—James A. Beard

This discussion of the social order of an agricultural republic is Taylor's most popular and influential work. It includes materials on the relation of agriculture to the American economy, on agriculture and politics, and on the enemies of the agrarian republic. Both statesman and farmer, Taylor is often considered the deepest thinker of all the early Virginians.

M. E. Bradford was Professor of English at the University of Dallas until his death in 1993.