570 



FARMKRS' REGISTER, 



[No. 9 



to charges and burdens which would be avoided 

 by the establishment o( a direct intercourse. 



2. Resolved, That the trade by which the people 

 of Virginia are supplied with those articles which 

 they receive in exchange lor the products of their 

 industry is, for the most part, an indirect trade, be- 

 ing through the chief ports of the northern states; 

 and that united and unremitted exertions should 

 be made to restore ihe direct communication which 

 was formerly productive of so much benefit. 



3. Resolved, That this convention do recom- 

 mend that immediate steps be taken to induce 

 mnnufacturers and other capitalists in foreign 

 countries to establish agencies from commercial 

 connexions among us, in ordei that the goods ex- 

 ported by them to this country may be sent to 

 their final destination, without being subjected to 

 those expenses arising from intermediate agen- 

 cies, which are injurious alike to the producer and 

 the consumer. 



4. Resolved, That the President appoint a com- 

 mittee of seven, whose duly it shall be, after the 

 adjournment of the convention, to use all means 

 which they may deem necessary and proper to 

 secure the objects contemplated in the next pre- 

 ceding resolution, 



5. Resolved, That this convention do recom- 

 mend to all merchants and traders to give prefer- 

 ence in procuring their supplies to the importers in 

 the cities o( Virginia and North Carolina, whene- 

 ver they can be obtained upon as good terms as 

 when purchased abroad; and that the banks of 

 these two slates be requested to co-operate with 

 the views of the convention. 



6. Resolved, That with a view to the efficient 

 employment of such of our surplus capital as is 

 not invested in commercial pursuits, and to the 

 encouragement of those persons, who with indus- 

 try and intelligence, are prevented by want of 

 means from engaging in mercantile operations, 

 this convention do earnestly recommend the for- 

 mation of limited partnerships under the act re- 

 cently passed bv the legislature of Virginia. 



7. Resolved, That it be recommended to the im- 

 porters and exporters of Virginia and North Caro- 

 lina, to give the preference to vessels belonging to 

 these two states, when the freights can be obtain- 

 ed on terms equally advantageous. 



Report of the Committee on Agriculture. 



The duty assigned to the committee on agricul- 

 ture was so suddenly and unexpectedly imposed, 

 that there can be little confiilence entertained in 

 its being properly or acceptably discharged. The 

 performance of the duty is therefore attempted 

 with reluctance; and no effort would have been 

 made, but for the respect due to the commands of 

 this convention. It is not that there are not abun- 

 dant and weighty materials, both of facts and of 

 argument, for a report on this subject, and which 

 might demonstrate the importance of the improve- 

 ment of agriculture to the commercial and general 

 interests of Virginia, and the necessity for legisla- 

 tive aid being asked, and granted, to promote~such 

 improvement. But as your committee are in- 

 Btructed and called upon forthwith to act, without 

 access to authorities on agricultural statistics, or 

 any other materials that would need reference and 

 examination, they are sensible that they can as 

 little do justice to the subject, as they can hope, in 



this or any better manner, to exert influence on 

 the legislation of the state I'or the benefit of agri- 

 culture. 



Besides these difficulties, your committee are 

 at some loss to know the precise kind of inquiry 

 and labor required of them, by the very concise 

 and general terms of the resolution, which directs 

 the formation and action of the committee. And 

 even if they should not mistake the direction of 

 their duty, they may err by overstepping its proper 

 limits. The interests and the claims of agricul- 

 ture are even more important than any and all 

 others that this body will endeavor to aid; but 

 still your committee must bear in mind that the 

 primary and main design of this convention is to 

 re-establish the commerce of Virginia; and that 

 other objects and interests, however important in 

 other respects, should here be treated as merely 

 subsidiary to, or in connexion with, the commer- 

 cial business and interest of the country. 



Whatever can be done to aid the commerce, 

 the manufactures, the canals and railways of the 

 country, in a legitimate and proper manner, will 

 operate to increase the profits, and thereby encou- 

 rage the improvement of agriculture. Still more 

 truly, because admitting of no exception, may it 

 be affirmed, that whatever will extend the know- 

 ledge, and promote the improvement of agricul- 

 ture, will, in proportion to that direct etl'ect pro- 

 duced, also act indirectly to improve the commer- 

 cial and manufacturing interests of the country. 

 Neither of these truisms need more than to be an- 

 nounced. From such premises, it follows that 

 the promotion of agricultural instruction and im- 

 provement are proper subjects for the notice and 

 favor of this convention, as an important mean 

 for advancing the interests of commerce, the es- 

 pecial object of the assembling of this body. And 

 even on this ground, though it be far less impor- 

 tant than others, (which would be out of place if 

 presented herc,^ there would be found sufficient 

 reasons for the legislature to extend to agriculture 

 that fostering care which, by a narrow and nig- 

 gardly policy, has heretofore been refused. 



When aid to agricultural improvement was 

 asked at several of the recent sessions of the le- 

 gislature of Virginia, the claim was but feebly 

 sustained by its friends, and met with neglect or 

 derision and contempt fi-om all others. The for- 

 mer were at a loss to determine what particular 

 measures of relief to propose, or support ; and the 

 latter class have deemed it a sufficient answer to 

 misapply the old saying of " laissez-nous faire, " 

 declaring that the best thing for agriculture is " to 

 let it alone. " Your committee claim to be as true 

 disciples of the free trade school of political eco- 

 nomy, as those who thus misapply and abuse this 

 doctrine ; and they fully concur in the propriety of 

 leaving all pursuits of industry untrammelled by 

 legislative burdens, and unaided by legislative 

 bounties, to their own direction and their own re- 

 wards. But agriculture does not want, nor have 

 its advocates asked for, any pecuniary or other 

 pupport, except for the purpose of difiusing know- 

 leflge, and to induce and extend instruction; and 

 this your committee maintain to be one of the few 

 legitimate and proper subjects for governmental 

 action, even according to the most strict doctrine 

 and limitation of sound political economy. If it 

 be pronounced to be proper that the government 

 should refuse to aid in diffusing light and instruc- 



