Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1847-03-18
Speech of Mr.. Prent;Ss,

| Fcllo,o Citizens: It is no ordinary cause
which has brought together this vast as
semblage on the present occasion. We HAYS
met, not to prepare ourselves for political con
test, nor 10 celebrate the achievements Of those
gallant men who have planted our victorious
standards in the heart OF an eneMys county.
We have assembled not to respond to shouts OF
triumph from the West, but to answer the cry
Of want and suffering which comes from the
East. The old world 1t etch.s out her arm 9 to
th" now. The starving parsnt duplicates the
young and vigorous child for bread. There
lies upon the ether side of the wide Atlantic
4 beautiful island, famous in stony and in song
Its area Is not so great as that of the State VI
Louisiana. while its population ia almost hal
that Of the Union. It has given to the world
more than its share of genius and of greatness.
II has been prolific in statesmen, warriors and
poets. Its brave and generous sons have
fought successfully all battles but thir own
In wit and hunor it has no cqual-while its
harp, like its history. moves to tears by its
sweet but melancholy pathos Into thai fair
region God has seen fit to send the most terrible
OF all those fearful ministers who fulfil his
lnscrutable DEGREES The earth has failed to
give her incrcase-ths common mother
has forgotten her offspring, and hor breast
no longer affords them theis accusSomcn nour-
has seized nation with its slrangling grasp !;
aud unhappy Ireland in the sad woes of the
present. forget for moment the gloomy histo-
ry of the past. We have assembled, fellow
citizens. TO express our sincere sympathy for
the sutlerngs of our brethren, and TO unite in
efforts for their alienation This is one of
tn, Sc cases in which we may without impietv.
assume, as 1t were, the functions Of Providence
| Who knows but what one of the very objects
OF this great calamity is test the benevolence
| and worthlncss of Ms upon whom unlimited
! abundance has been shnwercd In the name,
then, of common humanity, invoke your aid
in behalf ut starving Ireland. HE who is able
| and will not give for such sacred purpose, is
not man, and has no right to wear the form
He should be sent back to Natures mint, and
relssued as cuuuteIieit on humanity, of Ma.
lures basrr tai.
Oh it is terrible. that in this beautiful world
which the coed God las gwen MS, and in which
there is plenty Tor us all, that men should die
"i starvation! In these DAYS, when improve.
| meht III agriculture and the mechanical arts
nave Tiadrnrlrd the pr0duCtr, n'Ss of labor;
when 1t IL manifest that the e nth produces
every year mnrc than s,ii'cie to otke AMI
iTed all her throngln1 millions, il is shame
| ana a disgrace that the word starvation has not
| long since became obsolete, OF only retained To
explain the dim legands Of barbaruus age
I You who have never been beyond the pre.
'incIs OF our own favored connlry--y"u, more
especially, who have always lived in this great
valley Of the MSSissppi--,he Cornucopia Of
the Worldwide ste e"eh day poured into the
la? of yonr city food sufficient to assuasc the
hnasir ct na'i"n can form hut an imperfect
idea at the horrors of iamlne--oi the terrur
which strikes mems souls whrn they CRY ia
| vain fI bread. When man dies If disease.
he alore endnrea the pam. Around his pillow
are gathered sympa hlzimS friends, who, il
they cannn, keep back the deadly m ssrnger,
cover his tncc and conceal the horrors Of his
vlsage as he d. Iivers his stern mandate.
Ia battle, III the tu,ness Of his price and
! ''rensth, iittle rocks tho soldier whrihpr the
! hlSSin@ bullet sing his gladden. ,e. uem, or the
cords OF life alc severed by he s'ymp steel Tut
nc who dies of hunger. wrcstlrs alone, day
| Attor day w}th his grim and unrrlonting enemy
he has no friends to cheer in the terrible con :
ltct-- or il he had friends how could he die of
hunser' lie has hot the hot blood ot lLe 50, >