al wealth, and this
in one way, to wit, as agricultural laborers--and this is, perhaps, the
most useful purpose to which their labor can be applied. The effect of
slavery has not been to counteract the tendency to dispersion, which
seems epidemical among our countrymen, invited by the unbounded extent
of fertile and unexhausted soil, though it counteracts many of the evils
of dispersion. All the customary trades, professions and employments,
except the agricultural, require a condensed population for their
profitable exercise. The agriculturist who can command no labor but that
of his own hands, or that of his family, must remain comparatively poor
and rude. He who acquires wealth by the labor of slaves, has the means
of improvement for himself and his children. He may have a more extended
intercourse, and consequently means of information and refinement, and
may seek education for his children where it may be found. I say, what
is obviously true, that he has the _means_ of obtaining those
advantages; but I say nothing to palliate or excuse the conduct of him
who, having such means, neglects to avail himself of them.

I believe it to be true, that in consequence of our dispersion, though
individual wealth is acquired, the face of the country is less adorned
and improved by useful and ornamental public works, than in other
societies of more condensed population, where there is less wealth. But
this is an effect of that which constitutes perhaps our most conspicuous
advantage. Where population is condensed, they must have the evils of
condensed population, and among these is the difficulty of finding
profitable employment for capital. He who has accumulated even an
inconsiderable sum, is often puzzled to know what use to make of it.
Ingenuity is therefore tasked to cast about for every enterprise which
may afford a chance of profitable investment. Works useful and
ornamental to the country, are thus undertaken and accomplished, and
though the proprietors may fail of profit, the community no less
receives the benefit. Among us, there is no such difficulty. A safe and
profitable method of investment is offered to every one who has capital
to dispose of, which is further recommended to his feelings by the sense
of independence and the comparative leisure which the employment affords
to the proprietor engaged in it. It is for this reason that few of our
citizens engage in the pursuits of commerce. Though these may be more
pro