280 ADDRESS. 



and In usefulness to the temporal wants of the human 

 family, than any other. The policy of monarchs, and of 

 privileged orders, has been to repress intelligence in the 

 Agricultural mass, in order to keep them in a subordinate 

 station. But neither the policy nor the practice should 

 be countenanced by us. Our Agriculturists are our 

 privileged class, if we have such. They are our sover- 

 eigns, because, from their superior numbers, they must 

 ever control our pohtical destinies, for good or for evil. 

 And the more intelligent and independent we can render 

 them, the more safe we make our country from the con- 

 vulsions of internal feuds, and the danger of foreign war. 

 I put the question to fathers — Would you esteem that 

 son less, or think him less likely to fulfil the great duties 

 of life, who had been educated in a professional school 

 of Agriculture, with all the high qualifications which it 

 would confer for pubhc and domestic usefulness, than him 

 who had been educated for the counter, the bar, or other 

 high professional callings ? On which could you best 

 rely for support and comfort in the decline of life ? Nay, 

 I will venture to carry the appeal further — to the dis- 

 criminating judgement of the unmarried lady — Would you 

 reject, as a partner for life, the student of such a college, 

 coming forth with a sound mind, deeply imbued with 

 useful knowledge, and a hale constitution, invigorated by 

 manly exercise, whose cares and affections were likely 

 to be concentrated upon home and country, and whose 

 precepts and examples would tend to diffuse industry, 

 prosperity, and rural happiness around him ? The fa- 

 ther's response would be, I think, an unhesitating no, to 

 the first question ; and the lady's, after due deliberation, 

 I verily suspect, would be a half articulate amen ! I 

 pretend not to the spirit of prophecy, yet I venture to 

 predict, that many who now hear me, will live to see pro- 

 fessional schools of Agriculture established in our land, to 

 see their utility extolled, and to be induced to consider 

 them the best nurseries for republican virtues, and the 

 surest guaranty for the perpetuity of our liberties. They 

 should be established — they will be established — and the 

 sooner they are established, the better for our country. 



