Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-04

can such information be had, so that taxes |
on lands may be equal and uniform through
out the State? Nearly every State north OF |
us and south Of us has its agricultural sta |
tistics, but where are yours Is this fos-
tering the great interest of the State ? |
The splendid age of Augustus Caesar was |
distinguished quite IS much for the enoour- !
agement il gave TO agriculture as for the |
yieor and wisdom of its laws or the glO- |
nv of its literature. Agriculture received |
his special protection. The poets OF his !
reien knew no better way TO win the favor
oftheir emperor than by singing the tasci- |
nations and charms of farmers lie. The |
quiet, rural retreats around Rome became
the abodes of greatness, luxury and wealth.
Agriculture was made popular. The Pom !
tine marshes that dishgured the landscape, |
and whose exhalatiOIls were surcharged |
with death, were reclaimed, put in cnltiva-
ton, and became the most fertile part OF the
great empire: The plants of happier chimes
were introduced; and the agriculture OF
Rome was diversified just In proportion to
the encouragement il received from the
government. When the government neg
lected to foster it, decay began. Licen-
tiousness, effeminacy and corruption took
the place of industry, virtue and patriotism,
and the decline of the government was rap
ID when there was nc longer Virgil to
throw around the labors of the husbandman
the radiant colors of imagination nor
Horace to extol the sweetness Of labor.
When labor in the field became dlgrace-
ful-the labor that suOdues the ground, de-
fies the incaemency Of seasons, muitipiles
the necessities of Iife--when this labor be-
came unpopular, Home fell, because the
nurseries of her virtue fell, and because the
government failed TO support that business
upon which its foundations were built.
Nv fellow-citizens, are we not drifting
upon the same rock? The restless Roman
dreaming Of an Atlantis beyond the sea,
and relinauishing the stern duties and re-
quirements Of life in search or this tabled
land, finds a fit counterpart in our young
men seeing visions Of glory in distant
States or populous cities. The charms OF
home and of married life are growing fewer
and fainter. Our young men are growing
every year more avsrse TO marrying, be-
cause they are not able to support wife IN
style suited to the depraved sentiment OF
the times. That sentiment and public taste
are always depraysd which require the
boundaries Of honesty to be overieaped to
ministertO it. Woman can endure privations
with greater fortitude and cheerfulness than
man. Bouyed up by husbands love, she
will cling to him with deafness tenacity
through all fortunes; in glory and gloom;
in veal and in woe; in poverty and In
wealth; in sunshine and In storn-nay,
even on the chill death bed itself, her last
lingering glance will be directed TO the part
ner of her life. She is the guardian OF the
affections, and she should stand forth at the
| present time and show the world that her
affections are not cooled, nor her faith weak
ened, nor her sympathies stifled, by
the poverty which has fallen upon
| her people. Let her take the lead in dis
! couraging the extrayagancies that prevail In
our State TO sucl an alarming extent as
| seriously to interfere with the social duty
| Of marriage. Young men OF industrious,
sober and steady habits are discouraged IN
| their efforts to accumulate sutficiency to
| enter the marriage relation with that bril-
liancy which the world expects What is
the consequence? They are easily seduced
/ from their State, that stands in need OF all
her sons, to set up their household gods
among strangers, where living is cheaper,
economy respectable and artificial wants
fewer. By far the most sensible way for
both sexes would be to go to work, wrestle
with poverty, subdue it, and weave crowns
of honor from the flowers of industry. Let
them take each other f'fOr better or for
| worse" practice economy and hew out for
themselves position of usefulness in sOci-
ETY.. Where such class of people live,
honest, upright, labOrious and intelligent,
YOU will find thrift and plenty. A pleasing
contentment reigns in their homes. Neat
ness and taste and order prevail.
Their lands increase in value, their homes
are yearly improved, adorned and beauti-
fed. In their neighborhOOd churches and
schoolhouses, those twin stars of ciyiliza-
ton, spring up and dispense light, liberty
and religion all around. Every year an
developed more and more in such places
and among such people the instincts Of {
higher and nObler manhood. How mucf
happier they, whose active occupation
sharpens the appetite and turns the
thoughts away from Henyy, hatred and al
uncharitableness.r Exercise keeps theil
bodies in health and their minds in peace
Purity and honor, gentleness and kindness
patriotism and beneyOlence, are to be tounC
in such home. They stand here and theTC
In our land, like yestal flames where thu
torch of happiness and contentment may
be lighted By all who wish to food thei
homes with domestic felicity. The pros
perity of State depends primarily upOI
the prosperity Of its individuals, and indi
viduals to be prosperous must b
contented and happy. Here then a
our hearthstones the beginning must be made
Let our young men and our young womel
counsel together, discard those notions onll
suited to a condition Of wealth, THROW II
their dependency and go to work. Tell i,
the lot of humanity and no one can be sue
cessful who attempts to shun it. The yer,
fact that there are many young men VIII,
enter the professions from an raoble Low,
of ease is sufficient to account for the man,
failures found il the professions. | appea
to YOU, young men, by the memories Of tn
T past, by YOUR hopes for the future, by you
sense of pride, by your own self respect AM
| YOUR instinct of self preservation to throw
off lethargy and dependency, and dis
charge your whole duty to yourselves an
= your State. The young men OF Tennessee
in the past have shOne like resplenden
Gems in the cOrOnal of the State. No hard
: ships and no duty have been too severe 70
. them. In the dreary wilderness as pioneers
} in the peaceful walks of life, on the benc
, and at the bar, In legislative halls and o.
4 the bloody field of war with the wild battle
20 cry on their Ii q they have never known de
: spair. In whatever contest they have bee
} I engaged. they have borne themselves mar
B. fully and brayely. The present conte:
, with poverty is severe one; it draws heaN
4 ily upon the best powers Of the mind an
S heart and badly, il involves selfabnegatiOl
: toilsome days and sleepless nights. Bu
l Young men, you can succeed. UnbOr
1 generations will sing YOUR praises or pull
S fish YOUR infamy. Don't strik
! sail TO a fear. You are the hope and sta
= and prop of the State. Don't desert her
e this time Of her need and calamity. Site
+ to your country homes. Great cities d'
o pend quite as much upon the country f
L mind as for meat, for brains as for brea'
a Two-thirds Of the successful men In OF
:; great commercial centres were nTtrlHred
d the lap Of comparative pOyet
e trained in habits Of industry Al
II fr1lgality, and taught principles
C honor and morality, in quiet COUNT
). homes. Keep away from the pestienti
3 and concentrating influences Ofgreat cite
d where the very air reeks with crime. al
II corruption stalks like a hideous spectl
l. through every circle of society, where tenn
e tations assail and enticements overcome Il
n most severe morals. Where one reSis
: them, a thousand fall pOwerless and ruin'
d for ever. Be not deceived by appearance
e When the officers Of NapoleG