156 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



nature and the patriotism of its citizens, and surpassed in the freedom of her 

 institutions only hy the diversity and fertility of her soil. 



It is a self-evident proposition that agriculture is the basis of civilization as well as 

 l>opulation. A neglect of this great truth has doomed the aborigines of this country 

 again to the desert, and dwindled down their countless hosts to a few feeble tribes 

 a few solitary and starving stragglers roaming at large like the beasts of prey they 

 once pursued in the chase. 



The Romans, though a warlike nation, considered agriculture as one of the chief 

 sources of their wealth and welfare, and regarded its systematical pursuit as both 

 honorable and patriotic. Cincinnatus was twice called from his plow to the consul- 

 ship, and once to the dictatorship, returning each time again to his plow. 



The American Cincinnatus, who has so well earned the title of " Father of his 

 Country," resembled the Roman patriot not less in his principles and pursuits than 

 his fortunes and honors. Twice called to the Chief Magistracy of his country, and 

 once to the chieftaincy of her armies, he returned again and again to his plow. 



The governments of Europe in the eighth century, to save the soil from deteriora- 

 tion and prevent emigration, were obliged to establish by law the "three-field sys- 

 tem," viz, fallow, wheat or rye, and barley or oats, which may still be traced in 

 France and Germany. To this law Europe owes her advanced state of civilization. 



As the population became more dense a higher degree of knowledge in agriculture 

 was required, and several efforts were made to accomplish it, among others the 

 establishing of professorships in universities to teach agriculture to statesmen, law- 

 yers, theologians, and physicians. This gave rise to the perfection of agriculture as 

 a science, but as universities are not calculated, in many respects, to educate agri- 

 culturists, agricultural schools were established to illustrate theory by practice, 

 which had the desired effect. 



This brief historical sketch shows the gradual rise of 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 emigration. 



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 con- 

 nected with it; it renders the greatest portion of the population strong, healthy, and 

 industrious; it is the source of domestic happiness and contentment, 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 circumstances, from agriculture; and what will be 

 the most efficient 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 proportion as the far West improves and prospers, the Atlantic States are declin- 

 ing; and it shows that the welfare of a State depends on the stability of its cultivators, 



