Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1847-02-25
SUFFERING IRELAND-MR. CLAWS
SPEECH

SUI L EhlSO WILLIAMSBURG Ni,A1 >
SPEECH
We have the pleasure Of giving cur readers the il
lowing correct report # the appropriate and touching
marks made by Henry Clay at the town meeting
~ held in New Orleans, devise measures fjr the relief
Of the suffering poor Of Ireland
Mr.. Clay, having been invited by the committee Of ar
anqemehls 10 attend the meeting took seat near the
Governor. An enthusiastic. loud and APP arcrtly unan-
call for him made ty the audience and slowly
rising from his seat he apr achod The foot o the plat
rim and addressed tie meeting nearly as FLOWS:
Nh President and fclir- Ciii,ens-l h4saled to ac
cppt the invitation hah has brought me here; being
mere soJluncr and not ment Ell 81 this community
doubted the propcry # my presence and participation in
the proceedings Of this meeting, and appTehended that
my motive might tie misunderstood. But-on consult
ing my pill ". and considering that the humanity of the
object # this ass nbly bounded by latitude nor local
y and ought IL tra CucXtenSlyc with the whole human
family it seemed ~ Inc that all cons dcratiuns of as
td,ous del cacy and etiquette should be we'd and
merged in generous and maguanlmeus effort conlr-
butte IL the reefothe sallarugs which lave excited cur
feelings. II should he mis.onceyed rasfef resented
the experience o long life las taught me. that Tie best
response TO seonccpon and misrepresentation is the
caess and faithful discharge OF duty. in all the condi
ons Of life in which MY tie plared and the BE- an
swer to radueilon and calnmny, Is conscious recude
aud the appreciation If ones heart.
M President We were to hear that larre numbers
Of the nh iblanls of Asa OF Africa Aus raia or the
rcmutest part OF the globe. daily dying with hun
ger and amne-no matter hat their col r, what Their
religion, what their clyzation--vc should deeply
lament their condition, and be irres stiLy prompted If
ssibc,lo mitigate their suffering. Bur is not the dis
resses Of any such distant regions that have summoned
together tn sion. The aIual no and heart
rcndng dsrosss of lralnd aud rshmen form the object
If our present consultation.
That Ireland, which has been in all the ycsstules of
national existence, friend, and has ever extent
ed to Us her Warmest sympathy-thsa lrlshnen, VIII
IN every war IN which We have heen engaged. every
battle field. from tuebee 10 Monterey have stood by us
shoulder shoulder, and shared il all the pers aad for
uacs Of the conflict The mpI ring app, al GENES 10 Us
from the IRISH nation, which Is identified with our
to be almost part and parcel Of ours. bone Of our
bone and fl sh 4 eur sh. Nor Is any ordinary case
Of human inssry, few isolated Of death b,
Starvation. that called upon II consider Famae
is stalking abroad throughout Ireland whole tow MS coun
countless human beings. ofeYery age and of both
scxts-at his very moment satvi ng. or in danpar
of starving death for bread Ofa the forms of dss
luton Of h1man life. the plngs and agony OF that which
poce' dS from famine are the nos' dreadful II one dies
lighting q riolisly r lis country h. is cheercd in h $
Xp1ing moments. by The patriotic nature Of his sacrifice
lie knows thai his wing relations aud friends while
lamenng his less, Will be gratlod and h1nurcd by his
devoen to ms ceupuy Poets. PAINTERS. seulptors his
orianswl record his deeds Of yaur and perletuae h 5
rcnown Ifhe dies by the sudden explosion Of the b
cts OF steamboat or by storm at sea, death quiet and
easy. and soon per'rn.s lis mission. A few percinp
shens uttered he sinks beneath the surface and all
y.
lingering and oxcruciatng. From day Today the wretch
ed vctim feels his flesh dwindng. his speech snkinu
h friends falling arund him, and he finally expires in
horrible agony. Behold the wretched hsh mother " th
haggard looks and streaming eyes-her 'amished cbil
do1 clnGlpg to her tatercd garments. and razinu
pc1usly in her face begging fer fNd And see the dis
tracted husband and father, with pad checks standing
by, horror and despair depicted in his c1unienance-t
tured with the reflection that he afford no succcr or
relief to the dearest Of cts his heart about 10 be snatch
cd fr m m hN fl, "a
lhsls fancy pictures hut. if are to credit the ter
rlbe which reach us from that theatre fmsery
and wretchcdness, of daily occurrence Indeed no
imagination conceive-no tongue eXpress-no pcncil
pant-the horrors Of the which are there daily
exhibited.
Ireland, in respect to food differently situated from
all the countries Of the world Asa has her abundant
supply Of rice; Africa her dates yams and rice: Err ne
her bread Of wheat, rye and oats America double re
source IN the small grains, and failing supply of
Indian corn-that great supporter of animal lief r
winch we are not half grateful enough to bountil and
mercul Providence. But the staple food If aroc nars
OF poor Ireland Is the potato and when it fails pinchno
} want and famine follow 1t is among the ns,n,,be
dspcnsatcns OF Providence that the crop has been hrh
ed The last two years, and hence the priyat)n Of o1d
and tins appeal 10 the sympathy Of American harris
Shall be IN vain? Shall starving Ireand-thc yonnu
and The od-dying women and children stro,h out their
hands Ia Us for bread and fad no elel} Will NOT this
great city, the worI sioehouse ct an exans,less SIM
ply et all KINGS 4 food, borne To It's ovcrtl5iru ".
houses ny he dlherut aicrS, act ON this occasion in
manner worthy gifts high dosny and )tcy tie noble I'M
pulses o the generous hearts Of lis b s,ed inhaban,s2
We are commanded by the common Saviour of ireland
and oi MS, 10 love one another curse vc aud on his
together with cue higher obligation hang all tn lave and
prophets Of our holy religion. We know thai If all tho
i"rms OF humanity and honevocnce none is more acc,
table the SIGHT Of God than the practice of charity.
Let Us demonstrate our love, ,ur duty and o,,r
to Hun by literal contribution othe relief of lis sn
itrirg Irish children. ''' 'u'
Fellow i.izsns No ordinary purpose Las trough,
us together Tins Is no political gathering If it had
o'o0' you would not have seen me here / have moi
come here to make speech When the heart is flll
and agaiod by lis feeling emotions the por,lysJ
tongue finds uttemnce difficult II 5 mi taryJ ola
quonee' not guided wrds. that Ireland nceds-ut sub
Stnta TODD Let us rise TO the magnitude Of the dni
when Is before U.S. and by gener us supply frm The
MAGNITUDE Of our means. eynce the renu ,,ss and 49,
0'aH} ui"ur sympathy aud administration.
~ 'ne conrlas' ct Mr.. Clal'S speech onc loud and
unI"lnouS shout OF approval raised in winch ,tIirs
and audience participated. '''''0