Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-12-05

'1'Hp tIse Ooulu sNt llIt tuOIlIlOus anu WlChtu
selfshness and intolerance Of the British Gov
eminent in more glaring light we can't con-
ceive what it is.
Depopulation of Great Britain.
One of the most forcible passages in the re-
cent speech OF Archbishop HUcHEs, WAS that in
which he held up to execration the indifference
with which the depopulation of Ireland is re-
gardcd by tie English public Press. the fact
is certainly one of the graves, that can enlist
attention. The depopulaton Of any country,
because the people cannot live, isl rare occur
renee. And that 50 fertile a Country as Ireland
one capable OF being made 50 productive, and al.
ready 80 densely inhabited, should be swept clear
OF its nhabitants--that its eight or nine mi lions
OF people should fly from its shores as from cer-
tain death and leave it to another race is a fact
of dread significance. 1t indicates degree Of
suffering on the part of millions of peone
which words are inadequate to describe. Tue
Irish are distinguished, even above other people
Tor an enthusiastic love of their native land
and none but the most imperious reasons would
compel the great masses of them to quit it.
fetthey are leaving II at the rate Of a thousand
a-lay. This can only be, because they cannot
get living there. Tney cannot procure
enough from its soil 10 meet the burdens lad
upon them, aud sustain their own lives. Tn
fact that the temporary failure OF single crop
should destroy tens of thousands by absolute
siaruaiion shows how precarous are their
means OF life, and how small thing can cut off
their sold dependence.
Such an extremity Of calami'y would na,u-
rally excite deep sympathy, AM the depopula-
ton of Ireland ought therefore To be regarde as
one Of the saddles, tragedies which the earth has
witnessed. Yet it seems to be true, not only
that the prospect of the entire annhlarion of the
Irish as distinct race is regarded with ind tfti-
ence in England but Il a. English statesmen
have % Iked forward 20 it as desirable result.
A late number of The London Spectator con-
tains the following:
"lt is known that just before his death the la
men,ed Charles Butler was engag ed about a
plan ofemgration from Ireland the deliberate
aim OF which was TO repeat upon the Celtic race
nt that country what St. Patrick did to The frogs
ty"emoring the chole Of them to another land !;
and Sir Robert Peel, in lS49, though with ha
bi,ual WEAKNESS, he took care TO avoid prec
details whilst feeling the public pulse with re-
gard to a vast scheme of Mesion emigration,
yet sufficiently Indicated the agreement Of his
lte,cS Wh MoSe Of Mr.. Butler, with whom, in.
deed, it is also known that he had held svmpa.
thizing communcst on on the subject. T ier
idea was, that il Ireland could but be cleared OF
the Ce;., removed from misery in Ireland t.
comfort in America not only would the most
fertile portion OF the United Kingdom soon be
occupied by Scotch and English, and made to
yield a, perhaps ,crfold wealth, out that through
the same measure vi Roman Catholic enigra-
ton from Ireland to America, and of Proteslan,
emigration England and Scotland to Ireland
the religions war which has distracted Ireland
for centuries would inevitably and totally ex.
mir hold fhouubt for cln
thinkers TO entertain, still more for practical
statesmen to promulgate, however cautiously
but that ii waS founded on truth and reason ma,
be assumed when it's realization a. a fac
seems to be coming about without those aid.
from Parliament which Peel and Butler had in
view as means of expeditng the natural anC
; most beneficial process
These eminent men it seems sought to depop
ulate Ireland, to drive its inhabitants out o
the island, patty ts increase its productive
wealth. and partly to convert tito Professionalism
This may well be styled bold" project
but its bold ness does not seem to be It's mos
striking feature, 1t is unnatural and abhol.
rent to every just feeling OF humanity. State
men generally seek TO Improve the condition o
: the people whose interests are committed &c
their care. It's one OF the great objects OF ma
, tional existence, to soften the hardness OF ma
ture,-to remove obsIicles 10 human happiness
to render the earth more productive, and ir
all ways to make the great mass OF the people
happier and better. But the English policy
seems to have disregarded utterly all these con
sideratons. The welfare OF the people of Ire
, land was entirely a secondary matter The
great Thing was to make i, yield more revenue
and to make it protestant And 10 this design
every thing else was made to yield.