FARMERS' REGISTER— ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE, &c. 453 



the present good effects. The most despotic decrees 

 of Napoleon, could never have made France lo com- 

 pete with the West Indies in the production of 

 sugar, nor prepared the French people for a new em- 

 ployment, to Avhich they had not heen previously 

 hy habit accustomed. This principle, I say pro- 

 perly applied; is correct. But Virginia has car- 

 ried it too far: and while she fled from the evils, 

 which always flow from a sacrifice of correct prin- 

 ciples, she has neglected her real interests, in not 

 applying the energy of laws, to the encouragement 

 of agriculture. And thus great evil has resulted 

 to the state. 



That the legislature of Virginia has the right to 

 encourage agriculture by laws, I do not for one 

 moment doubt : and it is not dilficult to make it 

 appear. The great object of all laws, is to ad- 

 vance the real interests of the people, and the real 

 interests of the people, consists in the advancement 

 of all those arts and sciences, which tend to their 

 comfort ; and of all sciences there is none of more 

 importance than agriculture. It is the science of 

 sciences : The mighty Ajax which upholds and 

 supports all. Has the legislature the right to en- 

 dow a University, where the professions of law and 

 medicine are taught.' This right is admitted. But 

 upon whom pray does this knowledge thus acquired 

 act.'' On the agriculturist, who must actually 

 support those who practice these ;)rofe>sions. And 

 amongst whom does the teacher find employment .'' 

 The agriculturists. The husbandman suj)ports 

 him. And shall we pass laws for the purpose of 

 giving the teacher knowledge, while the taught 

 are left neglected.' Shall we favor the supported, 

 while the interests of the supporter are neglected.' 

 But I may be told that the legislature cannot en- 

 courage agriculture by laws. Here we are pre- 

 pared to meet the objection with facts. I have 

 heard this argument advanced in the legislature, 

 and successfully answered. But we are now 

 speaking of the power. And is not the power 

 necessary to pass laws on the subject of agricul- 

 ture, admitted every winter in the legislature.' 

 Does it require more moral or physical power to 

 cut a ditch, than to make a tobacco barn or clear a 

 new ground.' And has not the legislature the 

 same right to encourage the means of increasing 

 the quantity of agricultural products, and the ju- 

 dicious application of labor in farming, that it has 

 to provide means of conveyance, or improve the 

 facilities of conveyance. Nay, is it not a contra- 

 diction in terms, and contrary to the true princi- 

 ples of political economy, to pass laws for the pur- 

 pose of cutting canals, and making roads, while 

 nothing is done, to improve the agriculture of the 

 very country for which these canals and roads are 

 provided.' I know that improvement in convey- 

 ance, will improve agriculture. But we must re- 

 collect, that the very means for making the con- 

 veyance, must come from the country lor which it 

 is provided, and we must increase our means be- 

 fore we can expect the conveyance. Then as the 

 object and effects are the same, the legislature has 

 an equal right to provide for both: The same 

 right to encourage agriculture, that it has to make 

 roads for the farmer to carry his produce to mar- 

 ket. 



But let us reduce the idea to its first principle, 

 and illustrate it by a simple comparison. To 

 which subject does the individual farmer at home 

 pay most attention ; To the improvement of his 



fields, or the making of roads and wagons.' The 

 answer is obvious. Then, suppose for a moment, 

 that all Virginia belonged to one man,Avould he 

 not consider it his firsl duty to improve his poor 

 lands, and would he not feel conscious that by so 

 doing, he would increase his ability to make good 

 roads and canals.' Now change this one man into 

 a community of farmers, and divide this state 

 amongst them : And have not this community of 

 farmers, by their united power and wistlom, the 

 right and j)Ower to pass laws for the improvement 

 of their common country.' Certainly they have. 

 But, can the legislature clo any thing for the im- 

 provement of agriculture, by the enactment of 

 judicious laws.' That it can, could be proved by 

 a reference to jjrincijile. But here we have abun- 

 dance of facts. And I would just turn the eye of 

 the reader to all of the New England States, and 

 to New York and Ohio. In these stales their le- 

 gislative halls frequently assume the character 

 almost, of agricultural societies. And while they 

 provide for the security of the peace and the faith- 

 ful administration of the laws, they ])ass enact- 

 ments for the encouragement of agriculture ; Avell 

 knowing that vice and idleness, will flee apace 

 from the smiles of honest and untiring industry. 

 Their law s fend to prevent sickness, in the body 

 politic, nol to play the quack on a dying patient: 

 Examine their codes and see their laws, and then 

 turn to their country and see their infernal pros- 

 perity, and say whether the legislature can do any 

 thing to promote agriculture. Are you jealous of 

 oppression.' Ask them if they feel their laws for 

 the encouragement of agriculture to be oppressive, 

 and they will tell you, that they owe all their j)ros- 

 perity to these judicious laws. But, asks one, 

 what kind of law s do you want.' In the first place, 

 as the mind must be worked before the soil, we 

 want the legislature to encourage agricultural so- 

 cieties. The legislature of New York, has incor- 

 porated a state agricultural society, and Ohio 

 during the last session of her legislature, passed 

 laws for the encouragement of countv agricultural 

 societies. No community is better adapted to the 

 formation of county societies, connectecl in one 

 grand state agricultural society, than Virginia. 

 Let this subject be once brought up before the le- 

 gislature, and the sorts of encouragement to be 

 given by the legislature will suggest themselves. 

 Let us by legislative enactments, encourage socie- 

 ties, and other judicious laws will follow in the 

 wake. And let the first principle of these laws, 

 be voluntary and not restrictive or compulsory. 

 Let their tendency be, to throw open the doors of 

 knowledge, ?/jw7n?o: entrance, while at Ihe same 

 time, we are not driven. Let them be such, that 

 those men who prate so loud of liberty, will have 

 nothing to fear. Leaving each one perfectly at 

 liberty, either to improve his own lantls, and raise 

 his own bacon, or buy from Kentucky. 



These imperfect views lamely put together, have 

 been suggested by the article in your October No., 

 signed " R. N." on the "Spanish Thistle." I 

 would fain add " my thunder" to his, in thunder- 

 ing away those political wiseacres, who quarrel 

 over the chaff, while the wheat is suffered to rot. 

 I do sincerely hope, the day is not far distant, w hen 

 " w indy orators," who " plant in their memories 

 an army of good words," will give way to those 

 who at home can plant corn, and in Richmond, can 

 pass good laws, without so much gab. Political 



