The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-11
THE REPUBLIC.
WASHINGTON:
TUESDAY MORNING. NoYEMBER II. ls5I.
colonel johnson and the virginia election.

attempting to regulate the affairs of the Gene
raj Government through the agency or the
Nashville Convention, has thought 1t his duty
to enlighten the citizens Of VIRGINIA in regard
to the approaching election of Governor, Lieu
tenant Governor, and Attorney General. With
this object his columns TEEN with assaults on
the Hon. G. w. SUMMERS, the distinguished
nominee of the WING party for the office of
| Governor.
We shall not undertake the defence of Mr..
| SUMMERS His reputation is too well esta-
bished to require any such office at our hands.
He is known throughout the nation for his sig
nal services to the country whilst he was In
! Congress- In his own State he has recently
acquired additional reputation by his brilliant
displays of eloquence and craftsmanship In the
convention which framed its new constitution.
The people of the Old Dominion, and especi-
ally Of the western portion of it, will not readi-
ly forget the debt of gratitude which they owe
to the distinguished champion of their rights
But we propose, for the benefit of our con-
temporary, to say few words in regard to
Colonel JOSEPH JOHNSON, the gentleman
whose claims the Union is so earnestly press
ing on the good people of Virginia.
The Union, we all know, processes to be a
great friend of our adopted population-part
ulary of the Irish; and it is equally vehement
in its adherence of the advocates of protec-
tive tariff. and of internal improvements by the
General Government.
Let us try the Unions favorite by these
standards Colonel JOHNSON has been long in
the councils of the nation; he is man of more
than sixty years of age, and, despite his OBJ
security as statesman, he has necessarily LETT
some traces of his opinions and public conduct
on the records of the country.
We all recolect the dreadful famine which
prevailed, in 1916, in IRELAND. 1t excited the
liveliest sympathy throughout our country.
We are indebted to that glorious but oppressed
island for much of our best population.
Every thing which touches the interests and
well-being of IRELAND, therefore, finds re-
sponsive chord in the American heart. Ac-
cordingly, when the appalling news of the
misery and starvation which devastated the En-
erald Isle reached this country, the whole peo
pie were deeply moved, and measures were at
tions were made by towns, cities, and individ-
uals to purchase food to be distributed amongst
the sufferers. But this did not satisfy the pub
lie sentiment 1t was thought the Government
should move in the matter, so as to give greater
dignity and efficiency and more national
character to this glorious manifestation of Amer
lean benevolence. Accordingly, Mr.. CRITTEN-
| e IL II n
prompted by the generous impulses of his truly
| Irish heart introduced bill, apPropriating five
| hundred thousand dollars for the relief of the
sufferers, into the Senate of the United States.
1t was promptly considered and passed by the
Senate and sent to the House of Representa-
| tives for its concurrence.
! Let us now see what became of it In that
| body. By reference to the jouInal Of the Rouse,
| ,,do- Io.o - Mock ISh7 EnnGH 49, mo
following entries Will be found:
THE bill from the Senate (No. Ils) entitled
AN act to provide relief for the suffering
| people of Ireland read first and second time.
"Mr. GEORGE w. JONES moved that it be laid
on the table; and the question being put, it
decided in the negative-yeas "a, nays s4."
The yeas and nays were recorded, and among
those in favor of the motion to lay on the table,
or, in OTHER WORDS, to DEFEAT the bill, will
be found those of JOSEPH JOHNSON and Shell
TON +. LEAKE, the candidates of the Union
for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Vir-
ginia
What say you, lrishmen, and descendants of
Irishmen, to such friendship as this2 On the
eve of elections, when your votes are wanted,
the Union and its Democratic friends swear
you are glorious people, and that they are your
best friends! But when the day of your adver-
sity comes-when your countrymen are starry
ing-when the whole nation is moved by feel
ings of Christian charity-these same men de-
ny you even crust of bread to save your
friends and countrymen from their horrd fate!
Nay, more; the Union and the Democratic par
ty are now calling on you to honor the men
JOHNSON and LEAKE-who turned deaf ear
to the pleadings of your suffering countryl
But this is not all the evidence Messrs |
JOHNSON and LEAKE having been defeated in
their attempt to strangle the bill, 1t was refer
red to the Committee of Ways and Means |
On the Sd day of March, lS47, Mr.. WIN
rHRoP, Of Boston, doubtless rejecting the will
it appears from the Journal, (page 1867 |
6 moved that the rules be suspended, for the |
purpose of enabling him to offer a resolution,
: instructng 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 negative-yeas 81, nays l02. Fortunately
the yeas and nays were again recorded, and
again we find the names of JosEPH Johnson
and SHELTON F. LEAKE recorded against the
claims of humanity and the cause of suffering
IRELAND!
We again commend these facts, transcribed,
word for word, from the official journal, to the
attention of our 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,