MR, HAZEN S ADDRESS. / 



and the nurse as it has been of much of that high moral charac- 

 ter for which New England has been hc/hored ; important as its 

 interests must ever be in any community, its loss of even equal 

 comparative advancement cannot be witnessed without deep 

 concern. Indeed the present state of things can hardly be of 

 long continuance. Any one of the thousand changes constantly 

 occurring in the political world might at once and wholly alter 

 their condition. This country is essentially agricultural, and 

 without any contingency, it may well be doubted whether it can 

 in the long run any better afford to buy its provisions from for- 

 eign nations than the farmer can afford to own a farm, and with- 

 out other resources to more than half the expense of his mainte- 

 nance, purchase from his neighbors the very things which his 

 own land ought to supply, and if cultivated, would yield. 



All other occupations are prosecuted at great comparative 

 risk. The business of farming in New England has always had 

 the advantage of great certainty. The very hardness of the cul- 

 tivation has exacted great prudence in the expenditure, and its 

 gains have been too small to tempt the cupidity of capitalists. 

 But there are abundant proofs now before us, that it has not left 

 industry, sagacity and skill, when applied to its service, unre- 

 warded. Well directed and persevering efforts have been 

 crowned with success alike profitable and honorable to their au- 

 thor. No where else has the fortune of the man been so entire- 

 ly in his own hands, and by no other path has the attainment of 

 independence been so free from fatal contingencies. No other 

 class of men can reckon in their ranks so many instances of suc- 

 cess. And when prosperity comes to the farmer it proceeds 

 from no doubtful agency. There have been those who in other 

 pursuits have amassed larger fortunes than Agriculture confers ; 

 but Agriculture, if we appeal to no higher authority, will assure 

 us that all the gifts of fortune, beyond what itself bestows, are 

 incumbered with vexation, or but minister to vanity. In the 

 other classes of the community, the farmer sees as it were the 

 vision of Mirza. " He beholds many in pursuit of bubbles that 

 glitter and dance before them" until they tread upon some hid- 

 den danger " through which they fall into the pit and immedi- 



