No. 63.J 17 



audience, how this work shall be commenced? Let it be the task of 

 individual effort to awaken the attention of our fellow-citizens to the 

 importance of keeping the common schools open during a greater 

 portion of every year, of a more careful regard to the qualifications 

 of teachers, of the introduction of the natural sciences into the 

 schools, of allowing the children of the State, at whatever cost, to 

 persevere in the course of education commenced; and above all, of 

 removing every impediment and every prejudice which keeps the fu- 

 ture citizen without the pale of the public schools. The State has 

 been munificent to the rising generation. She has not only founded 

 a system of universal instruction, but she has at great cost explored 

 the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms, and exposed their 

 mysteries. The benefits of these discoveries, though diffusive, will 

 be experienced in an eminent degree by agriculture. 



You have already wisely employed the agency of association, but 

 the principle is susceptible of more varied and comprthensive appli- 

 cation. Be not content with organizing a State Society and county 

 associations, by which you excite the efforts of the few who least 

 need improvement; but organize an agricultural society in every 

 school district, and thus secure the co-operation of all our citizens. 

 Such associations, while they would promote agricultural fellowship, 

 and vigorously second efforts immediately tending to the improve- 

 ment of the art, would apply themselves diligently in exciting an 

 interest in the important subjects which have been discussed, and in 

 circulating treatises upon proper studies, and watching over the in- 

 terests of education and of agriculture in the schools, in the primary 

 action of society, and in the Legislative councils. 



But, gentlemen, in whatever direction your efforts may be made, 

 you will encounter difficulties and discouragements. You will be op- 

 posed by that contented spirit which regards every improvement as 

 innovation, and which perpetually, though falsely, complains that 

 mankind degenerate, without making an effort to check the pro- 

 gress of error. You will be regarded as visionary, by those who 

 consider skill in acquiring, and success in retaining wealth, as the 

 perfection of human wisdom; but you will remember that such as 

 these seldom bestow their countenance upon the benefactors of man- 

 kind, nor does fortune always distinguish them by her favors. Ro- 

 bert Morris, the financier of the revolution, died a bankrupt. Chris- 

 topher Coles, our most efficient advocate of inland navigation in the 

 [Senate No. 63.] C 



