11 



harvest ; building up villages and cities, scliool houses 

 and churches. Then behohi mi their p;itn\V;iy westward 

 are built c.inals and niilroads, which with the lakes and 

 navigable rivers, are all made subservient to the Wants 

 of the western fanners, to freight their produce to the 

 Atlantic cities for a market, carrying back merchandise 

 to supply the wants of the western emigrant. And 

 thus the products of the western States gives impulse 

 to every eastern enterprise, and agricultural depression 

 or prosperity is the thermometer that mirks the pros- 

 perity or adversity of individuals, communities or our 

 nation. 



llow sublime, how beautiful, and how interesting to 

 contemplate the progress of man in the cultivation of 

 the soil, when there are so many contingencies in (he 

 great machinery of our nation depending upon your- 

 selves. Were you to fail to produce the fruits of the 

 earth, it would be felt in all the departments of business 

 in ever}'' grade and rank in society, the rich an 1 the 

 poor alike dependent. The water-wheel and ponderous 

 engine that now turn their tens of thousands of spin Ihis 

 and the weaver's shuttle would be silent ; the busy 

 hum of the city would be hushed. The iron horse that 

 now lifts his proud head upon the Atlantic, laden as he 

 goes through valleys and over hills and mountains; 

 across rivers; now lost in the dense foiest; then 

 over the extensive prairies of the productive West, 

 with his shrill whistle which marks the progress, 

 and is sweet music to the western pioneer, would 

 return with mournful notes of desidation. Our nation 

 which now lilts her proud hea I among the nations 

 of the earth, and is so prouiinent for her spirit of enter* 



