Roberts Vaux, Secretary.
An Address delivered before the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture; at its Anniversary Meeting, January 18th, 1820. By William Tilghman, L. L. D.; chief justice of the State of Pennsylvania, and one of the Vice Presidents of the Society.
ADDRESS.
Gentlemen of the Agricultural Society.
When you did me the honour of requesting me to deliver this Address, you did not expect that I should enter into minute details of the process of Agriculture. Such an attempt might expose my own ignorance, but could not add to your information. The object of our Society is the promotion of Agriculture. Whatever conduces to this end, either immediately or even remotely, is worthy of our attention, and within the scope of our Association. In this view of the subject, I perceive so wide a range, that there is less difficulty in finding objects, than in making a proper selection. To call forth the exertions of the Society its zeal must be excited. But zeal is not to be excited, without a conviction of the importance of the cause in which we are engaged. May I be permitted then, to declare my conviction, that amidst the profusion of Societies with which the present age abounds, there is none more useful, or more dignified, than that for the promotion of Agriculture. Indeed, in point of utility, I might justly say that it precedes all others. Because, even if mankind could exist without Agriculture, yet they could exist only in a savage state, and in small numbers. The great command "increase and multiply," could not be obeyed. There could be nothing worthy the name of art, or science, or literature. When I cast my eye on the map of Pennsylvania, and view the vast quantity of excellent land, in the rude state in which nature formed it, I am struck with astonishment at the multitudes which throng our cities, struggling with hunger, cold, and disease. Nor is my wonder confined to the lower orders of society. For I see many of liberal education, and with the means of acquiring a competency in the country, wasting their lives in disgraceful idleness, or fruitless efforts to force their way through the crowds which block up every avenue to profit or preferment. The flood of commerce which set upon our shores during five and twenty years of war and disorder in Europe, has given to our cities a premature growth. In every branch of trade and commerce there are too many competitors. Labourers are too numerous. Every mechanic art, every liberal profession is overdone. Happy would it be for the city, and happy for the country, if any efforts of this Society could inspire a respect, and a taste, for an art in which no man need be ashamed to employ his faculties; for a condition, which after all, seems most congenial to the nature of man. It is a life, to which, at one time or other, we all aspire. For who is there, that amidst the eager pursuit of wealth or ambition, does not sometimes pause, and console himself with the fond, though often fallacious hope, of passing his latter days in the independence, the ease, the plenty, the safety, and the innocence of the country! In Pennsylvania, young men of education would have peculiar advantages in spreading themselves through the country, for it is a fact (and we are every day feeling the effects of it) that in no state in the union, is education so much confined to towns. There are many inhabitants of this city, who hold extensive tracts of land, which neither they nor their children have ever seen. This is a bad state of things. For, through ignorance of the quality, the situation, and value of their lands, these persons are sometimes a prey to speculators, and sometimes, erring on the contrary extreme, they conceive extravagant notions, and refuse to sell at a fair price. Hence Agriculture suffers—either the land remains a desert, or they are occupied by poor intruders, who knowing the instability of their title, are afraid to attempt any valuable improvement. These people, with few exceptions, lead a wretched life, and are apt to imbibe sentiments hostile to the proprietors of the soil, whom they consider as natural enemies. Could the parties but see each other, very different feelings might prevail. A little kindness and condescension on the part of the proprietor, might convert a discontented trespasser, into a useful tenant or purchaser. That this has happened in many instances, I know; which induces me to think, that were the trial made, it would happen in many more. Where large property of this kind, is in the hands of heads of families with several children, one or two of the sons might manage the estate to great advantage, by living on the spot. Agents are expensive, and often unfaithful. But one may confide in his own blood. Besides, the very circumstance of a well educated young man residing in any place, will naturally attract others of similar qualifications, to the same spot; and thus an agreeable society might be formed, and great encouragement afforded to the labouring poor of the neighbourhood. In this kind of policy, the state of