XVI rNTKODUCTIOlT. 



which he now supplies. "When the cotton planting States have 

 once fully taken into consideration their immense advantages 

 for production, it seems impossible that they should sleep over 

 them. Cotton, Indian corn, wheat and tobacco, four great 

 staples on their hands, for which the markets of the world are 

 open. These minor productions of the homestead furnish busi- 

 ness for all. The Alleghanies and their slopes are well adapted 

 to grazing, and hence the raising of stock will become an item 

 of immense importance to planters. Intercourse with the ex- 

 tremes, the east and the west, will soon be made easy. It will be 

 cheap, if an enlightened policy controls the fare upon railroads. 

 If an opposite policy should unfortunately prevail, the hopes 

 of the planter and graizer will be partially disappointed. 



The encouragement for pursuing agriculture may be found 

 in the certain prospect of the mining resources of the State. 

 In the various branches of this business, it will ultimately be 

 found, that a large population will have to be fed. A popu- 

 lation devoted to this interest are not producers of bread, 

 meat or fruits. They are necessarily dependent for all these 

 and more ; and hence, a home market is furnished, which, as 

 far as it goes, is as important as the foreign. 



But I need not dwell on the importance of agriculture; its 

 importance is felt. I was more anxious in this connection, to 

 state my views of an improved agriculture ; one which is un- 

 derstood, or one founded upon established principles, one 

 which leaves a beaten road and inquires into the why and 

 wherefore. This is the only kind of agriculture which will 

 elevate the masses, and give laborers a status or standing 

 beside professional men, and enable them to exercise an 

 influence as wide as theirs. Regarded in this light, it is not 

 simply an extraordinary crop, which is to be produced, but it 

 is a development of the mental faculties. These are compati- 

 ble objects. Indeed, they go almost necessarily together, be- 

 cause they are the result of an exercise of the mind. The 

 labor of thinking is involved, a labor which is not at first 

 performed without effort, for that reason many prefer to let 

 others think for them ; and hence, they continue in that un- 

 enviable condition which is properly called a statu quo* 



RALEIGH, March 1, 1858. 



