256 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



himself. The theory that taxation is peculiarly a burden to the 

 laborer, which applied when our State was mainly agricultural, 

 and the enterprise small, and the amount of labor required was 

 at the mercy of an industry which could afford to stop until the 

 skies grew brighter and " times were easier," has become mate- 

 rially modified before that condition of active industry which 

 cannot afford to suspend operations, and which must pay for 

 labor in proportion to the demand. Neither does taxation fall 

 heavily on him who has retired with an accumulated wealth, 

 which can be withdrawn from the channels of trade and may 

 find investment beyond the reach of assessment. But it is the 

 property invested in railroads and mills and ships and farms 

 and buildings, all kept alive by the application of active business 

 forces, which enables the State to bear her burden of debt. 

 And we may not forget that the value of property does not 

 always depend upon exemption from taxation, but upon its con- 

 nection with a community in which all its resources are devel- 

 oped and brought into requisition. If we would make our tax- 

 ation easy, therefore, let us increase our wealth. By opening 

 new avenues, by making our State a highway from the West to 

 tide-waters, by multiplying opportunities for agricultural and 

 mechanical industry, by affording every inducement to capital 

 to find investment here, may we continue that prosperity which 

 has thus far attended our career. 



Upon the encouragement of all activity in this manner de- 

 pends, I am satisfied, the growth and continuance of our 

 educational system, of which we are so justly proud. It is 

 an industrious people which demands education. Let me 

 know that the community is earning money to pay its taxes 

 by generally diffused and unflfigging energy, and I have no 

 fear that its schools will decay. I know the disasters which 

 have fallen upon the universities and colleges of Europe, when 

 the government upon which they depended for support had 

 become bankrupt through the weakness or mismanagement of 

 a monarch. But when I have seen a free people, dependent 

 upon education largely diffused for their popular existence, 

 increasing their contributions to education as their taxes have 

 increased, I have learned the difference between an enlightened 

 and educated community bravely bearing the load which they 

 have imposed upon themselves, and a nation composed of a 



