24 



TRANSACTIONS 



instead of being lowered. Is this subject Uptopian ? No ; 

 it can be accomplished. It has been done, to a great extent, in 

 some European countries in a shorter time ; especially in Scot- 

 land, whose soil and climate are far less favorable to agricul- 

 ture than our own. True, we have in this valley not a little of 

 that kind of soil, which I have represented as one of thegreat- 

 ^ est blessings Providence ever conferred upon New England ; I 

 mean a poor soil. But I am more afraid that we have so much 

 good land here, that the spirit of industry and perseverance, 

 characteristic of those whose I'eins are filled with Saxon blood, 

 will not be sufficiently roused. What a voice is there in these 

 rail-roads, which have approximated us so closely to the sea- 

 board and the largest markets of the land ! What a voice in 

 that Western and Southern produce, which passes directly 

 through your territory to supply these markets ! Science, too, 

 is going before you to prepare the way and to cheer you on- 

 ward. Hear you not, also, the voice of your country, and es- 

 pecially, of New England, whose prosperity is ever so dear 

 to her SODS ? Think what it is to double the population, and 

 the intellectual and moral power, of a large portion of New 

 England. You know what her influence has been during the 

 past, and you can judge how much good those will accomplish? 

 who shall double that influence in the future. Learning, mor- 

 ality, and religion, are indeed most deeply concerned in such 

 a consummation as we are contemplating ; and therefore 

 should all hearts and hands unite in hastening it on. I know 

 that you will not prove recreant to the high trust committed to 

 you by Providence, and purchased by so many toils and sacri- 

 fices of your fathers. I fancy, rather, that some of the young 

 men who hear me, now, before their sun of life shall set, wil^ 

 • see realized more than my prophecies to-day ; and smile to re- 

 member how feeble was my faith, and limited my anticipations. 

 Then, and not till then, when it shall be seen how mighty an 

 agency this Society has exerted to bring about such a consum- 

 mation, will the labors and sacrifices of those be duly appre- 

 ciated and honored, who have laid its foundations and carried 

 up its superstructure. 



