New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-11-01
WASHINGTON HUNT,
And the g Bill for the Relief of Irelani

WAsH1sGroN HuNT, in T ebruary, 1871. Some OF
them are trying to make it appear that Mr. Hunt
had no part in getting up that bill Others are try
ing to make it appear that it was unconstitutional.
Under these circumstances have thought it my
duty to give brief history Of the movement, with
some comments of my own. was an interested
spectator, but am sure my friends will believe
what say. believe zoo, that the conductof Mr..
Hunt meets the warm approval not only OF the
Naturalized citizens but Of the great mass Of the
Native born citizens of the United States, who
would have reioiced to see so great q measure re
corded among the acts Of the Nineteenth century
Immediately after the large meeting held IN
Washington to sympathise with and devise means
for the relief of the suffering people of Ireland at
which Vice PresidentDallas presided, and at which
Mr. Webster and other Senators and Members oil
the House of Representatives appeared and made
speeches, Washington Hunt proposed, in the be-
neyolence of his heart, that something should be
done beside empty talk for the relief OF Ireland
He had heard hollowhea demagogues speak
by the hour before election days to prove their
love for ireland but here the people OF Ireland
were diving by thousands and Washington Hunt
thought acts were better than words tie accord
ingIy drew upsand offered his bill OF the course
Of that bill in Congress ! will speak as lind 1t
reported in the Congressional GI04e, Which Is
published by parties always in opposition to the
Wbigs-Blair and Rives Editors and organs tor
Andrew jackson. 1t is the Congressional GI01e
of the Second Session of the Twenty.ninth Con-
gress. and may be found in almost any public Ii
brarv, where the truth of what l state can be
easily found and proved by record,
choose to take this as my reference though
remember the facts too wildly ever to forget them
watched every movement and neglected my
own business to plead both with Wings and
Loco Focos. to pass the bill, that the world might
rise up and bless the nation doing such a deed.
February g. 1871 Washington Hunt in the
House of Representatives, gave notice that he
would ask leave, at future day to introduce
bill for the relief of Ireland C0ngrtSsl0nal
Globe, page 800
February 10, the next day, Mr. ". Hunt. On
leave given, and in pursuance Of previous notice,
introduced bill for the relief of Ireland. The
bill appropriated the sum of. frehundred thoHsand
dollars 1t was read twice and referred to the
Committee of the Whole and ordered to be print
ed. Page 371
In the Committee of the Whole the bill slept
the sleep of death Again and again Mr.. Hunt
appealed to the House to take it up and give
vote on it but all in vain The House had
Loco oco majority of 60 or 10 and refused to let
the bill be taken up.
February &C. we find the following record;
"Mr. Washington Hunt made a strong effort to
get up his bill for the relief of Ireland, 6Ht the
House refused" Congressional Glo5e, page Oil
That for two weeks almost every day w ash
ington Hunt plead with that Loco-Foco House
to let the bill come up but to no purpose. The
hopes of the friends of Ireland in this quarter
were crushed so they turned their attention to the
Senate where it is ester to get any subject taken
up than in the House
Accordingly, on the oath day of February, just
one fortnight after Mr.. Hunt had offered it in the
House MIR. Crittendcn, then a Senator from Ken
lucky, and now Mr. Fillmores Attorney-General,
gave notice that he would submit to the Senate
bill similar to that Of Mr.. Hunt in the House
Congressional Globe page 494
February 20. Mr. Crittenden introduced his bill
into the Senate, and made an eloquent speech
showing that this bill was almost word for word
with the one passed in 1872 for the relief Of the
people of Venezuela suffering from the effects OF
an earthquake, which was signed by Madison,
then President of the United States, who had been
the leading man in framing the Constitution of the
United States, and should surely have understood
what was, or what was not constitutional. This
Venezuelan bill was voted for by John C. Cal
houn, Richard NJ. Johnson, John Randolph, aud
others, then members of the House, and passed
the Senate without opposition yet the Loco Foco
presses now say that it was unconstitutional
1t was approved by Madison, May 8th, 1872. Mr..
Crittenden urged that common brotherhood
with the people of Ireland made it more fit that
We should relieve the people of Ireland than the
people of Venezuela. He argued that it was con
stitutional. To argue that it was not, exclaimed
he, g would be to suppose that the Constitution
was set up in opposition to the spirit of ourre
igion, and to repeal that high law Of Heaven-the
law OF the King Of Kings.
MIR. John NJ. Clayton, then Senator from Della.
ware, and recently Gen. Tayors Secretary OF
State, sustained the BILL and moved that it beread
the third time, and passed the same dav He read
the resolutions of his State, calling upon govern.
ment to pass such bill as that proposed He
also showed that no objections were made in vot-
ing presents to La Fayette though it was Just as
unconstitutional to vote them to him as to Ireland
Mr. Cass of Michigan, followed in speech in
its favor This speech was published in all the
Loco.Foco papers when Cass was running for
President Now these same Cass papers say
that it was unconstitutional They praised him
then for doing what they now declare violation
OF the Constitution =
Mr. Bagby, Loco-Foco Senator from Alabama,
objected to Mr.. Claytons proposition to have it
read third time that day, so it was showed aside
for another day
The next day, Feb 81, was Saturday, and Con
gress was to adjourn, as their term expired, on
IL