AGRICULTURE TO A NATION. 16 



tains become impure, the stream will be defiled. If the 

 agriculturist is slothful, and ignorant, and poor, he will be 

 spiritless and servile. If he is enlightened, industrious, 

 and in prosperous circumstances, he will be independent 

 in mind, jealous of his rights, and watchful for the public 

 good. His welfare is identified with the welfare of the 

 state. He is virtually fixed to the soil ; and has, there- 

 fore, a paramount interest, as well as a giant power, to 

 defend it, from the encroachment of foreign or domestic 

 foes. If his country suffers, he must suffer ; if she pros- 

 pers, he too may expect to prosper. Hence, whatever 

 tends to improve the intellectual condition of the farmer, 

 and to elevate him above venal temptation, essentially 

 contributes to the good order of society at large, and to 

 the perpetuity of our country's freedom. 



Agriculture is the parent of physical and moral health 

 to the state — it is the salt which preserves from moral cor- 

 ruption. Not only are her labors useful in administering to 

 our wants, and in dispensing the blessing of abundance to 

 others, but she is constantly exercising a salutary influence 

 upon the moral and physical health of the state, and in 

 perpetuating the republican habits and good order of 

 society. While rural labor is the great source of physi- 

 cal health and constitutional vigor to our population, it 

 interposes the most formidable barrier to the demoralizing 

 influence of luxury and vice. We seldom hear of civil 

 commotions, of crimes, or of hereditary disease, among 

 those who are steadily engaged in the business of agricul- 

 ture. Men who are satisfied with the abundant and cer- 

 tain resources of their own labor, and their own farms, 

 are not willing to jeopard these enjoyments, by pro- 

 moting popular tumult, or tolerating crime. The more 

 we promote the interest of the agriculturist, by develop- 

 ing the powers of his mind, and elevating his moral views, 

 the more we shall promote the virtue and happiness of 

 society. 



The facts which are here submitted must afford ample 

 proof, that agriculture is all-important to us as a nation ; 

 and that our prosperity in manufactures, in commerce, 

 and in the other pursuits of life, will depend, in a great 



