202 



Quincy^s Address. 



Vol. X. 



the occupation on his character, than any of 

 its more material products. 



The relative position of the American 

 farmer possesses a deep interest to individu- 

 als and the community. To individuals, as 

 it may decide the wavering as to the course 

 they should pursue, or render them content- 

 ed with tlie one they have adopted ; to the 

 public, for everything that tends to elevate 

 the agricultural class, is of the first import- 

 ance to the state. 



What, then, is the position of the Ameri- 

 can farmer when compared with that of the 

 merchant, the politician, tiie lawyer 1 Should 

 he be content with his lot for himself and his 

 children'! Or should he leave his occupa- 

 tion and adopt some other? Like every 

 other position, that of the farmer has its dark 

 side as well as its bright one. And to decide 

 on its comparative advantages, we must in- 

 quire what is the object of man's existence, 

 and how sliall he attain the end of his being? 

 To these questions, history and revelation, 

 the world around and the spirit within us, 

 answer, that the object of man's existence is 

 happiness. Happiness here, and happiness 

 for ever. And the condition of that happi- 

 ness is the diligent and proper exercise of 

 his affections and his faculties. If this be 

 the case, does the situation of an American 

 farmer offer a fair opportunity of insuring 

 this happiness? 



To be happy is the object of life, and all 

 that the world can give towards it, is health 

 and competence. " Health of body is above 

 all riches, and a strong body above infinite 

 wealth." And where is health to be found ? 

 There is no need of an audible answer. Look 

 around. Briglit eyes and blooming cheeks, 

 as well as strong arms and untiring strength, 

 tell us that earth's first blessing is bestowed 

 upon those who labour upon her bosom. 



But health is often undervalued by its 

 possessor, or only appreciated when lost. 

 Wealth, the more obvious and immediate 

 reward of labour, is the chief pursuit of the 

 active. And here the farmer thinks he has 

 a right to complain. The merchant will 

 sometimes make more m a year than he can 

 in a lifetime; and it is not wonderful that he 

 sometimes asks, would it not be better to 

 leave small rewards, though regular and cer- 

 tain, for the chance of obtaining greater? 

 To decide this question, we must ask. What 

 is the price he pays? What is the reward 

 he obtains? 



What is the price he pays? To say no- 

 thing of his moral exposures, in the great 

 majority of cases, health of body and serenity 

 of mind. Follow such a one into the crowded 

 streets, or the close workshop. His strengtl) 

 for a time sustains him, but confinement and 



bad air soon deprive him of his healthful en- 

 ergy, and disease and premature decay be- 

 come too often his portion. But supposing 

 health can be preserved, where is his sere- 

 nity of mind? 



'J'lie risks attendant on rapid accumulation 

 are always in proportion to the chances of 

 success. The farmer sows his seed, and lias 

 no doubt but tliat the harvest will repay him. 

 But he who embarks in speculations that 

 promise sudden and great wealth, knows 

 that he may be "sowing the wind, to reap 

 the whirlwind." And the constant fear of 

 such a result embitters his days and renders 

 his nights restless. And if attained, success 

 gives but little satisfaction. The higher the 

 rise, the wider the horizon ; the greater the 

 accumulation, the more exorbitant the desire. 

 x\nd this is not the extent of the evil. A 

 total want of independence is too often the 

 result. Few men in our community have 

 those resources that will enable them to 

 carry on extensive operations on their own 

 means. Almost all depend upon borrowing, 

 and " the borrower is a servant unto the 

 lender." But even if success should be the 

 portion of the aspirant for riches, when is he 

 to attain to it? Does it come forward to 

 meet him? Years of anxiety may be repaid 

 by wealth ; but how seldom is this the case. 

 More than ninety in every hundred, even in 

 regular mercantile pursuits, fail. There are 

 but 'iew capital prizes in this lottery. The 

 name of the fortunate holder may be seen at 

 every corner, but where are the ninety and 

 nine who draw blanks? And if attained, 

 how uncertain is its possession ! Wealtli 

 "gotten by vanity," (by which, I suppose, 

 Solomon meant speculation,) "shall be di- 

 minished, but he that gathereth by labour 

 shall increase," is a doctrine as true now 

 as when first delivered; and is one which 

 the experience of every age tends to corro- 

 borate. 



And, after all, what is the advantage of 

 great wealth, or, what is great wealth itself? 

 It exists only in comparison. " A man is as 

 well off," said the great capitalist of the 

 United States, "who is worth iialf a million 

 of dollars, as he would be if he were rich." 

 And one of the satirical papers of the day 

 tolls us, that when Baron Rothschild, the 

 .Tewish banker, read that the income of Louis 

 Phillippe was only fifty dollars a minute, his 

 eyes filled with tears; for he was not aware 

 of the existence of such destitution. Afler 

 the comforts of life are supplied, wealth be- 

 comes merely an imaginary advantage, and 

 its possession does not confer any material 

 for happiness, which an industrious and fore- 

 handed farmer does not possess. " VVe will 

 conquer all Italy," said Pyrrhus, to his prime 



