Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-11
Relief for the destitute sufferers
I'm Great Britain and Ireland.

The meeting Of the citizens Of this town for
the object above mentioned took place agreea-
bly, to the notice in our paper, of the 25th ult.,
on Monday, the Ist inst. at 3 p. M. at the Town
Hall, and afterwards by adjournment on We'd
nesday evening, the Sd inst, at the State
House. The Hon. ROBERT b. CRAssToS, was
appointed Chairman, and C. E. Robbins, Esq,
Secretary. A few preliminary remarks having
been made by the chairman, as to the objects
and urgency of the meeting, the following
preamble and resolutions, presented by Mr.
Robbins, with an amendment suggested by Mr.
Ennis, as to the recommendation of contribu.
tions in the churches, were unanimously
adopted.
Information having reached this country,
that great and unparalleled distress prevails in
the west of Ireland, and in the Scottish High
lands, in consequence of the almost entire fail.
ure of the crop upon which the poorer classes
in those districts subsist and a strong and
generous sympathy being manifested by the
people of the United States for the unprecede mt.
ed suffering which has already attended so
calamitous afailurc-the citizens OF NEWPORT,
Rhode Island, assembled in general meeting,
with view to take into consideration the mea.
sures Of relief, which, in common with their
fellow countrymen, an exigency so painful has
imposed upon them, unanimously adopt the
following
Resolutions.
Rrsoircd, that we feel the strongest com.
misse ration and sympathy for thep eople of Ire.
land and Scotland, who have been called To-
suffer and perish by "that plague Of hunger"
which, in the language Of their most eloquent
statesman, sis of all the calamities which beset
and waylay the life Of man, that which comes
nearest to our heart, and wherein the proudest
of us all feels himself to be nothing more than
he is" ..
Resoired, that while the efforts of the Gov.
ernment Of Great Britain, and Of numerous
benevolent associations and individuals in shat
Kingdom, to stay the famine and pestilence,
which waste at MONDAY are measurably cffec-
tive, and worthy the highest rommendation and
respect,-such Is the magnitude and extent of
the infection by those terrible scourges, as to
call for the joint cooperation of the benevolent
in this, and other friendly lands, effectually to
check them, and to rescue the remnant Of the
impoverished population from the miserable
fate which has already overtaken so many of
their unhappy brethren in the districts ofcoun-
try thus scourged aud desoated.
RESOLVED, that inheriting our free institutions,
our language, our literature, and the preccpts
of our holy religion, from the various and in
tcrmingled races, which people the British
Isles, we feel for those reasons a liveler intc-
rest in whatever befas them, aud deem, that
III extending to them, in an emergency like the1
present, the hand of commiserati and relief
we render n tribute no less to the claims of hu.
manity, than to the nearer and more cherished
ties which bind us to men of common blood
from which we claim our descent.
Resoired, that to carry into effect the be-
nevolent object and inte entions of the citizens
here assembled towards their suffering brethren
in Ireland and Scotland, it is expedient that a
committee Of thirty members (six from each
ward) be appointed, for the purpose of superin.
tending and receiving such collections rs il
may be proper to take up in this town, for the
object before mentioned, with authority to de.
termine the medium for transmitting the same
or their proceeds, and the persons, or societies,
to whom the means of relief can be most suita.
bly, committed.
Resoieed, that the committee, for the purpo-
ses indicated in the preceding resolution, be
selected by the Chairman, and upon receiving
their appointment, be requested to proceed toI
the execution Of their duties forthwith.
Resolped, that it be recommended to said
COHi1ttuee, III tney buHI ueeuh "
pedient, TO invite the Reverend Clergy Of this
town, who have not already addressed their
churches and congregations on the proprety
of affording relief to the destitute sufferers Of
Ireland and Scotland, and taken up collections
with view to that object, to act in reference
to those subjects, on such day as shall be most
convenient TO them, and to confer with the
committee as to the best mode Of investing
and forwarding the amounts so colle:ted
Before the vote was taken on the pre-
ceding resolutions, the meeting was ably
and eloquently addressed by William En-
mis-, Esq Vim. II. Cranston. Esq, Rev.
Mr.. Brooks, and DR.. David King.
The following additional resolution was
then offered by DR.. King, and adopted
Resoiped, that the committee appointed by
this meeting be requested TO make public the
amount Of contributions from this place, and
the manner in which il has been transmitted to
Ireland and Scotland.
The meeting was then adjourned.
r. B. CRANSTON, Chairman.
c. E. ROBBINS, Secretary.
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