14 



I have alluded to the prevalence of war as a potent 

 obstacle to agricultural progress. "War and the chase" 

 have been called " the two ancient and deadliest foes to 

 agriculture," and, unfortunately, the history of mankind 

 fully justifies the observation. To say nothing of those 

 great wars of conquest in which whole countries were 

 ravaged and laid waste, and barbarism, or semi-barbarism, 

 supplanted civilization ; or of civil wars that banished 

 for the time almost every security of life or property; 

 it would be sufficient to reflect that waste is an attendant 

 of every war however well and humanely conducted ; 

 that the rank and file of every army are able bodied 

 laborers withdrawn from productive industry ; and that 

 every war, however brief, involves increased taxation, and 

 every modern war an increase of national indebtedness; 

 to see that war is a deadly foe to agriculture. When 

 the taxes levied in a country are no more than is neces- 

 sary to support a government honestly and economically 

 administered, the people are amply repaid for what they 

 give, by the preservation of order, the protection of per- 

 sons and property, and the due and proper administra- 

 tion of justice. When the amount levied exceeds this 

 sum, but the excess is wisely expended in permanent 

 works of improvement, the taxpayer has some remunera- 

 tion, large or small, for his contribution to the State. 

 But when millions, tens of millions, perhaps hundreds 

 of millions are levied, not to defray the ordinary expenses 

 of government, not to improve and enrich the Territory 

 of the State, but to pay the cost of havoc and destruc- 

 tion, then, however just the tax may be, it cannot fail to 

 burthen industry in all its ramifications. No honest peo- 

 ple will repudiate their obligations whether of war or of 

 peace, and hence the greater the necessity for cultiva- 

 ting a spirit of harmony and avoiding the dreadful and 

 costly arbitrament of the sword, as long as the honor 

 and interest of the country will permit. But such are 



