TL 



THE NATIONAL IGNORANCE OF THE AGRICULTURAL 

 INTEREST. 



September, 1851. 



TO general observers, the prosperity of the United States in the 

 great interests of trade, commerce, manufactures, and agricul- 

 ture, is a matter of every-day remark and general assent. The 

 country extends itself from one zone to another, and from one 

 ocean to another. New States are settled, our own population in- 

 creases, emigration pours its vast tide upon our shores, new soils 

 give abundant harvests, new settlements create a demand for the 

 necessaries and luxuries of life provided by the older cities, and the 

 nation exhibits at every census, so unparalleled a growth, and such 

 magnificent resources, that common sense is startled, and only the 

 imagination can keep pace with the probable destinies of the one 

 hundred millions of Americans that will speak one language, and, 

 we trust, be governed by one constitution, half a century hence. 



As a wise man, who finds his family increasing after the manner 

 of the ancient patriarchs, looks about him somewhat anxiously, to 

 find out if there is likely to be bread enough for their subsistence, 

 so a wise statesman, looking at this extraordinary growth of popula- 

 tion, and this prospective wealth of the country, will inquire, nar- 

 rowly, into its productive powers. He will desire to know whether 

 the national domain is so managed that? it will be likely to support 

 the great people that will be ready to live upon it in the next century 

 He will seek to look into the present and the future sufficiently to 

 ascertain whether our rapid growth and material abundance do not 



