122 SPEECH OF HON. JUSTIN S. MORRILL. 



Coveting, as we do, American freedom, let us show tliat it is 

 not held with the smallest diminution of other blessings, material 

 or educational, so dearly purchased under other forms of govern- 

 ment. 



Ireland, with a soil of much more natural fertility, and a climate 

 of far greater salubrity than England or Scotland, has been often- 

 er threatened with the perils of famine than any other civilized 

 country of the world. All this is traceable to bad farming, through 

 a system possibly forced upon the people by political and social 

 connection with England. They have raised grain crops in abun- 

 dance and some cattle ; but too poor to consume them at home, 

 these have been sent to England, while potatoes remained the 

 chief fare for gaunt Irish laborers. Even the bones of the few 

 cattle, slaughtered at home, carefully gathered have been sent to 

 England, where science and capital had made the discovery of 

 their agricultural value. 



After the failure of the potato crop in 1841, in the brief period of 

 about eight years, cholera and emigration reduced the population 

 of Ireland from eight millions to six millions, or fully one-fourth, 

 and those who remained were either too feeble to arrest the down- 

 ward tendency of their soil to sterility, or they were preparing to 

 emigrate, and therefore scourged the reluctant soil to bring forth 

 one harvest more, and then farewell ! England could have, borne 

 the exodus of the Irish, but the vanishing rent was less tolerable. 

 The Fishmongers' Society and others owned estates there, and 

 these must be rescued. England deserves praise for the hearty 

 manner with which she undertook the task of improving Irish farm- 

 ing and Irish farmers"; and it is to be noted that no capital was used 

 more effectively, than that which has been and is being expended 

 for the establishment and support of agricultural schools and col- 

 leges. Already the face of the country presents a nobler aspect ; 

 the number of cattle raised has been largely augmented ; labor is 

 better paid and fed ; and we are now beginning to recognize 

 Ireland as in fact the Emerald Isle, or' the first grass country of 

 the world. 



Whether our own country is following the cast-off system of 

 Ireland or not, is a grave question. If we export to England the 

 virgin products of our soil, and those the most exhausting crops 

 cultivated, the cereals, tobacco and oil-cake, it is a process which 

 makes England a garden at the expense of American farms ; and 

 we may well forebode the day when it will be no longer possible 



