Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-06-10

Nlr. Chairman, 1t will bo seen that tho
Cabinet, like our country, has grown in
size us it advanced in years, until to day it
is moro than twioo as largo as it was when
We wero at the other end of our centennial
existence; and tho demands of the country
remind us that this increase has not vet
reached lts maximum. AS our population
increases our cultivated area is expanded,
our towns aud cities are multiplied, our
commerce ID extended, our industries arc
developed, and our civilization becomes
more enlightened, the responsibilities Of our
| Executive hccomc more grave, and wisdom
of multitude of counsclors morc necessary.
| Whence arc to come these additional coun-
sclors, FROM what walks of life they arc to
be taken, or what interest they are to rcprc.
sent, will DC left to the bche3.s of tho
people in future. At present tho ngricu-
turalists demand that they and their
interests shall ho represented ut tho national
capital by an officer who shall receive the
same pay and who shall be tho peer of
those who sit around that council board,
where there arc neither graduation of char
actcr nor Importance, but equality in rank
aud authority.
Approaching, Mr. Chairman, how very
dissimilar our Government is in its con-.
| struction and administration from I'LL the
other governments iu Christcndom, it is
| with Hesitation that cite for the inforno-
| ton oil this llousc tie exalted consideration
| some of the greatest uations in tho world
have bestowed upon agriculture.
lr the German Umpire, as federation,
there are no heads of department., but each
state has its own officer devoted TO this
branch of tho public service For instance,
in Prussia tho minister of agriculture is
Que of the eight secretaries of stotc, and has
charge Of everything that pertains to
| the advancement Of the science Of agricu.
turc.
In tho Austro- Hungarian monarchy the
miuister Of agriculture is oDs Of The seven
secretaries forming tho council Of ministers.
In Italy the minister Of agriculture is
| one Of tho nine heads of departments.
In Spain the minister Of agriculture and
commerce is one of the council Of minister's
Of whom there arc eight.
| In Russia the miuiSlry Of tho domain,
presided over hy one OF tho ten secretaries
Estate, has in its charge agriculture, fores
try, miocs, stock breeding aud surveying.
in France the ministry OF agriculture and
commerce is one Of the ninJ departments
Of the government, the miuister being the
secretary of state having charge Of every
thing that relates to tho agricultural into
rests Of the cnpi:c, even to the drafting of
AL laws rclating to this science
| in Great Britain, agriculture is subor--
diuatc Interest. 1t has no secretary, nor
minister, nor department. in that realm.
The statistics Of agriculture are under the
| control OF the toa:d Of trade, which reports
only ;hc annua! acreage of crops. Mr.
Chairman, who can gain&ay the fact that
the distressed condition Of Ireland to-day
is attributable to this suhorlination of
agriculture to other interests, and The
absence of 4 secretary of agriculture from
the privy council of the Queen of the Brit
iah Isles?
Bnt, Mr.. Chairman, upon the very
lEr hold Of this discussion I may bc asked
hos caa an incrcascd pny CT tho Commis
a,.&a' u Agriculture, or even un enlarged
! .Hs,s Jjc'ion Of the department, benefit !hc
! American for"cl: reply. in no wise
directly, tor il will not diminish his burdens
individually, neither will it Tighten lis
inbors, nor increase the productive capacity
of his farm. But as member Of that
great majority class OF our entire population
who create the wealth of t!is country l.e
will be greatly benefited. Increase of pay
means increase OF authority aud power, aud
a judicioua exercise OF both by an official
of the Government rebounds TO the at.van-
tage of the people individually and coIIcc-,
lively.
1t is not asked that Government assist
ancc should he substituted for individ
ual cxcrtion in developing tho agricultural
resources OF our couatry; but tho farmers
demand that the Government shall secure
by adequate salaries auch talent in the
Agricultural Department officials aa can and
will guide and direct them when cropping
in ihc daIk after scientific truths; FOR be it
remembered, Mr., Cboirmon, agriculture is
a science, and it would be no paucgyric to
call it the mother Of scioDccs. We know
it is tho source OF all our national wealth,
and tho very bed rock of out national pros.
pcrity. Some may style this tho poetic
phase of the question, but not so With me.
J. speak for those who feed the cotton gin
and tho grain thrcshcr and walk between
tho plow handles, and not for tlloso who
write rural poetry and chant georgiea and
bucolcs, when assert that agriculture ia a
science, the successful evolution of whose
truths, not only requires consumption of
time and expenditure of labor, but disbursc.
mcut of money far in excess of the accu
muatcd wealth of private individuals.
An appropriation ia asked for ia this bill
to continue tho recent experiments made
by tho Agricultural Department in the
manufacture lgar. Sinoo tho days OF
John Adams it has been known to the
American farmers that both moasses and