Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-27
IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.


RELIEF FOR SUFFERING PEOPLE OF IRELAND.
Mr. CRfrrENDEN in pursuance of notice heretofore
given introduced bill provide relief for the suffering
people Of Ireland and Scotland.
The bill authorizes the President purchase such pov
sons he may deem suitable and proper, and the
be 70 the Government of Great Britain in the
name OF the United States and appopate $500 900 for the
purpose.
Mr.. O. accompanied the introduction Of his eh few
remarks. The whole world, he said, had he the Gala
nifty which bad fallen upon eand-of the scarcity and the
famine which prevailed there 1t purpose of his
recommend this subject with array of words The
Of the subject itself recommended to their sympahies The
calamity under which that people aborng
Of ordinary Il which resulted from
ideness folly their part. It of those dspen
saions of Providence to which all subject 1t
not necessary for him to describe the suerngs resulting from
such dspensaton II would be readily understood by every
1t might be asked, any business of ours
tempt relieve those suflerings Was any duty of
to interpose our charity He thought it was.
Mr.. O. referred to case in which an appropriation had
Teen made for the relief of the people Of Venezuela after the
Of earthquake which had deprived them of their
homes The bill appropang money for their relief had been
unanimously passed by Congress reference to the journals
would show that there had been division upon IT. lie ar
gued that the present stronger nasnuch as the
people of Ireland and Scotland connected with not
only by the ties of humanity but by those of kindred
We descended from the of those very people
who suffering. They almost and the same
highest Of duty and christians to contribute to
the relief of their dsesses And under other obi
ga IONS We had been blessed with country surprising
Utility and in the abundance which had been vouchsaed to
any other land upon the earth The very possession of that
abundance carried along with it the obligation TO dispense
according to the great law of humanity and it would be
strange indeed suppose that the constitution Of this country
had been fashioned and formed nterdct the Gov
eminent OF the United States the exercise of those feelings
charity demanded and exorted from the heart of individuals
would be- indeed strange to suppose that our const tu
ton had set itself up against the law of our religion against
the feelings and sentiments which had been cherished in
from birth against the high law nculcated by the King
Of Kings He had invited their attention the extremity Of
this distress, and of legislation for the relief Of sui
ering peopea not mpeous the present yet
which deemed proper for the Government to act
and he invoked their attention TO the duty which they owed
suffering humanity And there not other consdera
lions almost high and almost sacred those he had
iced What would be the influence of such act Could
they imagine any thing sublime than TO naton
the hour of famine, holding the hand which full Of
plenty to the suffering population of another nation The
hands of nations in all times past lad been red with each
others blood but it longer Governments f he
might be permitted to say SOY converted to Christianity
had learned that the great Of human hap
peace and kindness towards each other the
ce of that which bound them in bonds Of friend
ship and harmony, and which promised later that
war, if not altogether exngushed, should be at least less
frequent He could imagine nothing grateful to gen.
disposition than supply the wants of those who
naked and hungry We ought consider ourselves happy
having the Of aiiordng relief Our people I'M
bued with this feeling from end Of the country to the
other Wherever the intelligence of this great calamity had
gone, it had elected the strongest feelings osympathy The
ss a q @ a aad as
follow the public impulse. would be than
obedience that impulse than conformity the
desire Of their constituents, put their hand to this great
work, and to do what not in their power to do for
theirs but Individual efforts national He
would grant this relief unostentaeusy for of this
best done when done from feelings of sincerity He would
DO it in such way to give it the greatest possible effect
He would make the act national in its character He would
have this relief transported in national vessel under the
national flag be presented the British Government for
TIE relief of her suffering people. IL matter of great
public polcya policy that tended increase the ameniy
nations to soften their feelings and to advance that better,
and brighter, and enlightened civilization which
dawning upon the world. Il would be glorious spec
ace that Of national ship, her frownng decks longer
throwing destruction TO those who within her reach
but eghted with the richest cargo for the benefit of kin
dred peoean offering proceeding from the nobest feelings
Of generosity and humanity.
The bill having been read
Mr.. j. M CLAYTON moved that it be read a second and
third time and passed Mr. G. accompanied his motion with
remarks.
Mr. CASS sad one member Of this body he felt obig
ed the Senator from Kentucky for the motion he had sub
mtted and for the appropriate remarks with which he had
introduced it. He has Continued Mr.. CD expressed my
sentiments, but with eloquence peculiarly his While
physical unknown in country, the Angel of Death
striking down the furnishing population Of Europe and
recaly the suffering people Of Ireland The which
teach from that country indicate Of Distress in
and degree far exceeding any previous experience in
modern times 1t beyond the reach Of private chart
y. Its fountains drying up before the magnitude Of the
evil II is national calamity, and calls for national contr
buttons The starving millions have Egypt "whee they
go and buy corn that they may live and not de- From
granary of abundance let pour forth supplies. Ireland
has strong claims upon the sympathy of the United States
There few of citizens who have not Irish blood in
their veins That country has large portion Of the
emigans who have added numbers to population indus
try and enterprise TO capital and the other elements Of
power and prosperity which doing that mighty work. from
the Atlantic the Pacific that is already exciting the admit
ration OF the Old World, and will stimulate by its example the
exerions of the New Our population Of Irish descent have
fought the battles Of the country with much zeal and brave
ry any class Of citizens And from the Heights Of Aba
ham, where Montgomery FELL the walls of Monterey, their
blood has been poured like water in defence of liberty
We send Ireland, not indeed what she has sent
US her chdren-those cannot part Without food for
their relatives friends upon whom the hand of God is
heavily laid In petition presented yesterday by the Sena-
from New York suggestion which am gratled TO
find embodied in the bill reported by the Senator from Ken
ucky and which should be happy carried into cect
employ, in the transportation Of provisions such Of the
armed ships of the United States required for the
operations Of IL would be beautiful tribute to the adj
vancing spirit of the age The messenger Of death would
thus become messenger of life the agents Of destruction,
agents of preservation and eagle which has flown above
hem and carried arms the very coasts Of Ireland,
would thus become the signal of hope where has been the
signal OF defiance shall lend the bill my support with great
pleasure.
Mr. NILES said that he would not have entered into this
debate bad not the adoption OF this measure been urged with