manufacture, so striking and important, are familiar to you all, and need not be dwelt upon here. Though much has been effected in a short time, there are many improvements still indicated. No other branch of agriculture requires more the aid of liberal science than this. The cotton planters of Louisiana, in the results of the past and previous season, deserve much commiseration. An insect of fearful and voracious appetite has traversed their fields, and in whole regions of country, like the locusts of Egypt, left literally "no green thing alive." The advance in price, in consequence of an average crop in other sections, will not be sufficient to compensate for the reduced quantity, and it unfortunately happens that the advance that has taken place will benefit but the comparatively few who have not been forced early into market. The future, it is thought, will be auspicious to this class of producers, where they can be protected or preserved from the scourge which has visited their fields. It has been made evident that the consumption of cotton is advancing much more rapidly than the production, and of course, gaining upon it. European stocks, that have influenced prices so much, have given way already, and it is not improbable, at the expiration of the present year, they will be reduced very low, and in a few years become nothing. There are new markets for the staple opening on the continent of Asia, in Africa, and in China; even Japan will probably invite us, and the old markets of Europe, as well as of our own country, increase daily in their demands. The competition of the East Indies ceases to be longer named, and one may dare affirm that the discovery in Europe, by which cotton is converted into an agent of detonation is but one among the many uses yet to be discovered, to which this snowy fleece, more precious than the "fleece of gold," will be applied. It is not probable that the agricultural pursuits of Louisiana, will be much diversified for a long time to come. I am by no means persuaded that we have much to gain, by diverting our energies and our capital now into any new channels. Such are the wants of the world, it is reasonable to suppose the day very distant when there shall be a too great production of sugar, and I do not regret that circumstances are tending to make this the one great production of our state. No other staple is likely to yield more abundant returns. But let it not be supposed that any argument can be drawn from this for an exclusive devotion of the planter's life to a single subject to the neglect of all others. A single pursuit, unrelieved, contracts necessarily the views and range of thought of the individual. He becomes a man of one idea-sees, hears, feels, knows, regards nothing else—like a technical lawyer incased in forms and precedents, and forever incapable of reaching that high "vantage ground" of the profession, of which Lord Bolingbroke speaks, and on which he recog nized Bacon and Clarendon. It is one of the evils of such extreme division of labor, and devotion of one man to one pursuit, that it degrades a human being into the rank of a machine. It might be very well for trade, that ten men are employed in the manufacture of a pin; but it is a sad account, says Adam Smith, to give to one's Creator, that a whole life-time has been spent in the production of a pin-head. I would have the planters of Louisiana, as gentlemen and intelligent men, cultivate a knowledge of every department of that profession which they have made their own, though in practice confined to one department solely. Such a study is one of the most liberal and dignified, and tends in a high degree to elevate the whole nature and character of the student. Surely our planters will not complain of a want of leisure for this, and they will not point me to a more appropriate pursuit. I do not base the argument upon mere pecuniary considerations, for it is a higher and a nobler one. We are not here to attain wealth simply, but to make wealth subserve all the great ends of our being. We do not live to learn only such things as mere living demands. Pythagoras said truly, He who knows only what he finds it necessary to know, is a man solely among the brutes." It would employ little if any labor, and draw nothing upon the time of our planters, if they would lay out and cultivate their grounds in orchards of such fruit as will thrive in our genial clime, introduce as means may admit exotics, nurture rare plants, and beautify their estates with vines, flowers, and shades, and exhibit thus the appearances of that true comfort and happiness, ever associated by the virtuous with ideas of rural life. I can conceive of no solitude more cheerless in