Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-04

Irish EmigYants.

Harmony Hall, on Tuesday, the 18th inst. for
the purpose OF promoting settlement oflrish
cmigrants,
ANDREW MORRIS, Chairman,
WILLIAM SAMPSON. Sec'v
Upon motion of Thomas Adds Emnit, the
Circular previously issued this subject,
was read ny the Secretary.
(CIRCULAR.)
" IS 4 sentiment long felt, and often express
Cd, that something should be undertaken on
behalf of The i:mgrants who lock 10 these
shores.
Without any fixed destination, they remain
III the sea ports, Nntii becoming victims of bad
counsel and bad example, they lose the pure
and honest energies with which they lett their
native land, and suffer worse than shipwreck
In their moral qualities
The government OF this great Republic is
well aware OF the advantages 10 be derived
from so great mass of laborious industry,
when useiplly directed and employed, and of
aiding to the nations strength, men whose at
idcbment To The institutions of tl,s country is
assured by so many ties. Bnt il IS in the order
OF things, That some OF the friends particular
IN the cOuutrymeu OF these emigrauts, who
have heen some time established and known,
should come forward 10 attest the necessi-
~, and To guarantees the solidity of the enter
prize.
II this has not been sooner done tits be.
cause every advance in social Improvement
must come in its season-lt IS The TiponcsS OF
ISs occasion, aud the voice OF the times, that
now spcaNs.
n has been remark ell, that ainong the lands
ROW open for sale and settlement, there
some tracts, particularly i'll the Illinois Terri
tory, where the Irish Emigrant, with the in
stru,nents % wtViI his hands are accustomed,
aud in a climate congcnial 10 his habits might
procure 10 himself immediate shelter and sub
s,stence; and in few years, be able 10 re
pay, with gratitude, tlIe benefits conferred on
bun.
We, whose names arc undersigned, have met
TO consult upOn The means OF promoting some
establishment that might be raiyng point
n o. pI fn Ilp "A
habit alton and Il home. We have thought 6i
no better way Than 10 address, by this Circn-
lor, the friends and well-wishcrs of ireland,
whose cooperation might give most weight 10
the measure and 10 submit, whether il might
not be advisable TO Join all orr efforts, and
petitiSn CoSgresS, early in The ensuing session,
for grant OF suitable Tract, upon credit
of fourteen or fifteen Years, subject TO such
conditions and notifications us the Govern
rient NAV see most fitting.
10 the Government would offer no de-
Ceptiyc, deluSVe or precarlOus motive, rather
chusng TO make its wisdom, hengnily aud pa
tiotiSm, The anchor of our hope.
We request OF you, it You approve Ofour
sentiments and OF our project, TO advance and
promote il by your best endeavOrs either by
forming organized associations, or by obtain
ing individual signatures TO a petition OF the
effect stated. We have not yet been able to
digest plan, and have rather chosen 10 make
tbis humble beginning IN hopes that we should
sOon receive additional light npon the subject
from the corr espOndence we solicit. We shall
nevertheless proceed to investigate the sub
Iect, and challenge the cooperation OF good
sud respectable men, and request of yOz 10 do
the same.
You viii please to address your answers,
and any future correspondence, TO MIR: James
siofhIt, No. -, Frankfort street, New-YOrk.
New York, Nov IL, 1917,
Thomas /1ddiy Emmett :JahH Hcyher
Dt~His KCarthy HIM. James WNeren
Jsss E E. 1 %siis, aestt. Ss casH
James MoDn.
Mr.. Emmett then stated that he had been re-
quested by the gentlemen who called this
meeting, to explain the objects for which it
GaN convened that it could not be necessary
in expatIate bSiore those he was now address
rng, on the situation of the reasantry aud far
merS IN ireland II was at present. oBe Of I'M
qualified misery, pnily occasioued BY their 10.
c.il expressions aud partly by the general Gala
iGitles OF Europe 1t compelled them To hy to
these shores ~ such numbers aud under the
prcNSure Of so great poverty, that the most &C.
tive individual bcnGVOleuee could neither
provide them with 4 sufficient present SuccOr,
nor procure tor them within aTeaSOiIabie time,
th3 mcaut Of permanent settlement The con.
ss4uenre was that many OF these unfortunate
stfarrCrs were totally lost TO this country, or
forced 5y want to become nOxiOns aud DANCE
IOus TO its cities, whose original dispositions
aud qualifications, II rightly directed aud en-
Iloyetl. would have made them valuable and
nseiui nicmbCrS Of the cOmmHAity. Besides,
the accounts transmitted back 10 Ireland Of
theiy disappOintmcnts and destitute situations,
deferred many who we're suffering at home tie
extreme Of wrctchedness, FROM cndcayoring
10 better their condition in tins more iOrtu-
nate and favored Idnd-to the political instl-
suDoHs OF winch they we're also most strongly
sttacked.
y very painful reflection on those circum-
starcrs iiad suggested 10 some gentlemen tlien
pusenl fhe hope lhat the general government
might be Induced by strong and usi;cd ap-
pllration 10 grant portion its unsettled
iaad on teriGs liberal ard hoHntifgl, so that an
asylum might bc formed for industrious and
epterprsing farmers, who would 81 idly fly
fToH flmine and persecution 10 spot where
HE .wcat Of their brows falling on fertile soil
would weld them rich harvest, for their own
SacGsits benefit aud where they might