New York has set us a good example. And the consequences of her conduct are obvious; a greater proportion of her lands is settled, and her unsettled lands, of equal quality, sell for a higher price than ours. Although the views of our society are not confined to the limits of the state, and our earnest wishes are for the prosperity of the whole, and every part of the union, yet it may be considered as our duty to direct our attention more particularly to Pennsylvania. We cannot be accused then of acting with ungenerous policy, if we endeavour to promote the settlement of our own lands in preference to those of our neighbours. We may, without impropriety, suggest all fair and honourable arguments, to convince the emigrants from the eastern states, and from Europe, that it is their interest to establish themselves here, rather than seek a residence in a distant country, to the west or the south. It is not my intention to enter deeply into this subject. It might be enough, to suggest to the Society, the utility of circulating good pamphlets, which have already been written, or may be written hereafter. But, one or two leading facts it may not be amiss to mention. The rich productions of the south, are not to be attained, but by men of considerable capital. The object is tempting, but when offered to the consideration of emigrants from Europe, or our sister states to the eastward, they will remember that the climate where rice, cotton, tobacco, indigo, and sugar flourish, is generally unfavourable to health; and that these articles are not to be cultivated to advantage, without slaves. They have therefore to engage in a new kind of life, opposed to the habits and principles in which they have been educated, and which, however flattering the outset, will probably terminate in an enfeebled body and discontented mind.
But the great class of emigrants, is that of people who have small capitals, and must seek their bread, by the labour of their own hands. To such persons, health is every thing. The languid eye of sickness dwells without pleasure, on the fairest prospects of nature. In vain is the fertile bottom, or the rich prairie, offered to the arm unnerved by disease. It is a notorious fact, that rich, low, level countries, are subject to fevers. They should therefore be shunned by those who are to live by their own labour. Another great inconvenience in those countries is, that they are badly supplied with water, either for drinking or machinery. If, indeed, the lands in the western region, were extremely cheap, and those in Pennsylvania at a price beyond the reach of a poor man, he must go to the west from necessity. But that is not the case,—our lands are believed to be as low priced, as those beyond the Ohio; and much more so, when there is taken into the calculation (as there ought to be) the expense of the journey. Another important circumstance in our favour, is a much better market for the sale of our productions, and the purchase of necessary articles. This is important at all times, but peculiarly in war, when the Mississippi, the only inlet or outlet of the whole western country, may be blockaded by a hostile fleet.
Let it not be supposed, that the interests of Agriculture and of Commerce are at variance. On the contrary, they are inseparable. Of this the Agriculturists of the United States have had good proof. No persons on earth have profited more by commerce. During the long wars of Europe, the staple productions of the middle states sold at double price, and those of the southern states were very high, both during the war and after. Those prices were produced, in part, by the influx of wealth, which occasioned an increased consumption at home, and in part by exportation to foreign countries, but principally by the latter. Both causes, however, sprang from commerce; and both, as long as commerce exists, will continue to operate in a greater or less degree. Indeed, if we could suppose a nation cut off from all intercourse with other nations, (that is, from all foreign commerce) that nation, though abounding in all the necessaries of life, would be barbarous, selfish, illiteral, and ignorant. Neither let us give way to the idea, that either agriculture, or commerce, are incompatible with domestic manufactures. Unwise laws, may injure either one or the other, by unjust preferences; but under proper regulations, they will aid, and invigorate each other. This is not the place for entering into a disquisition of the degree of encouragement which should be afforded by law, to manufactures. That important subject is before the national legislature, where it will no doubt, receive an impartial and mature consideration. But thus much may be said, with certainty; that it is the duty, as well as the interest, of all of us, to use our own, in preference to foreign manufactures, where they can be furnished on reasonable terms. It cannot be denied, that manufactures afford a sure market, for the productions of the neighbouring country; and as they are multiplied, in the same ratio, are the markets increased. And there is a peculiar advantage in markets of this kind, at a distance from navigable waters; that, the consumption being at home, the expense of carriage is saved. But, there is a kind of manufacture, domestic in the strictest sense, the benefit of which is inestimable, because while it adds to the stock of the family, it protects their morals.