The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-03-02
THE RELIEF OF SUFFERERS IN
IRELAND.

AlA11LLCA4sOs
At a public meeting held in the city Of
Philadelphia, on Wednesday evening last,
to consider of the means of affording re-
lief to the individual sufferers in Ireland
by the dearth of the usual crops of that
country several gentlemen spoke eloquent
ly and appropriately. Our attention was
arrested, in reading the report of the pro-
ceedings, by the name of HORACE Bin
NEY, long distinguished equally in public
and private life by political integrity and
true American principles, whose voice is
now seldom heard in public. Our read
ers, we cannot doubt will be pleased to
hear what a citizen of his mark had to
say on this occasion. We copy his re-
marks, therefore, as we find them report
ed in the "North American" as follows:
Mr.. Chandler having spoken with much
applause, was succeeded by
Horace BINNEy, Esq, who was re-
ceived with marked appreciation. He
came, he said, to speak a few words in
furtherance of the purpose of the meeting,
not merely to testify his w good will,
but to offer suggestions to demonstrate
the necessity of a great and combined ac-
ton to correct and alleviate the distress Of
the suffering country.
1t had been remarked by the previous
speakers that meetings for the purposes
of b%enevolence are not unlrequent among
us. They are not. Nor are the appeals
to the community and their sympathies
made in vain, for prompt and cheerful aid
is always extended. But he desired to
speak of another class of meeting. and to
contrast them with this, in order to see
how their character and partial views do
in some respects serve to misrepresent a
broad the character of our country
Town meetings generally represent us as
a divided people, with separate action and
hostile feelings. Some are political, some
general, some local, and in consequence
those who know us as divided and disuni-
ted, are busy in provoking opposition and
in offices OF ill-will.
Such a meeting as this is a practical ref
utatien. At bottom, fundamentally, we
are a united people; and so, if divided up
OH the great principles Of ~benevolence by
which man can come TO man, and men to
men, when necessity gives occasion. We
are here assembled in the spirit Of the
Apostles saying-'Considering one ano-
ther, and to provoke one another to good
works."
This was not the first movement for the
relief of Ireland, for others had been en-
gagged in the good work of relief of suf-
fering Ireland. But this meeting, he UNI
ders'oOd, was TO second the effort begun
at Washington, for the purpose of produ-
cling a great national and universal move
ment in her behalf; for a common and
united effort, upon the principle that if
you give it will be of no good-if many
give it will be of only partial beneit-but
if ALL give it will be a powerful means TO
alleviate the suffering. 1t was begun in
Washington, and continued here, and
would, he hoped, be propagated both to
and beyond the mountains, and into eve-
ry hamlet, village, town, and city, that ev-
cry n might enjoy the privilege of aid
ing to succor the distressed.
They must shut their ears who would
not have a knowledge of the details of
suffering. The winds Of the Atlantic will
be f~reighted for months to come. No ca
lamity so great had ever visited the civil
lIzed world, and he desired briefly TO
place before his auditors an idea of the ex-
tent, in order that they might be enabled
to measure the effort necessary to afford
relief.
A large portion of the Irish nation is de-
pendant on the potato crop. 1t is their
bread, their money; wages are often paid
with this article of food, and in some ca
SEES a portion of the forthcoming crop
stands so pledged. Dat meal is also a
national dependence; and, if these two
crops-potatoes and oats-(all, a million
and a half of people would at once be
struck with paralysis. With this state OF
affairs, let us inquire into the opinions OF
eminent English statesmen as to the pres
ent condition of Ireland. Mr.. Labou-
chere, in his reply to the Queens speech,
stated that having obtained accurate statis-
tics, with much trouble. and from high
authority, he was enabled to say that in
| Ireland 100000 acres of land were
pknted with the potato, the value of the
crop being 9l0 per acre, or abount gl5,-
600 1000. OF this crop, FIvE-stxTHs, or
the growth Of 100000 acres, is all lost,
and on the remaining sixth the crop is
poor and below the general average.
The oats crop is but three or four mil
lions in product, and the total loss in val
ne of food mounts to between gl5,O00,-
900 and gI6,000, 900 sterling.
Need we look for details Close your
eyes, if you would not have your heart
racked by the most painful spectacles in
our sister nation. There thew will be: