No. 63.] 16 



ties, the pathology of the human constitution, the nature of the sub- 

 stances with which agriculture is concerned, or their properties, or 

 the laws regulating their development, or even in the simple art of 

 tracing geometrical lines, and calculating their contents, not to speak 

 of the range of physical and exact sciences, history and ethics, clas- 

 sical learning, the philosophy of language and the art of eloquence. 



These attainments, though open to all, are reached exclusively by 

 other classes, and the Farmer in mature years, is sent to the Press for 

 political instruction, and to the Clergy he must yield implicit confi- 

 dence, and must depend upon the Lawyer for the defence of his sim- 

 ple rights, upon the Physician for information whether he is diseased, 

 upon the Professor for explanations of the properties of the soil he 

 cultivates, and upon the Civil Engineer for even the measurement of 

 his acres. When such dependance upon these various classes is esta- 

 blished, can it be a matter of surprise, that precedence is conceded to 

 them in the various departments of society? Let me not be misun- 

 derstood. I deprecate not the influence of the learned classes, and 

 I would promote by every proper means their higher improvement — 

 nor would I excite jealousy against them, or in the least diminish the 

 respect or confidence they enjoy — but I desire to see the agricultural 

 class equally elevated, and for that purpose I would stimulate them 

 to corresponding attainments. This is the true theory of republican 

 institutions. When it is carried into practical and complete operation, 

 and not until then, shall we enjoy a regular, safe, equal, and enlight- 

 ened administration of civil government. 



Your task, then, is nothing less than social revolution — a revolution, 

 however, which, like all your pursuits, will be peaceful and benefi- 

 cial. You aim no blows at the government of the country, or the 

 power, the prosperity, or the influence of any class of its citizens. 

 On the contrary, you will render them all the aid and all the support 

 they need. Nor will you justly encounter the opposition of any class, 

 for all are equally interested with yourselves in the great work you 

 have undertaken, and upon which depend the stability and perma- 

 nence of our institutions, and the hopes of mankind. 



The agency required in this great work is already prepared, and 

 awaits your adoption. The primary schools, the voluntary religious es- 

 tablishments, the academic seminaries, and the universities which you 

 require, are already founded, and liberally endowed. In our school 

 district libraries, an auxiliary is furnished, whose efficacy is scarcely 



