they were TO acquire their
daily bread, than mans corrupt natufe
revolted discarded the legacy, and de
s;gnatel It curse. From that carly
period, through all the centuries that
have elapsed, among all races and ol,sses
Of men that have appeared and disap-
Pearei to give place to succeeding gener-
atoms, down to the present moment,
their history teaches us that Labor is q
curse, and that earthly bliss is only to be
secured By its avoidance. In youth it
appears 10 US as an evil genius that be-
clouds our pathway. shuts out the sum
light OF happiness, and renders gloomy
nal for5idding the whole career of future
life. So insurmoantaJly repugnsnt does
it appear to many, they make no strug-
Gle Of resistance, they I've without an
object, and die unnotic d and forgotten i.
Others again cruelty c, nc, cncc, bid fa:e-
well to honor aud man in,ss, engage in
pursuits that sink them day by day low
err in the scale of being, inflict incalcr-
liable injury upon themselves and society,
aud when they die, the world 10
rather satisfied, than sortowful Mt their
departure. Others again resort to their
wits. 10 inventions, TO the professions, to
secure them against physical labor
Even the learned professions are crowd.
ed With such renegades, large proper
lion taking neither education. intelligence
or sense with inen. Armed only with
ignorance and i,npudsnes, they advertise
themselves for fees, if not for fans.
And yet another clsss, with stronger
will and more imagination, resort to la
hor rs the patient takes medicine, in the
fond hope that sooner or later they will
BE- able TO turn their backs upon il, and
enjoy an 81, stun Of idleness the remain
der of their days. Such is the history
of the worlds inhabitants.
But i is not only true that there is an
innate feeling of repugnance to labor
,,onrraT;r lint This caei;nor IA sfran0thsnad