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NEW ENGLAND F A R xM E R 



OCT. 4, 1843 



MR WEBSTER'S SPEECH AT ROCHESTER. 



The Rocliestcr Democrat fiirniahea an extended 

 report (if Mr Webster's spepcli at tlie second sup- 

 per of the New York State Agricultural Society, in 

 Rochester, on the evening of the 2]st ult., which 

 we should be pleased to present to our readers en- 

 tire, did our space permit. 



We hope we may venture to say of the speech, 

 without offending the political or sectional preju- 

 dices of any of our readers, that, (as its distinguish- 

 ed author remartiod at IJunker Hiil of the charac- 

 ter of Washington,) "it is alt Amkrican." It 

 speaks his conviction of the importance of agricul- 

 ture as the prominent interest of the country, and 

 ills deep concern for its prosperity — and where he 

 argues its claims to the protection of goveinineiit, 

 we may almost say, (as has been observed of one 

 of Mr W.'s speeches on another occasion,) that 

 "each sentence contains both a proposition and n 

 demonstration." In dcvotedness to the true inte- 

 rests of the country — the whole country — and in 

 ability to det'end them, "Sparta has no worthier 

 son than lie." 



Mr Wadeworth, President of the Society, pre- 

 sided at the supper, and introduced Mr Webster to 

 the company, in a very neat speech, alluding to his 

 eminent abilities and distinguished services, and 

 concluded by giving as a toast — "The health of 

 the Farmer of Marshfield." 



Mr Webster rose, and after expressing his 

 thanks for the warm reception given to him, pro- 

 ceeded to contrast, in a very able and lucid man- 

 ner, the advantages enjoyed by the agriculturists 

 of temperate, and the planters of tropical climates, 

 (showing how much more highly favored were the 

 former above the latter,) and concluded his com- 

 parison thus : — " What is society un a plantation ? 

 There is no society. There is capital and labor ; 

 but independent, free spirits, there are none — 

 none — none — and never can be. It is, therefore, 

 only in temperate climates — on these favored spots 

 of God's earth — beneath such a sun — such an 

 earth as you tread — where true independence 

 lives." 



He then proceeds : 



■'Gentlemen — Every body knows that at the 

 foundation of all improvement, lies this great busi- 

 ness of the cultivation of the earth. If it was for 

 iiis sins that man was condemned to till the earth, 

 it was the most beneficent punishment that the Al- 

 mighty IJeing could inflict. 



Now, in regard to the great interests of agricul- 

 ture, there are things which individuals may 

 do for themselves, and there are things which the 

 collected agency of society — which government — 

 must do for them. What individuals can do for 

 themselves, they should be left to do. But there 

 are great objects — great interests — great arrange- 

 ments — which are necessary for the enriching of 

 the fields of agriculture and those who till ihem, 

 which belong lo govtrmnent ; and government neg- 

 lects to fulfil its duty when it neglects ihem. 



The interests of agriculture, gentlemen, embrace 

 much that government should attend to. And 

 what is it? I shall not go through with all that 

 might be said upon this subject ; nor shall [ read 

 a lecture to governments in general or our govern- 

 ment in particular. God forbid. But, I repeat, 

 there are things wliich individuals cannot do, 

 and which government should. Individuals can- 

 not protect thoinselves from aggression — cannot 



levy assessments for general purposes — cannot 

 open a road, which inoy be necessary. Govern- 

 ment must do these things, and must take the gen- 

 eral agency of society. It government, in fact, as 

 in theory, e.xists for the good of at.l, then it must 

 protect ALL. It must do for individuals what indi- 

 viduals cannot do for themselves." 



The orator here paid a merited tribute to the 

 illustrious son of New York, the late De Witt 

 Clinton, and spoke in terms of high praise of her 

 internal improvements, by which a large portion of 

 her farmers " could reach in an hour, as it were, 

 the market for their products." He then proceed- 

 ed to speak on the subject of governmental protec- 

 tion to agriculture, as follows: 



"Gentlemen — There is another great object to 

 the tiller of our lands, besides furnishing facilities 

 for transmission to market, and that is the exis- 

 tence of a market for the surplus products of the 

 soil. There must be a market of sale — a market 

 of consumption. Will a man toil to till his ground 

 — to fill his granaries a*id his cellars with the pro- 

 ducts of the soil, beyond the wants of his own 

 family, unless there be some one to buy what he 

 has to sell ? By means of transportation and this 

 market of sale, he must be able to buy what arti- 

 cles he may want which he does not raise himself. 

