24 



things might be perpetuated, and the time would come 

 when multitudes of dependent men would beg for the 

 privilege of toil, — the poor privilege of keeping body 

 and soul together. Whatever tends permanently to lower 

 the wages of labor is an injury to the State. Whatever 

 is lost to the wasres of the laborer is added to the wealth 

 of the land-owner, without a corresponding compensation 

 for the unequal distribution of profits, in an increase of 

 social benefits. 



There is hardly another circumstance that adds so much 

 to the value of land and labor as a near and easily ac- 

 cessible market, where the productions of the soil may 

 be exchanged for other necessaries of life. This market 

 the farmers of Norfolk County have in the capital, and in 

 numerous manufacturing and mechanics' villages. They 

 have intelligence and enterprise enough to avail them- 

 selves of its advantages. There is scarcely a limit to 

 the demand for their productions, while facilities for 

 reaching the consumer are unequalled. Let them aban- 

 don the idea of fortune making in the west, and adhere 

 to the incomparable blessings of education, religion and 

 social refinement at home. Let them remember that for 

 generations agriculture in this country has supported tens 

 of thousands of excellent citizens, — supported them, I 

 venture to say, in as high a state of civilization as the 

 tillers of the land ever reached on this earth. With 

 every year the inducements to cultivate the soil are mul- 

 tiplied, — high prices, ready markets, increasing knowl- 

 edge, improved machinery, and the examples of success- 

 ful individuals. 



It may be said that the soil is hard and the struggle 

 unceasing. Does not history teach us that agricultural 

 prosperity is usually proportioned to the difficulties to be 

 overcome ? Is it not so in every department of human 

 activity ? Compelled to honorable toil we gain things 