—I allude to spinning, weaving, and such things as are done by the hands of the husband, the wife, or the children, without leaving their home. It guards them against idleness, that child of folly, and parent of vice, and is often clear gain, as it occupies those hours which would have been passed in inaction. I am afraid, that in this kind of industry, we have rather degenerated. A very respectable gentleman, a member of the Society of Friends, informed me, that about the year 1764, he attended a meeting, in Chester county, near the borders of Maryland, and that most of his society in that neighbourhood, were clothed completely and handsomely in dress of their own manufacture. Were he to visit that meeting now, I doubt whether he would see his friends in the same kind of apparel. Yet meritorious examples are not wanting, even now, and I hope I shall be excused for mentioning one lately communicated to me. In the western part of Pennsylvania, on this side of the Alleghany river, lives a man, who, ten or twelve years ago, seated himself on a tract of land, to which he had no title, in the humble character of a squatter.[11] This man has converted a wilderness into a fine farm; and, with the assistance of an industrious wife, brought up a large family of children. He raises on his farm all the materials for clothing the family; and whatever they wear, of linen or woollen texture, excellent in their kinds, is spun, woven, and manufactured in the house. They also make their own sugar, from the maple; and their own leather; and purchase (or rather barter for) nothing but iron, and salt. Their farming utensils are chiefly homemade.—But what is more commendable than all (and perhaps the cause of all) very little whiskey or ardent spirits is drunk by any of them. To finish the picture, I have to add, that the proprietor of the land, with views, no less politic than liberal, has confirmed these good people in their title, on moderate terms—so that this little story contains a moral, from which, both settlers, and proprietors, may profit.
[11] A term in use, in New York and Pennsylvania, to denote a man who seats himself on land to which he has no title.
It has been apprehended by some, that the late fall in the price of land, and its productions, would damp the ardour of cultivators, and deter men of capital from employing their funds in the purchase of real property. This apprehension appears to be ill founded. If the profits of farming have been diminished, so likewise have the profits of all other business; so that there is no particular reason for withholding funds from an investment in land. We are in a state of distress, which I trust, will be but temporary; for the country has great resources, and sufficient knowledge to bring them into action. A stagnation of commerce was to be expected, on the cessation of the wars in Europe.[12] But this stagnation is not peculiar to America—she shares it in common with all the world—we have indeed, particular distress, arising from our own errors, on the subject of banks. An immoderate issue of bank paper, afforded an unhappy facility of borrowing. The money when borrowed, must be made use of in some way—many of the borrowers, having no good use for it, either trifled it away, in unnecessary expenses, or in the purchase of land, which soon rose, nominally, to twice its value. Such a state of things could not last long—the delusion is past. It is to be lamented, that many good people have been the victims of this infatuation; but we must comfort ourselves with the hope, that some good will result from it, if a cure is not attempted by rash and violent means. As a people, we had become too extravagant and too luxurious. The slow but sure progress of industry was despised. Every man was in haste to be rich, by some visionary project, dignified with the name of speculation. But we are now suffering for these follies, and by suffering, we shall be purified, and brought back to better habits. This will be a lasting good. Instead of desponding then, let us prosecute our business with increased vigour and economy, and we shall soon find, that although we have fewer paper dollars, we have more real wealth, and what is of much greater importance, better morals, and of course more happiness. A large capital is at present locked up, because the owners are in doubt how to employ it. When business shall flow in decided channels, this capital will be brought into activity. It is almost certain, that neither commerce, nor bank stock will be as profitable as they have been; so that there is a strong probability of an investment of a large capital, in real estate, which, after all, possesses a stability unknown to any other kind of property.