Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-02-19
Mr.. CIay's Speech in New orleans.


Mr. CLAY having been invited by the committee of ar
Engagements to attend the meeting took seat near the
Governor An enthusiastic, loud, and apparently unani-
nous call for him was made by the audience and slowly
rising rom hs seat he approached the foot Of the platform
and addressed the meeting nearly as follows
Mr. President and Feow-eitizeus IL hesitated 10 ae
eepi the Invitation which has brought me here's being
solourner and not member Of community dophiad
the proprey OF my presence and parucipaton IN the
ceedIngs Of this meeting and sppehended that my motive
might be misunderstood But-on ccnsut NJ nv pillow
and considering that the humanity of the object of TINS as
sembiy Il bounded BY latitude locality and ousbt n,
be eo-eKensve with the whole human fsaly-t seemed
10 me that all considerations Of fasdious d,cacy and Ell
queue should be waived and merged IN a generous and
magnsnlmols eJrt 10 The relief Of the su
ngs which lave excited feelings II should be mis-
conceived or iSrePresened the experience of long e
mas taught me- ihai the best msconcepon and
misrepresentation Is the fearless and faithful sbarga az
duly IN all the conditions OF lie which We may De placed
ana The best answer TO uaducOn and caluHny is con-
clous recutade and the appreciation OF own heart
Ma PREsIDENF-lf We ~ere to hear that large numbers
OF the inhabitants OF ASIA or Afnca, Australia or the
remoiesI parI Of the goDe, were daily DIVING with hn-
and tam'ne-no mater what their color W hat 81,
or what their civIzauoa-we should deeplv l,s, -:
condition. and be fresstsby prompted II possible % -;
nsae lher suherngs But Tie disiresses of snv
sueh esaA isgons that have summoned together on
nls occasion Ine appalling and hear-rend dsess-s
OF lre'nd and lrishmen form The object Of oar n,ss,
consultation Tbs, Ireland which has been in all The vi
ess-oes OF our national existence friend and has ever
extended 10 Us her warmes; sympahy-thcse Irisbnen
Wno' N eTe!y war IN which have been engaged ON
every battle from Quebec 10 Monterey have s,ooS
oy u.s. shoulder TO shoulder and shared all the pers and
fortunes Q! TIE conflict. lac implong appeal comes IN
US from the Ish nation, which Is so ident6ed with onr
own, as 10 Re almost part and parcel of ours hone o ~
OoIe ana hesh OF our nesh Nor is any ordinary case
OF human misery, few isolated cases OF death by s,
yanon, that we called upon 10 consider Famine -
stalking aboad throughout Ireland; whole towns connie.
counties human beings, ct every age and OF both sax
es-ai ais very moment starving IN danger Of starry
ing TO death tor bread OF al. the forms of dissolution f
human lite tie Pangs and agony OF that which proceeds
from famine are the most dreadful Ii one dies lighting
goiousy Tor his county, cheered IN his expiring
moments, BY the patriotic nature OF his sleF6ce He
knows that MS surviving relations and friends while Ia
men'ine his loss will be granhed and honored by his de-
Nouon 10 MS country Poets painters. scupors historians
will record DIS deeds c valor and perpeiuate his renon
II he dies by the sudden explosion OF the boilers OF steam
ooa ~ by storm al sea- death quiet and easy and soon
performs Its mission lew piercing shrieks are uttered
ne So - beneath the surface and oil Il still and Al AM R
death by staTvatIo1 slow lingering and e1crci,
ing From day 20 day the vreched victim feels bis flesh
o"lndnF rs speech sinking MS frlen6s falling around
him, and he finally expires IN horrible agony Bebos ,b
wreiehed lh moker-with hsgglrd looks and streaming
eyes-ner iamishcd children ehnging to her auered ga
menis, and gazing plteous!y IN her face begging for TODD
And the distracted husband and fatner Win n,5
cheeks standing BY, horror and despair depc,ed IN he
eounsnance-torured with the reflection hat he can afford
no suecor relief 10 the dearest objects Of his heart about
to be snatched forever from him by the mos, erue o. an
deans Ihsis no fancy picture bat. ara 10 credit
the terrible accounts which reach !om that theatre Of
In
deed no imagination can eOueeve-no tongue express
re pencil pant-the horrors the scenes which are there
daily exhibited
Ireland in respect to food s differently situated from, Ill
re countries OF the word. ASIA has her abundant suooy
o rice Africa, her dates vans and rice Eurspe her
bread OF wheat rye and OATS America, double resource
IN me sma grams ana never-fang and abundant sur
ply OF indian coTn-that great supporter OF animal life
Tor which We are not hs grateful enough TO bountiul
and merci!u Providence Bat the staple TODD Of ARE ars
81 DOOR leland Is the potato. sad when Il fails pnchihR
"a fmnaHua ~. f. a.
pensavns Of Providence that this crop has been bghed
the two last years and hence, the OF food and
this appeal TO the sympathy Of Amtean hearts. Shall II
be IN vain shall starving lfeliud-ihe young and the
0ddyug end children, stretch out their ha de TO
Us icr breed and ind reetl Will not this great CITY
the worlds sorshousc Of an eShausess supply oil kinds
OF food borne 90 It's oycfdliug by the Father
Of Waters. act on this occasion in worthy ia,
high desuy. and obcy the noble impulses OF the generous
hearts Of IT'S blessed inhabitants
We are commanded, BY the common Saviour Of Ireland
an1 Of us, 20 love another ourselves and on this
gc'ter with higher obligation, hang al the law and
prophets 3i ouT holy religion We know. that OF a the
iofns O humanity aud bencyoltuce, more accepta
bic IN the sight OF God. ihsu The practice OF charity. Let
us demonstrate our love, duty and gratitude TO
Him, BY bersl contribution The relief Of His suffering
Irish children.
Fei.Ow-eitrsns:-No ordinary purpose Aas brouzh, MS
iogetncr hs no political gathering. II 10 he'd BEEN
you would not have aere I have not come here
90 make speech Mlcu the heart s ui sud agiaied by
s own ceng and emotions the p1rasz ed tongue hnds Vt
icfance difficult Il is not icrvd eoquence not ri ded
words that Ireland nosds-but substantial food Let W
n'e TO the magnitude of the duty which before U.s. and
~ generous supply from the magnitude OF our means,
e'nee The senuusrc-s sod cordially pf our sympathy
and cgmmisstgauon.
a. ihe CONCLUSION o.. W. Cuys speech, one loud and
IS shout ot approval raised 10 which officers
aud audieacc participated.
NEw lNf-tvEyr ~ DEsrErcriov An ingenious me
ehan.c ot New Work, VT Gilbert Smith, has invented a
new and very powerful implement OF destruction In the
ieim cd Hsnt cannon, With rifle bore uhe sght
pieces, e.c. The bore is about inch ia 5ameter
art thty-sN inches 30 depth, end fsr thc operation
Of oadlus the piece 'u-nl pivot that the mu1-
f'e - raised snt rc beech dprssscd IL - mounted
on l.gh1 snuIage, from which DC be detached In
moment aud he whole weight Of run csrfass and one
hundred rounds ct balls and csur 49,. does not exceed
two hundred pounds The lsl are OF coniea E,rr, and
weigh i've aud the ehsrge ct powder necessary 20
secure 80 iu. range Of the gun one ounce.