Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-17


ken from the Journal Of Congress. are pre-
sented in the following condensed form, by
the Washington Repabiic
Colonel johnson and the Virgin
in Election.
Our friend ofthe Union, not content with
attempting to regulate the affairs OF the
General Government through the agency
Of the Nashville Convention, has thought
il his duty to enlighten the citizens Of vIR-
GINA in regard to the approaching cleo
ton of Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
and Attorney General. With this object
his columnsieem with assaults on the Hon.
G. w. SUMMERS. the distinguished nomi.
nee of the WING party for the Office oil
Governor.
We shall not undertake the defence Of
Mr.. SUMMERS. His reputation is too
well established to require any such office
at our hands. He is known throughout
the nation for his signal services to the
country whilst he was in Congress. In
his own State he has recently acquired ad-
di,ional reputation by his brilliant displays
of cloqucncc and craftsmanship in the con-
vention which framed its new constitution.
The people Of the Old Dominion. and es-
pccially Of the western portion of 1t, will
not readily forget the deb; of gratitude
which they owe to the distinguished cham
pion Of their rights.
But we propose, for the benefit of our
contemporary, to say few words in re-
gard to Colonel JosErn JOHNSON, the gen
tleman whose claims the Union is so earn
esily pressing on the good people Of Nir-
GINA.
The Union, we all know, processes to be
a great friend Of our adopted population
particularly of the Irish and it is equally
vehement in its adherence Of the advocates
of protective tariff, and of internal i'm
provements by the General Government
Let us try the Cnion's favorite by these
standards. Col. JOHNSON has been long il
the councils Of the nation; he is a man o.
more than sixty years of age, and, despite
his obscurty as a statesman, he has neces
sarily left some traces Of his opinions anc
public conduct on the records Of the coun
try.
We all recollect the dreadful famine
which prevailed, in 1916. in ireland. Il
excited the liveliest sympathy throughout
our country. We are indebted to that glo
iious but oppressed island for much Of oul
best population. Every thing which
touches the interests and wel-being o
IRELAND, therefore, finds responsive
chord in the American heart. According
ly, when the appalling news of the misery
and starvation which devastated the En-
erald Isle reached this country, the Who'll,
people were deeply moved, and measures
were at once adopted for their relief. Lib
eral contributions were made by towns
cities, and individuals, to purchase fooo
to be distributed amongst the sufferers
But this did not satisfy the public senti
ment. 1t was thought the Government
should move in the matter, so as 10 Civ,
greater dignity and efficiency and more
national character to this glorious NANTES
tation of American benevolence. Ac
cordinglv, Mr.. CRITTENDEN, one of tn,
Senators from KENTUCKY, prompted BY
the generous impulses of his truly IrisI
heart, introduced bill, appropriatlng fiv'
hundred thousand dollars for the relief o
the sufferers, into the Senate of the Unitet
States. 1t was promptly considered ant
passed by the Senate. and sent to the Hous
of Representatives for It's concurrence.
Let US now see what became of it ii
that body. By reference to the journal o
the House, unner date of March !, 1S47
(page 452,) the following entries will b,
found /:
"The bill from the Senate (No. 1lS) ell
titled IAN act to provide some relief 70
the suffering people of Ireland was rea,
a first and second time.
"Mr GEORGE w. JONES moved that i
be laid on the table and the question being
put, it was decided in the negative-yea
IA, nays ST."
The yeas and nays were recorded, and
among those in favor of the motion to lay
on the table,or, IN OTHER WORDS, TO DE
FEAT the bill, will be found those Of 10
sEPm JOHNSON and SHELTON +. LEAKE
the candidates for the Union for Governor
and Lieutenant Governor Of Virginia!
What say you, Itishmen, and descen-
hdHtS VI IiIoHIHtiis W ohC'i nc
this! On the eve of elections, when youl
votes are wanted, the Union and its De
mocratic friends swear you are a glorious
people, and that they are your best friends!
But when the day your adversely comes
when your countrymen are starving
when the whole nation is moved by feel.
ings of Christian charity-these same men
deny you even a crust of bread to save
your friends and countrymen from the hor-
rid fate! Nay, more; the Union and the
Democratic party are now calling on you
to honor the men-JoHNsoN and LEAKE
who turned a deaf ear TO the pleadIngs
of your suffering country!
But this is not all the evidence. Mcssrs
JOHNSON and LEAKE having been defeat
ed in their attempt to strange the bill, ii
was referred to the Committee of Ways
and Means. On the Sd day Of March
1S47, Mr.. WINTHROP, of Boston, doubtless
rejecting the will of his enlightened and
generous constituents, it appears from the
Journal, (page 1866 ''moved that the rules
be suspended, for the purpose of enabling
him to offer resolution, instructlng the
Committee of Ways and Means to report
forthwith to the House the bill from
the Senate for the relief of ireland. =
And the question being put, it was decided
in the ne gative--yeas 81, nays l02. For
tunately the yeas and nays were again re-
corded, and again we find the names of
JOSEPH JOHNSON aud SHELTON L. LEAKE
recorded against the claims Of humanity
and the cause Of suffering IRELAND!
We again commend these facts, trans
cribed, word for word, from the official
journal, to the attention OF four Irish fellow
citizens, who are now sought to be gulled
into the support Of JOHNSON and LEAKE,
the men who, in the hour Of adversely,
were opposed to IRELAND. Acts speak
louder than words. Believe not, then, the
Aatterin no words ofdpnapooues who would