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History of Orange County
Agriculture Society
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GENTLEMEN,---Agriculture is the most ancient and honorable occupation of man; and although our happiness, our liberties, the arts and sciences, and navigation, are in a great measure dependent on the resources of Agriculture for their existence; yet it is a lamentable fact, that under all these inducements, little pains and exertions have hitherto been bestowed, by men of opulence and science among us, on so important a subject. By their aid and attention, many great and valuable improvements might have been pointed out, and a vast deal of useless labor and unnecessary fatigue saved to the honest and plain farmer. Whether this neglect of inattention may be ascribed to prejudice or a mistaken opinion (too prevalent) that Agriculture is not so honorable a profession as law, physic, or mercantile pursuits, I am at a loss to say; but would those gentlemen candidly and fairly examine the errors of those mistaken prejudices, and the high estimation in which Agriculture was held by the ancient and polished nations of Greece and Rome; and also properly estimate the attention lately paid to it by some of the most eminent and enlightened men of the highly polished nations of France and England; and duly estimate the immense advantages those nations have received from their useful labors and improvements, they must, in my humble opinion, be convinced that no occupation is more honorable or beneficial to society than Agriculture; and that they could not give higher evidence of their patriotism and love of country, than by applying a small proportion of their wealth and talents to so important an object.
Again, gentlemen, if we view Agriculture in a political point of view, there is every inducement to give it encouragement in our county. Our form of government is a representative republic. Our representatives are mostly chosen by our free and independent farmers—not under the influence and control of ambitious landlords, as is the case in some other countries. There is therefore every security, that the owners of the soil will feel themselves more interested in selecting proper men to support the laws and constitution of their country, than any other class of citizens. The nature of their property being immovable, they become tied down to the enjoyment of it, and of course feel themselves wore immediately interested in having that enjoyment permanently preserved.
Domestic manufactures, gentlemen, is another branch well worthy of your care an attention: for by due attention to Agriculture and Domestic Manufactories, we shall find it our greatest security to preserve the enjoyment of the independence of our country. By Domestic Manufactures I mean chiefly those articles made in our respective families, and principally for their use. Their materials are chiefly from the produce of our farms, and the labor principally performed by those we are bound to support. By giving them, therefore, a judicious employment, the value of their labor becomes a neat gain; and that not to the individual only, but is of great importance in a national point of view. A due attention, therefore, to this important article is well worthy the attention of the Agricultural Society of this County in particular, and of the citizens at large.
I forbear, gentlemen, recommending to your particular attention manufactories on a larger scale. They are beyond our reach; and I have my doubts of their success, while laborers may be advantageously employed in agriculture, and until we have a much larger increase of population, and the wages of laborers much reduced. However, I have no doubt, whom the
proper time arrives for their establishment, the patriotism of our government will afford them every reasonable encouragement, and to that source more properly belongs.