the world, than an estate in the country, which while inhabited, is neglected and suffered to decay. God has so fashioned us, that we are improved in head and in heart when surrounded and associated with the beautiful in art or in nature. We have heard it suggested, and believe it to be true, that the culture of the finer qualities of tobacco will be found very profitable to those in the state who have proper lands, and whose capital is not large. Indeed, we have seen some very admirable specimens of this growth, both in the city on sale and here. The olive has been frequently suggested. The legislature has given encouragement to silk, which needs little effort to be successfully produced. And there can be no question that in our abundant waste lands, rice of a superior quality can be made a very considerable crop. Whenever our attention may be given particularly to these subjects, and the time will no doubt ultimately come, we shall find in them sources of great profit and wealth. At present, I suppose, that any attention bestowed will be little more than relief spots in the otherwise monotony of our agricul ture. I cannot dismiss the subject of agriculture without remarking upon its great influences upon the character of society at large. In every country the agricultural classes, or those who have an interest in the soil, in the lands, who are removed afar from the corruption of cities and the adverse influences of courts and power, are the bulwarks of the commonwealth, and the friends and supporters of sound government. They are never radicals They ever deprecate rash innovation. They go for the government, while there is a possibility of preserving it pure, or of reforming it, and they declare only for REVOLUTION in that desperate contingency, when tyranny has overleaped all barriers, when hope has fled, and endurance longer would be a crime. that in Paris there is scarcely a very old family. If they have not intermarried with new comers they have been lost, and even their names blotted out in a few generations. I am rejoiced, then, from the extent of our great Union, the immense territories, fruitful, and with almost every variety of soil and climate, and of unsurpassed fertility-an immense extent of forests yet unsubdued-I am rejoiced to say, that while our COMMERCE is whitening every sea, and our MANUFACTORIES are seated by every waterfall, the great and predominant influences of our AGRICULTURE will be felt in all time to temper and regulate the whole. I shall not be thought guilty of any undue eulogy in the reflections which have occurred to so many others than myself. I am willing to leave them with you, and leave you to the enjoyments of the life you are capable of appreciating-to the life for which we might gladly exchange cities, that Cowper well remarks, “God never made"-to the rural retreat, where it will be your own fault if plenty does not smile around; if true comfort, if refined enjoyment, if contentment and happiness are not realized in the calm hours, with nature for a companion to counsel you from her thousand varied forms: "For who the melodies of morn can tell, The poets in all ages have traced the charms of agriculture with touches of exquisite finish. They present us captivating and beautiful, yet not untrue, pictures of its genial labors, its dignity, its repose, and its The lowing herd, the sheep-fold's simple bell?" independence. The finest illustrations in Homer are taken from the husbandmen and Or, lest I should be reminded of a topogratheir pregnant fields. Hesiod is equally elo-phical blunder in commending you to the quent, when he touches upon rural life. charms of bubbling water-falls, mountains, Who could ever forget the graceful and and sheep-folds, even in this clime of the thrilling passages which abound everywhere sun and floral luxuriance, now that your in the pages of Virgil. harvests are ended, and you have reaped from your toils sufficient at least for gratitude to an all-bountiful Providence, I will dismiss you with the admonition and counsel of honest and inimitable old Thomas The Romans cherished agriculture as from the gods. Cincinnatus, Dentatus, Regulus, Fabricius, etc., were planters, and devoted their leisure from cares of state to the culture of the soil. The pleasure seats of the leading Romans were their country villas. Hardy independence, sterling patriotism, enthusiastic devotion to liberty and love of country, and all the noble propensities, will be found in the agricultural classes. The virtues, too, of these classes are most likely to be preserved throughout all vicissitudes, and they have ever been conspicuous. The Hon. Daniel Webster, in his speech at Boston, in 1820. contrasted strongly