East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1866-10-11
ANNUAL ADDRESS,
Before Saginaw Co. Agricultural Society,
at their First Fair. held at East Saginaw.
Oct. Sd, 4th and 5th. 1860.
BY HON. JADEz @. SUTHERLAND.

every Spnere OF uluHcidl uctlNity, anu
to the general comfort, in every walk
of life, that all classes feel and mani
fest an interest at least in what it an
nually produces, whether its practical
details are commended to their atten-
ton and study or not. This is the
homage that the dependent ever pays
to the hand that feeds, springing from
that solicitude we all naturally expe-
rience to secure a supply as certain
and uniform as our wants. Indifier-
ence upon such subject would show
man to be less attentive to his domes-
tic aoono->,s- - '"""
the ant, (which having no guide, over
seer or ruler provideth her meat in the
summer and gathereth her food in the
harvest" -
The manifold direct and accessory
products Of farm, those hich spring
from tillage of the soil and from
auxiliary and concomitant sources con-
stitute a very comprehensive provision
for the wants Of man, the labor and
preparation required for their produc-
tion engage large portion of the
inhabitants of State; the distribution
of these products and the change of
them into the ultimate forms in which
the consumer requires them, involve
the use of much capital, and stimulate
many other industries; and thus agri-
culture fills very prominent place in
the great economy by which the well
fare of civilized society is secured. 1t
is thus invested with the dignity and
importance of great public interest.
A moments reflection prepares us TO
receive as true, the declaration of the
eminent German, to whose expert
ments and researches in chemistry the
world is greatly indebted, that "perfect
agriculture is the true foundation Of
all trade and industry, it is the foun-
dation of the riches of States" Hence
you that have adopted farming as a
business are entitled to regard your
selves, and TO be regarded by the COM
munity as laboring in calling, than
which none is more useful, none more
honorable.
The general welfare depends much
upon your characters, and upon the
extent and quality of your farming.
The Creator has benificiently given
the earth to man with surface and
soil so well adapted to his condition
and capacity, that eve2 the ignorant
may gain subsistence, those that
aspire only to be "hewers Of wood
and drawers of water" may by the
mere exercise Of muscle, and the low
est degree of intelligence, not only
keep the wolf from their door, Dut
provide for themselves a comfortable
abundance.
Such would bo the most inferior
and thriftless order of the rural popu-
lation, if the social vices, principally
rife in the cities, or originating in the
moral contagion which they dissent
nate, could be suppressed or confined
to their urban haunts. But if agricul.
ture attracted only such persons, there
would be a perpetual famine in the
land. 1t is fortunate for humanity
and fortunate for civilization that 0
higher order of men have followed
the plow. 1t is not muscle alone, il
is not energy merely, that successful
farming requires, nor are the rewards
that it profiers SO niggardly that high
mental endowments must need bt
transplanted into some new field o
exertion to find suitable exercise and
adequate remuneration. If its mani
fold processes are ignorantly pursued
with no endeavor to comprehend theiI
philosophical laws, pursued with blint
and bigoted contempt for the teaching
of science, pursued with strict and in
discriminate adherence to antiquateo
modes, it is thereby reduced to {
menial employment, and entitled f
consideration only as such. But tha
is not its natural and intrinsic charac
ter. There is wide field for investi
CATION, range of inquiry equal t.
the grasp of the mightiest intellect {,
learn the secret which will enable tn
husbandman TO realize the full iatnes
of the land, and to appreciate AM
shape the economies that will give hin
the largest returns for the product
that he offers in the markets.
If the highest order of talent an
the full measure of knowledge tina
may contribute to increase the produc
tiveness of agricultural industry wer
generally cultivated and employed
farmers would not only possess as no'
a numerical superiority in the State
but they would be its most poter
moral and intellectual constituent:
The we'll bred farmer is recognized o
the peer in social position, in intclle'
in scholarly requirements and in ext
cutivo ability with the best minds i
the country. Multitudes are SO Iecol
nized and deserve tho distinction, an
their number is yearly increasing
The reason that their number in IL
past has not been greater, is not thu
agriculture has not produced sue
talent and cultivation; but becaui
|, after such preparation to do honor
the avocation to which it was born,
has betaken itself to tho profession
If all the sons of farmers educate
from the fruits of their frugal hu
bandry had returned with their Ac
% demic honors to their ancestral field
and brought to their cultivation Il
intelligence and ambition which e
ables them to win distinction in ne
sphere, they would have raised q
standard of talent and knowledp
! and accelerated the progress of il
!, provement among farmers, as tin
have aided the advance of science al
;, the arts, and left the impress Of tn,
genius on the literature, the legislati
and the jurisprudence of the countl
"In cities where the mildewed den
OF want yawns near the halls Of pride,
Are eradled not illustrious men
TO duty true. in danger tried.
p In haunts remote from scenes like these