368 



# ture and the laws by wliich her productions are governed ; it brings into 

 exercise the best faculties of the body and mind ; it strengthens and in- 

 vigorates both. It matures the man, and prepares him to govern and 

 direct in whatever position in life he may be placed. It is only in coun- 

 tries most enlightened — it is only where civil and religious liberty has at- 

 tained its highest perfection, that agriculture is thus regarded, or her 

 votaries thus exalted. It is only here, in our own free, happy America, 

 that the husbandman meets with the reward to which his intelligence, 

 his industry, his virtue and patriotism, entitle him. With us, no post of 

 honor or profit is beyond his reach. He may be called by his country- 

 men to leave his plow and occupy a seat in the Representative Hall, 

 upon the Judge's bench, or, it may be, to preside over the destinies of 

 more than twenty-three millions of people. 



If these things be true, what powerful inducements are held out to 

 the American farmer to educate heart, mind and body ! Certainly none 

 greater could be offered. Go search the wide world over, then tell me 

 if you can, of that land beneath the sun more favored than our. own — 

 possessing to as great an extent those elements of usefulness and great- 

 ness which indicate the future power and grandeur of a nation. Our 

 territory, now almost limitless in extent, is still growing, expanding, ab- 

 sorbing ; and will continue to grow and expand, until every jot and tit- 

 tle of contiguous territorv is drawn within the embrace of our Federal 

 Union. The very nature of our social compact — the progressive spirit 

 of our institutions — the indomitable energy of our people, all point 

 with unerring certainty to this result; such is our destiny — let those 

 doubt who will. 



Something over two hundred years ago, our country was ft vast un- 

 broken wilderness ; its noiseless solitudes were broken only'by the Indian 

 war whoop, the howl of wild beasts, the ripple of the gentle waterfall, 

 or the rushing of the mighty cataract. 



" Before these fields were shorn and tilled, 



Full to the brim our rivers flowed, 



The melody of waters filled 



The vast and boundless wood; 



And torrents dashed, and rivulets played, 



And fountains sported in the shade." 



Then, ours was a continent of majestic forests, dotted here and there 

 ■with inland seas, and coursed by mighty rivers. But now, her com- 



