The invitation under which I now speak,
having been given and accepted this evening, I have no power to do
more than to offer you desultory remarks on such subjects as my visit
to the Fair have suggested, and which may occur to me as I progress.
With great pleasure I have witnessed evidences of much attention and
deep interest in agriculture. It is the basis of all wealth. It is the
producer--brings all new contributions to the general store. The
mechanic arts are essential to its success, and they serve by changing
the form, to multiply the value of agricultural products. And commerce
too, by exchanging the products of individuals and of countries,
enhances the value of labor, and increases the comfort of man. They
are all essential to each other. I have no disposition to magnify or
depreciate either, but my proposition is, that the soil is the source
from which human wealth springs. In addition to these pursuits,
society requires what are termed liberal professions. They are not
producers, though they may contribute, by diffusing knowledge, to
increase production. They may be necessary to give security to
property and to take care of some physical wants. For instance you
have lawyers and doctors; and the less need you have of them the
better; for though necessary, like government, it is evil which makes
them so.
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