The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-06-15
WASHINGTON, d. C.
FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE Is, is4s.
THE CONDITION Of IRELAND.
Address to the Public.
From the Relief Association Of the Sociei

Address to the Public.
From The Relief Association Of the Society
Of Friends in Ireland.
In reviewing our proceedings for the two
years and half which have elapsed since
the formation Of this association, and in con-
templating the present unhappy condition Of
our country, the conviction is painfully forced
on US, that the public bounty distributed
through us, as well as the relief afforded from
other sources, whatever may have been their
value in afording temporary alienation Of
widespread misery, have produced scarcely
any permanently useful result.
Our original circular appealed to our
brethren in religious profession in this coun-
try and in Great Britain. II was responded
TO, not merely by those to whom it was ad-
dressed, hut by many unconnected with our
religious society in these countries, and also
by the citizens Of the United States, to an
extent and with a muniicence unparalleled
in the history Of benevolent exertions. The
contributions con6ded to US, in money, food,
and clothing, amounted TO about f2OO, 900,
Of which more than one-half was sent from
America.
The means placed at our disposal have in
deed been large We have felt the respon-
slbilty thus imposed on US, and our best ex-
ertions have been given fol their judicious
application. Several Of our members have
from time to time visited the more distressed
parts Of the South and West, in order, by
obtaining fuller knowledge of their condi-
ton, to be enabled the better to administer
to their relief. We sought for and obtained
the cooperation Of benevolent persons in all
parts Of the country. Wherever it appeared
judicious to form local committees, we en-
deavored to work through such means; but
in the great number Of cases in which the
isolation Of the parties rendered united action
impracticable, we trusted to individual exer-
ton. In carrying out our objects, an extern
sive correspondence has been kept up. More
than 40 900 letters have been received or
written by the committee in Dublin, and a
proportionate number by auxiliary commit
tees in the country. We have also been
brought into personal communication with
men Of all ranks and all classes, whether So
Letting our assistance on behalf Of the poor
around them, or engaged in similar endeav-
ors to alleviate the prevalent distress.
Gratuitous issues Of food have been made
to the value Of Gl3O, 600; clothing has
been distributed exceeding 100000 in val
ne; and grants Of money have been made
to the amount Of 100000. The total num-
Der Of grants has exceeded eleven thousand.
Feeling the demoralizing tendency Of such
extensive alms-giving, we have endeavored
to encourage industry. We have made
grants in aid of local manufactures have
supported Industrial schools-havc advanced
money in loans for the assistance Of fisheries,
and in few cases with highly crafty
ing results. In order to encourage the cul-
ture of green crops, which might prove
some substitute for the potato, we have dis
tributed nearly 200, 900 lbs. weight Of tur-
nip, carrot, parsnip, cabbage, and other such
seeds; and we also undertook the Temporal
ry cultivation Of about 800 state acres Of
land in green crops, by spade labor.
But the contributions entrusted to us have
borne but small proportion to the whole
expenditure for the relief Of the country
Money has been expended to an unprece-
dented amount, The British Relief Associ-
alton dispensed about 100000. The dis
tribution by other relefassociations may be
estimated at fully 100000. The collec-
tons by local committees in Ireland exceed
ed 100000 II we add to these the num-
berless contributions Of private benevolence
and the remttances from emigrants for the
relief of their friends at home, the aggregate
may be safely estimated at 81 800 900 ster-
ling The advances by government were
on most gigantic scale, amounting to near
ly ten millions sterling
From these various sources large amount
Of relief was afforded at period Of great dis
tress, and many persons were preserved, for
time at least, from that starvation which,
without such assistance, appeared inevitable
But we are saddened by the conviction that,
with very few exceptions, no permanent
good has been done. We feel the condition
Of our country is not improved, that her pro-
spects are even worse, because her peo-
pie have less hope. Many Of those who
were most active in administering to the re-
lief Of their neighbors, have fallen victims TO
exertions Of mind and body beyond their ca
pability to sustain Others have Withdrawn
from the work, in despair of effecting any
good. The pressure OF private affairs, and,
IN many cases, OF pecuniary difficulty, has
forced others to discontinue their efforts
Thus, voluntary exertons have almost ceased,
and even for the administration Of the legal
relief, paid agents are necessary throughout
large part Of the country.
The calamity fell first on the lowest class,
especially the laboring population Of the
South and West In losing their crop of
potatoes they lost all, and sunk at once into
helpless. and hopeless pauperism. The small
farmers still preserved hope. With great
exertions, and submitting in many cases to
extreme privations, they again cropped their
ground. A second failure of the potatoes
psuperized these also. Then came the in
creased poor-rates, heaviest in those districts
which were least able to bear them; weigh
ing down many who, without thi. last bur-