the morals of the farming and other interests, showing an amount of crime in the latter as twenty to one greater than in the former. In the preservation of health, true enjoyment and long life, the pursuits of agriculture have the great advantage. Cities hardly counterbalance these by their elegance, refinement, intelligence and luxury. Their frightful waste of life must be supplied from the cradles of the country. Physiologists tell us Tusser:* In harvest time, harvest folk, servants, and all, Once ended the harvest, let none be beguiled, Thus doing with alway such help as they can, Now look up to Godward-let tongue never cease, * In the address as delivered, there were several pages on the mechanic arts, &c., which we now omit. The Louisiana Agricultural Society is dead, but with the formation of the National Society at Washington will it not be revived by our planting citizens. The suggestion made by us in the address, that the Smithsonian Institute should pay tribute to agriculture seems likely to be adopted by Congress. Alabama.. .349049. .4435614.. 1236240. ..6323109. 658795. ..10848.. ..5002......72876 .64323224. .5125663.. Louisiana. *Texas.. Arkansas. Tennessee. Ohio. Michigan. Indiana. Mississippi....... .3444358. .7046061. ......639107.....14454669 ..16392748.. .7746879. .136385173. .6704444. .6767937......63057482......3965945.. 54547.. 214231 118435178....184596025....3266925537....151605147....4325652....559070....6391946 .77960....... .5079..... 8654.. 10635 1698261....10265180....21621482....30315719....543822711...100479150.....14188457 The County of Lavaca the rate reinduced in this aggregate. District of Columbia.. 21407497. 480226. 12816....764939 525.....7754.....28292 Connecticut.... New-Jersey. ..10071301...741636..15398362 65230.. ..8134... 35254319...10179045. .17154...56805218.. .3947...2860765...521581...1316933 .27941051....4052078....5465868...11984786. 73249....970738..1584252....620318 .74285...300901....487233..1026900....136494 16271454....2322155..159930613. 30080099. ...3820044...38950691.....423924...499691....990019..1142011....227379 1996809. ...66586....1075090.....998614....45131... 23247...135359......7828 28754048.... 2965697. .2311252.....164990...564429....657118...892701....246001 22446552....1503288.. .2719856.. .49960)...484293....559619..1072757....261482 10226373.. .89637.. ..4425349. .26878...178737....109897...161732.....95632 5926611. .178883......87916. ...66897....57596. ...131374...179332.....93548 .8893939.....656123...... 63179.....218936....65346....182595...285738....193832 .5688...55501196.. .758...2297403...202574...1492487 ....1044620. .58675591....8201311.. 59078695...13472742. .5641420....2866056. Indiana.. 52964363....5655014.. Illinois. Missouri. lowa... Wisconsin. .1928979....3414672. 1268.. California. Minnesota. .16725. Oregon... .2918. .30582. Utah. New-Mexico... ..10196371....60168...5057769 .2043283....74254...2359897 325.. 8467... 592141230..146533216..215312710..199739746..2468625..52518143..9219642..65781751 ...151731...104523...342865.....724...122387....9243811....2434454 ....70256....65265...248563.....344....56810....6977056....3196563 ..42147...208699...315045.....659....18853.......11871451....8729834 ...112385...106095...463995....46×8...600020....8071370....7088142 .18875.....1245....63994....1013....98298.....995670.....316508 .80....19099...229297...175118....4269...196874....6498119....5363277 .5623..3585059..3183955..1761950....9172...912047...79766094...49741413 .508015.....6492...878934...607268....1811...475242.. .9487210. 365756 .52172...165584..2193692...723389...25590...688714...39878418....2505034 .56.....8615....46574... .145....12714....1055398. Pennsylvania. Delaware. 65443.. Maryland .202993. District of Columbia. .3497. Virginia... 1813671.. North Carolina. .5095709. 95921 South Carolina. 4337469. 4583. ..4970 Georgia.. ...6986428. .11501.. 757226... .5475204. 3958. Florida. Alabama. Mississippi. Louisiana.. *Texas. Arkansas. Tennessee. Kentucky. Michigan.. Indiana. Illinois. Missouri. lowa. .788149......177. .59....12605. 175....40141 35....17150....1854239. .30088 2777716.. 2737....19427....52894.. 92....97183....8139585.....177681 ..213784 .998184....95343....16097...106160....8093...293120....9877868.. .201711....45483...149740...324940...14055.. 72864...12781535.. 624564 .157433...110795...184504...446089....2997...127494...12526543....1278225 ..332120...9631....23590...512527...10563....99451....7792499.....202122 ...6243....25093....52516.....8434.....420.....3848....2171188. 209840 879...209692....79878.....4823.....113....32142. .3633750. .400283 Utah... 60..... 1799... 332. ..150.. 705.. .1100,. ...150 .36980 .83309. .30898 New Mexico.. |