Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-22
Wrong Somewhere.

education, general and special, for the rising
generation Of farmers The following is an
extract from the Judges speech
Although much has already been done to Inn
prove agriculture, great Improvements yet remain
to he made, and it Is to the well educated, scien-
tidc and practical farmers, that we are to look for
these new discoveries
Edward Everett has well said. Although
agriculture is clothed with an importance which
rests upon the primitive constitution Of our ma
turo, it is very far from being the simple concern
we are apt to think it, On the contrary, there is
no pursuit ia life which not only admits but re-
quires for its fun Development more Of the re-
sources Of science and art-nonc which would
better repay the pains bestowed upon an appro-
pirate education"
Our own Senator Morrill, must have taken the
sumo view Of this subject, and fully appreciated
the benefits Of an appropriate education TO the
farmer. else he would not have bestowed the time
and labor that he did in forming and maturing
plans for the endowment, by Congress, Of agricul-
tural colleges in all the states Of the Union am
aware It is claimed that in many Of the older
states this fund is diverted from the purposes for
which it was intended; but in some Of the new
states Of the West, where agriculture is almost
gress creating this fund is strictly construed and
literally and faithfully carried out and in accord
ance with its provisions, large and nourishing in
dustria and scientific schools combined have been
established where a thorough knowledge Of scicn-
tifc and practical farming can be acquired, and
where the greatest prominence is given to agricu-
ture and the love OF it instilled into the minds Of
the pupils who graduate scientific and practical
ttH
doctors
These schools are doing noble work, and in
few years their influence for good will be felt and
appreciated They will furnish an enduring mon
nment to the wisdom and foresight Of our honored
and much loved Senator
Farmers themselves do not sufficiently honor
their calling
It was the policy Of antiquity to give agriculture
the first place among the professions and to this
it il justly entitled for by 1t the daily wants
and necessities Of the millions Of the human race
are supplied; and without it would be famine
gloom and despair
Bat in modern times the farmer seems to re-
gard every other calling above his own, and is
constantly on the lookout for a place for his son
in lawyers doctor office or in a store, where
he will become a measurer Of calico and weigher
49, NNN'fNN'f
full Of the fact that the country is full Of law
yers without clients, doctors without patients,
and that mercantile business is very hazard
ons, it being few only who succeed among
the many, and that the great majority OF this
class who went from the farm, regret the day
they left it, and long for It's slow but sure accu
mutations, and the independence Of being produc-
ers Of the food and material for clothing, to sup
uly which fhpir cunrvina aro avail 60 ia. ,,v,ost
There is no want Of praise and adulation to
farmers, especially at public gatherings on the eve
of popular elections You are then addressed by
candidates for office as the honest yoomanry
who have borne the burden OF taxation in the heat
Of the day and as substantial and intelligent
farmers, whose votes direct the affairs OF the state
and the nation;' but however high and honora-
bic your calling may be- aud none other can be
higher or more honorable, there is no Disgusting
the fact that in the popular estimation, the
learned professions aud the mercantile pursuits
are preferable.
This was not so with the nations Of antiquity
in their most prosperous days and is not so In
England to-day. There vast fortunes are made
and acquired to be invested in lands to furnish a
home for the owner 1t ought not to be so In
America and that it is So is the fault Of the farm
this respect is greatly to be desired
Mrs. Partington once sagely said that she
had always noticed that "sensible persons
thought just as she did" We have our
self noticed the same thing, and consequently
cannot help regarding Judge Dunton as a
very sensible man. But we will confess that,
on one subject, which the judge incidentally
refers TO, we have been almost compelled to
doubt our own ability to reason rightly since
such unquestionably wise, able and conscien-
tious men as are contained in the corporation
and faculty Of our State Agricultural College
cannot fndany cause for theopinions we have
publicly expressed about it that will relieve
their charitable hearts from the conviction
that weare animated only bymean, selfish and
personal motives in regard to it. We refer
to the Judges remarks about agricultural
colleges, which touched our very sensitive
Burlington friends upon the raw, and
brought out from them, in the Free Press,
the following capedt at the head of its edit
orial column
Judge Dunton, in his very sensible discourse ut
the Chittenden county fair, ON Wednesday after
complimentary allusion to Senator Morrill,, as
having fully appreciated the benefits Of an APP
propriate education to the farmer in his bestowal
Of the time and labor that he did in forming and
maturing plans for the endowment by Congress
of agricultural colleges in all the states Of the
Union," went on to say: 81 am aware It Is claimed
that, in many Of the oldest states this fund is d.
verted from the purposes for which it was in
tended but in some OF the new states Of the
West, where agriculture is almost the sole bust
ness OF the people, the act Of Congress creating
this fund Is strictly construed and literally and
faithfully carried out"
1t is not likely that Judge Dunton supposes that
Vermont Is among the states in which the agricul-
tural fund is diverted from the purposes for
which it was intended" lie is doubtless aware
that Senator Morrill, is an influential member Of
the Board Of Trustees Of our University and State
Agricultural College-which has thus had the
benefit of his direct exposition of the purposes for
which the fund was intended-and that the father
OF the agricultural college system has had no oc-
casion To complain that his views were disre-
garded, in the disposition OF the fund In this state
So knowing, the orator could hardly have in
tended To imply that there has been any diver
sion OF the fund in Vermont, OF any failure to
correctly construe and faithfully carry out its
purposes.
Now, that an agricultural college should
compliment Senator Morrill, with a position
upon its board Of trustees is very natural,
and that, under all the circumstances of the
case, the Senator should wink at the some
what peculiar style Of agricultural education
in vogue there, is also not matter of much
wonder. But we submit that it is rather
rough thus to throw the whole responsible.
ity upon the Senator's shoulders. Mr.. Nor
rll is an excellent man, and an honest and
able senator, but as politician, he knows
what is what, and he is not likely-perhaps
in view Of more important interests, he would
not be justifed-to incur the hostility Of the
powerful social and political influences asso-
ciated with Burlington University, by ex-
pressing his exact thoughts in this matter
As the humble grass remains unframed by
the blast that may overthrow the lonely oak,
so lowly placed individual like ourself may
dare danger that II would be unwise in
Senator Morrill, TO incur
If, however, it should be the fact, that Mr..
Morrill, holds precisely the vievs antar,a;,ol