Vol. XIII. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., OCTOBER, 1852. 



No. X, 



iiJ). 



CONGRESS AND AGRICULTURE. 



Congress hcas recently adjourned, after a session of nine months ; and as agriculture, 

 gives employment to two-thirds of the capital and labor of the countiy, it may not be 

 amiss to inquire how much time and attention the national legislature bestowed on this 

 most important interest. Did it give a month, a week, a day, an hour, or a minute, to 

 the consideration of any measure designed to promote either tillage or husbandry? 

 Being in Washington, and having a watchful eye over the farming interest, so far as it 

 might be affected by Congressional legi|Jation, we are able to speak understandingly on 

 this subject. Agriculture had a few friends in both houses, but the enemies of the cause 

 were too powerful for them to accomplish anything whatever in behalf of improvement. 

 This failure, however, does not lessen our obligation to acknowledge in tlie most public 

 manner the labors of such as tried to realize a more auspicious result. To make more 

 friends in Congress, we must do full justice to those that serve the cause faithfully, 

 whether they ftiil or succeed. Among these, we place Mr. Eben Newton, of Ohio, in 

 the front rank. Watchful, industrious, and persevering, while neglecting no other duty, 

 he presented the paramount claims of agriculture to the attention of Congress in a man- 

 ner so clear and convincing, that had the bill creating a Bureau been allowed to reach a 

 direct vote, with the ayes and nays, we doubt not it would have passed the House of 

 Representatives ; but the committee on agriculture were not allowed by the majority 

 even to report a bill in nine months, the chairman (Mr. Floyd, of New York,) being 

 opposed to all legislation for the benefit of the farming interest, as recommended by the 

 President in his message. Gov. Doty, of Wisconsin, was a member of that important 

 committee, and did a yeoman's service in the cause of agriculture. To tlie intelligent 

 farmers of the northwest we say, be careful to sustain this able and reliable friend of 

 your cause. Stand by your friends, and let your enemies take care of themselves. 



Of the New York delegation, we have found Mr. L. Burrows, of Orleans county, 

 always reliable during the three years that we have known him at the federal metrop- 

 olis. Without making speeches, Mr. B. is one of the most upright, influential, and 

 useful members in the popular branch of Congress. Mr. IIorsford, of Livingston, who 

 is a practical farmer, illustrated the wisdom of sending this class of men to legislate for 

 a nation of farmers. As the latter grow in knowledge, they will be represented by 

 fewer lawyers and more cultivators of the soil, at Washington. Mr. Wallbridge, of 

 Tompkins, and Mr. Ives, of Jefferson county, are also farmers, and most useful and 

 faithful representatives. Sometimes we meet a narrow-minded, do-nothing farmer in 

 Cono-ress, but he is a rara avis. Among those who were ready to work for the benefit 

 of agriculture, the name of A. P. Hascall, of Genesee county, should not be omitted. 

 Straight forward working men, and no other, should be sent to Congress. By all 



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