368 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



living, and of a competence. Let the reverses and disasters 

 that fall upon commerce, mercantile affairs, and manufactures, 

 be what they may, the tiller of the ground, resting on the un- 

 failing promise that seed time and harvest shall not fail, can 

 pursue his vocation, confident that at least the necessaries of 

 life shall be his. The fluctuations of trade, the scarcity of 

 money, the frightful epidemic, the storm and the tempest, affect 

 him, if at all, less than other men. The indispensable articles 

 for the support and sustenance of his family, he can raise for 

 himself, and not be dependent on others therefor ; and if he 

 have a surplus of these, they are of that sort that are always 

 in fashion, and always in demand, and that will secure in ex- 

 change, if any thing will, the comforts and luxuries of life. 



The farmer should love agriculture, because it is friendly to 

 peace, to freedom, and independence. It is the emblem of 

 peace. Its implements and its products are the imagery used to 

 express most truly, the sentiments of peace : " The sword shall 

 be beat into the ploughshare, and the spear into the pruning- 

 hook, and they shall learn war no more." " They shall sit, 

 every one under his own vine and fig-tree, having none to mo- 

 lest or make afraid." But while the farmer is, from principle, 

 from habit, and from interest, a friend of peace, he is, at the 

 same time, a lover of freedom. He is the true patriot, who 

 loves his country, not only because it is the place of his birth, 

 — not only on account of its government, laws, and institu- 

 tions, — but also, because he is one of the proprietors of its soil ; 

 owing allegiance to no feudal lord, he feels, he enjoys, he val- 

 ues his freedom and independence. And whenever the iron 

 heel of despotism, or invasion, threatens to tread upon his 

 country's rights, or his own, his strong arm is ever ready to 

 contend in their defence. 



The farmer should love his vocation, above all, because it 

 promotes intelligence and virtue. His labors are performed 

 mostly abroad, in the open air ; consequently, his senses receive 

 an impress, direct and unobstructed, from the wonders of crea- 

 tion. And this direct intercourse with the wonderful works of 

 his creator, — where, in the light of the sun, he can read from 

 the great book of nature, the wisdom and goodness of God, — 



