188 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



European agriculture, which the science of chemistry and 

 physiology is now bringing to the greatest perfection. 



Let us now compare the general system of agriculture of 

 this country with that of Europe, and we shall find that the 

 one adopted here is the system of deterioration and emigra- 

 tion. 



That the effect of such a system will and must have a 

 very injurious influence on the prosperity of a country, is 

 obvious. Unfortunately, the cause does not arise alone 

 from the insufficient knowledge of agriculture, but also 

 from the passion for wealth. 



Wealth has always been the object of the ambition of 

 individuals as well as of nations, notwithstanding the sound 

 arguments of moralists. This passion, however, kept in 

 proper limits, gives impulse to prosperity ; but as soon as 

 it degenerates into wild speculations, it is then the greatest 

 obstacle to the liberty, independence, and prosperity of 

 mankind. 



But when wealth is produced by agriculture, it banishes 

 idleness and the vices connected with it; it renders the 

 greatest portion of the population strong, healthy, and in- 

 dustrious ; it is the source of domestic happiness and con- 

 tentment, and of all the other social virtues ; it renders 

 nations powerful; it attaches its citizens to their native 

 soil, and the success of the national affairs is their highest 

 interest. 



To direct the besetting passion for wealth properly, and 

 to promote the prosperity of every individual as well as of 

 the whole nation, it is necessary to teach the great mass of 

 the population (the agricultural class) how to gain the 

 greatest clear and annual profit, under all existing circum- 

 stances, from agriculture ; and what will be the most effi- 

 cient means of checking the rapidly increasing evil of 

 exhausting and abandoning the soil. 



The prosperity of the whole Union has not, hitherto, it 

 seems, suffered by this system of unsteadiness ; but that is 

 no proof of the welfare of the separate States ; for, in pro- 

 portion as the far west improves and prospers, the Atlantic 

 States are declining; and it shows that the welfare of a 

 State depends on the stability of its cultivators, contented 

 with their portion, and manifesting a determination to iden- 

 tify themselves with the land of their fathers, (not thirsting 

 after supposed fairylands, cultivated without labor ;) a living 

 example of which is to be found in the wealthy sons of the 

 keystone State, Pennsylvania. 



It would be ridiculous to suggest the improvement of ag- 