 A market of consumption is an object of paramount 

 importance to the agriculturist. It is indispensa- 

 ble. I do not say that to provide such a market is 

 entirely within the control of the government. It 

 Is not. 'J'here are many considerations to he taken 

 into account — the policy of other nations — the 

 course of trade, and many other reasons, which 

 place the complete attainment of such a result be- 

 yond the control of the government. But after 

 all, I say that it is the object of government to 

 provide that a market shall exist. It is a work 

 which individuals cannot do for themselves, and 

 consequently it is the duty of government to do it 

 for them. As a question of political economy — 

 (God forbid that I should introduce party politics 

 here) — but, as a question of political economy, the 

 inquiry will arise, where the surplus products of 

 the soil shall find a sale ? This, I repeat, is the 

 object of government to provide. In a large, phi- 

 losophical, and I might say, philanthropic sense, it 

 is for the interest of government to seek to pro- 

 mote the interests of its citizens. I said that this 

 market of sale and consumption was absolutely 

 necessary. Without it, what use would there be 

 of tliese fertile fields of the Genesee valley — the 

 richest wheat land upon the face of the earth ? 

 Why should a man raise from his farm, beyond the 

 wants of his own household, if he cannot find a 

 market? I do not propose to enter into the con- 

 sideration of any strictly debateable question : but 

 it is an elementary truth — and I say it because it 

 is an elementary truth, which no American citizen, 

 who will reason — who is not under the dominion 

 of names, but who looks to things — will deny — 

 that it is not only within the power, but that it is 

 the duty of the government to take care that there 

 shall be a demand for our agricultural products. 

 (Cheers.) 



I do not propose, gentlemen, to enter upon the 

 debateable ground of a Protective Tariff, but 1 will 

 say — for I think it, and why not say it ? — [cries of 

 ' Bravo,' and ' Say it' — 'say it"] — I do soy it, gen- 

 tlemen, that the Agriculture of our country is the 

 great matter which demands the protection of our 

 government. It is a niisnomer to speak of the pro- 



tection of our Manufactures ! It is the protectii 

 of Jjgricullure that is wanted. (Great cheerin; 

 It is to furnish to our agiicultural products a mi 

 kct — a home market — a large market. I ha 

 many friends in Massixhusetts whose capital 

 vested in manufactures. They are deserving 

 the protection and fostering care of the govei 

 locnt. But suppose they do not get it? Th 

 can turn their manufacturing capital to other pi 

 suits. Protection i-; not so important to the mai 

 faclurer as to you— no, not by ten thousand fo 

 Yon want to have open mouths to eat and dri 

 what you raise and have to sell- — in other wor 

 you want a home market — a steady demand for I 

 products of your soil, and which are needed by i 

 manufacturing, the mercantile, and the seafari 

 community. 



There is, it will be admitted, a large amount 

 capital in the Northern States, vested in nianiifi 

 tures, and it is but natural that that interest shoi 

 be strenuous in securing the protection of the gi 

 eminent. But I insist, gentlemen, in spite of ■ 

 sophistry, and I may say the folly of this age, eg 

 gious as it often is, that the great thing to be loi 

 ed for, is a market at home, and a demand at 

 times for the excess ot agricultural products, i 

 on the other hand, that we should have here 

 homo, a demand for our manufactures — that th 

 should be a constant interchange and intercou 

 among ourselves, that thus our wants might 

 supplied. It is this that is calculated to make 

 a happy and strong people. It is in regard to I 

 subject that our Southern brethren labor unde 

 strange infatuation. There are there respecta 

 men — reasoning and candid men, in most respe 

 and yet it is strange to see how they will rea 

 on this subject. 



Gentlemen, I belong to Massachusetts. (Ci 

 of ' Bravo,' and 'Three cheers for old Massac 

 setts,' which were given in fine style.) I h 

 taken some pains to institute an inquiry in reg 

 to the sums annually paid by IMassachusetts 

 Virginia and South Carolina, for the agriculti 

 products of these States. It amounts to sevt 

 millions of dollars each year. Take the east 

 part of Virginia and of North Carolina, ami w 

 have they for sale ? One agricultural prodi 

 and one alone, which is largely consumed by 

 agricultural and manufacturing classes of ^ 

 England and the other Northern States. We 

 those Slates annually many millions for that 

 product. We are their best and almost their c 

 customers. England "ill not take a bushe 

 their wheat: they look almost exclusively to 

 market at the North. And yet, gentlemen, ow 

 partly to prejudice, and partly to that so-ca 

 l"ree sentiment — their notions and notionalitie 

 (for, gentlemen, New England is not the < 

 place celebrated for its notions,) — owing to tl 

 causes, these southern producers uniformly and 

 tirely reprobate all idea of protecting the agri 

 tural classes of the North. Yet they are nctu 

 fed, day by day, by the proceeds of their c 

 sold to the citizens of the North ! the only pro( 

 for which they get a single dollar. Why shi 

 they seek to drive ua in Alassachusetts to raise <1 

 for ourselves.-' to drive us from all other enipi 

 ments except that of agriculture ? They 

 raise this agricultural product cheaper than ' 

 can, and they have only us to buy it of ihem. " 

 may say that this is a strong case — and yet is ; 

 fectly true, both as it regards Virginia and Nil 

 Carolina. I live upon the sandy and barren sin 



