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lions over the sea, — are all alike the gifts of God in 

 nature. The vastness of the farmers' industry may be 

 computed, but the aggregate is larger than our power of 

 comprehension. And all this gift of nature is for the 

 comfort, and strength, and development of man. The 

 value of all social and civil institutions must always be 

 measured by the intelligence, and virtue, and moral vigor 

 of the freeholders of the land. Manhood has reached a 

 rare development in our country. Property is widely 

 distributed. The incentive which comes from the owner- 

 ship of land leads to an honorable ambition. There is 

 something for every man to hope for. The walls which 

 in other lands divide men into classes, are not known 

 here. Therefore, we behold, out of the ranks of the 

 common people, the constant rise of distinguished men. 

 They stand in the courts ; they fill the places of states- 

 men, and jurists, and patriot soldiers. The father of his 

 country was a farmer. Webster, and Clay, and Jefferson, 

 and Adams, were farmers. The fathers of the Republic 

 were your ancestors in occupation. The clergy were far- 

 mers in the early days, and if they communed more with 

 nature to-day, there were less of useless debate about 

 theoretical doctrines. The sturdy army that beat back 

 the trained legions of King George, were the hardy 

 pioneers whose strong arms had cleared the forests. We 

 have a true pride in the development of genius. It is 

 worth our while to study the great industries, to see what 

 man has done. He compels the rivers to work like dray 

 horses in the service of human industry. He stops the 

 lightning, and bids it bear his message and bring reply. 

 The numberless discoveries and inventions of man can 

 only be looked upon with wonder and admiration. Thank 

 heaven, that we have a land of boundless resources — the 



