642 



THE FARMERS' REGISTER. 



not learned that, eince the days of Samson, 

 length of hair had any connexiion with strength, 

 either of brawn or intellect, and if one does not 

 fall into some delusion on this subject, it matters 

 not much how he wears his hair. Jt would be 

 very pleaging, however, to see our boys dressing 

 in a style becoming the relation they sustain to 

 society, and giving fair promise that they will 

 prepare, in the best manner, for ihe high and re- 

 sponsible destinies which await them. They lit- 

 tle think with what deep afiection, and absorb- 

 ing interest, they are regarded by their seniors 

 and parents. 



I have now, gentlemen, passed over, in a hur- 

 ried manner, some of the remarks which 1 in- 

 tended for this occasion. I designed to have 

 said something about the condition of the poor, 

 and their education, and the literary fund and its 

 management. But, having neglected to prepare 

 while leisure was allowed me, and being inter- 

 ru|»(ed, in the short space which I allowed my- 

 self for preparation, I must now draw to a close, 

 without finishing as I intended. 



The picture, as far as presented, confessedly 

 bordering on caricature, gives no bright prospect 

 of the future condition of agriculture. The im- 

 press on the character of our youth, doubtless 

 stamped by the wild schemes of vvealih and ag- 

 grandizement, but recently indulged by their 

 seniors, from the great expansion of credit, from 

 magnificent speculations in the south-west, and 

 from multicaulis — should cause us deep concern. 

 The subject is full of pain. 1 tn ay have ened, 

 in attempting to alleviate this, by occasionally in- 

 termingling levity with my remarks. You doubt- 

 less all agree vviih me, in the opinion, that the 

 prosperity of agriculture, and all the interests ol 

 our beloved country, depend more upon the cha- 

 racter of the people, than on the physical advan- 

 tages enjoyed, great as these are acknowledged 

 to be. 1 intended also to present some remarks 

 more directly applicable to ourselves, as the ac- 

 tors and conductors in the passing scenes of life. 

 But lime fails me. I have said enough, however, 

 to show the awful magnitude of the subject, and 

 its touching and intense connexton with every 

 thing dear to our hearts. 



May I, belore closing, touch once more on a 

 matter, which deeply concerns us all. The busy 

 and malignant spirit of party seems to be diffus- 

 ing gall and bitterness through almost all the ra- 

 mifications of society. Not only is the ocean 

 rolled by the high functionaries of government 

 and distinguished leaders, but every pool is mud- 

 died, according as the petty agitator may desire 

 to obscure his own designs of personal aggran- 

 dizement, or (as the phrase is) "manulacture 

 capital" for his own purposes. Mighty whirl- 

 winds are raised or a little dust kicked up, accord- 

 ing to the protency and skill of the operator. 

 Agitators in the north, and agitators in the south, 

 are constructing a hedge of thorns and briers to 

 sever our glorious union. Their occupation would 

 perhaps be harmless, were their labors not drawn 

 into requisition, and eagerly used, by men who 

 seevi to be belter. Can agriculture flourish, when 

 those, who should be its friends, are madly en- 

 gaged in other things, which must tend to its 

 ruin? I conclude, gentlemen, lervently trusting, 

 that we will all earnestly lay these things to heart, 

 and strive, through this society, to do much good 

 to our country. 



Note. — Having culpably procrastinated Ihe 

 commission of my thoughts to paper, until bare- 

 ly time enough remained lor the purpose, and 

 being interrupted by the necessity for an effort, 

 which produced indisposition, 1 was thrown into 

 such embarrassing hurry, as to produce confusion, 

 in the developement of the plan proposed. I 

 have nothing now left me, having consented to 

 its publication, but to iuriiish the address, as it 

 was delivered, for printing, app^ nding a note, ex- 

 plaining the plan rather more clearly than could 

 be drawn from the body of the address. 



The leading idea was, that man, by a law of 

 his nature, was doomed to labor. That obedience 

 to this law generally insured him success. That 

 disobedience or evasion ol it was the usual cause of 

 human lailure. To this source may be traced Ihe 

 miserable condition of our agriculture, as well aa 

 of our commerce — (lor it is evident, that if our 

 products and, of course, our export staples were 

 greater, the current of exchanges would, so far, 

 turn in our favor.) To this source may be traced, 

 the giddy pliability of our grown men, to be se- 

 duced into wild schemes of enrichment — and our 

 boy?, into alarming indolence, effeminacy and 

 dissipation. The hardy sons of toil, who per- 

 formed their own work, or attended to their own 

 business, have mostly gone to the grave. Gen- 

 tlemen nowadays, in moderate circumstances, 

 who have neither public nor professional duties to 

 perform, that they may lake their own pleasure, 

 employ what are called overseers. This, with 

 most of the class, is a misnomer, for they often 

 need more to be overseen than the negroes. An 

 industrious, attentive, faithlul overseer, is an hono- 

 rable man, too seldom found. It is by the way 

 becoming an object worth inquiry, where' over- 

 seers are to be obtained. The sons of our worthy 

 two and three hogshead men have, like the other 

 boys, got to wearing broad -cloih coats, hair like 

 Indians, and become gentlemen at fourteen. It 

 may soon be deemed an insult to ask any man to 

 be overseer. Most evils work their own cure. 

 This may compel every man to be his own over- 

 seer, and thus bring good out of evil. 



The subject of education and the condition of 

 ihe rising generation is also one of thrilling in- 

 terest. An ardent friend of the boys, I am fop 

 their own good, plotting rebellion against their 

 government. I cannot abide the idea of an in- 

 Cani king. I could most cordially wish them to 

 be laboriously preparing for the theatre of man- 

 hood, and lor incomparably surpassing the deeds 

 of their liithers. The example of Phaeton is too 

 vividly recollected to trust them as yet with the 

 reins. When they get ready, I shall most hearti- 

 ly unite in cheering them into the ranks. 



For the girls, I feel the most delicate and the 

 deepest anxiety, and am assured, that whenever 

 their fathers and brothers shall fall into the right 

 track, they will sweetly glide into that course to 

 which the public welfare so loudly calls them. 



The conclusion of the whole matter is, that the 

 best agricultural periodicals may be published, 

 the best essays may be written on the improve- 

 ment of farming, the best implements of" husban- 

 dry may be invented, the best races of stock in- 

 troduced, philosophers may speculate, the minis- 

 ters of our holy religion may preach, yet after all, 

 appalling as the thought may be, we must 

 WORK ! Yes, we must WORK. 



W. S. M. 



