Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-03-13
Mn. CLAY's SPEECH AT NEW ORLEANS.

Mr.. CLAY, having been invited by the committee
of arrangements TO attend the late meeting in the
city of New Orleans to consider the case of the
suffering in Ireland, took seat near the Governor
OF the State, who was present. An enthusiastic,
loud, and apparently unanimous call for him was
made by the audience, and, slowly rising from his
seat he approached the foot of the platform and adj
dressed the meeting neany as follows:
Mr. President and Feiop-ciiizena hesitated accept
the invitation which has brought here. Being
sojourner and not membq of this community, doubted
the proprety Of my and participation in the proceed
ngs Of this meeting, and apehended that my motive might
be misunderstood. But, consulting my pillow and con-
sdeing that the humanity IF the object of this assembly is
bounded by latitude locality, and ought to be coexen-
sve with the whole human family, seemed to that all
considerations Of fasdous decacy and etiquette should be
waived and merged generous and magnanmous effort to
contribute the relief of the sucngs which have excited
eelngs If should be misconceived misrepresened,
the experience of long life has taught that the best
Spouse msconcepon and Misrepresentation the fearless
and faithful discharge of duty in all the conditions OF life in
which may be placed and the best answer to aducon
and caumny is ecttude and the appreciation of
ones own heart. ....
Mr. President we were to hear that large numbers of the
inhabitants of ASIA Africa, Australia, the remo'est
part of the GLOBE daily dying with hunger and famine
what their color what their religion what their
civzatonwe should deeply lament their condition. and be
rressby prompted if possible, to mitigate their suferngs
But is not the dssses Of any such distant regions that
have summoned together on this OCCASION The appalling
and distreses of Ireland and shmen form the
object of present consultation that Ireland which has
been all the vcssudes of national existence friend,
and has extended her sympathythose
Iishmen who every in which have been engaged,
every field from Quebec Monterey have stood by
u.s. shoulder shoulder and shared in all the pers and for
tunes of the conflict The mplorng appeal comes to US
from the Irish na,on which is identified with
be almost part and parcel Of ours bone of bone and
flesh of flesh Nor is any ordinary OF human mis-
cry, few isolated of death by starvation that
called upon consider Famine is stalking abroad through
out Ireland whole towns, countes-countless human be-
ng Of every age and Of both sexesat this moment
starving in danger of starving to death for bread Of all
the forms of dissolution of human life, the pang and agony
of that which proceeds from famine the dreadful
If dies fighting gorousy for his country, he is cheered
his expiring by the patriotic nature of his sacr
fcc He knows that his surviving relations and friends, while
amenng his loss will be gaed and honored by his devo-
ton his country. Poets, painters sculpors, historians
will record his deeds of vaor and perpetuae his renown If
he dies by the sudden explosion of the boilers of steamboat
by storm sea- death quiet and easy, and per-
forms its mission few piercing shrieks uttered he
sinks beneath the surface and all is still and silent But
death by starvation Slow lingering and excrucang
From day to day the wretched victim feels his flesh dwind
ling, his speech sinking his friends falling around him, and
he finally expires in horrible agony. Behold the wreched
Irish moher-with haggard looks and streaming eyes-her
amshed children cngns to her aered garments and
ing peouy In her face begging for food And sec the dis
racted husband and father with pad cheeks standing by,
horror and despair depicted in bis with
the reflection that he afford relief 10 the dear
objects OF his heart about be snatched forever from him
by the cruel of all deaths This fancy picture
IN the vyh
from that theatre of miseyand wretchedness of daily
occurrence. Indeed, imagination conceive-no tongue
pencil paint the horrors of the which
there daily exhibited.
Ireand in respect to food is differently situated from all the
countries Of the world Asia has her abundant supply of
Africa her dates yam and rice; Europe her bread Of wheat
rye, and oats America double in the small grains
and failing and abundant supply Of Indian co-ha
great supporter of animal life for which not half
grateful enough bounu and merciiul Providence. But
the staple food of large parts of poor Ireland is the potato and
when it fails pinchng and famine follow 1t among
the nscruable dpnsatons of Providence that the crop has
been bghtd the last two years. and hence the pvaon Of
food aud this appeal the sympathy of American hearts
Shall be vain Shall be starving Irelandhc young and the
lobbying and children, stretch out their hands
for bread, and find relief Will not this great city, the
worlds sorehouse of exhaussss supply Of all kinds Of
food borne its OVERLOOKING warehouses by the Father of
Waters, act this occasion in worthy of its high
destiny and obey the noble impulses OF the hearts Of
| its blessed inhabitants
We commanded by the Saviour of Ireland and
us to love another ourselves and this together
with higher obligation hang all the law and prophets OF
holy religion. We know that OF the forms Of humanity
and benevoence, none acceptable in the sight Of God
than the practice Of charity Let demonstrate love-
duty, and gratitude to Him, by liberal contribution
| to he relief Of his suffering Irish children.
Fellowc No ordinary purpose has brought to-
geher This is political gathering If had been, you
would not have here. have not here make
speech. When the heart is full and agtaed by its
feeling emotions the paayzed tongue finds uterance difficult
1t not ervid eoquencc, not gded words that Ireland needs
hut substantial food Let to the magnitude Of the duty
which before US, and by generous supply from the mag
ntude Of MEANS evince the genuneness and coday
our sympathy and commiseraon.
AT the conclusion Of Mr. Clay's Speech loud and
unanimous shout Of approvawas raise in which officers and
audience participated
FROM OREGON AND CALIFORNIA
The Tribune has letter from the city of Panama as late