Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-24

fan political eanrass in progress. We ask all
mo rtosc Aanas IL may came, eftcr hariag read Il
pass orer 10 oac not stoned 10 reccicfng
Wig papers.
Ihe Bill for the Relief Of Ireland.
The fact that the candidates for the two
| highest Offices on the Democratic State
Ticket voted in Congress, against the bill
forthe relief of ireland and Scotland, when
suffering from the ravages Of famine and
disease has been more than once comment
ed on in this paper. The only defence
made for them by their friends is, that the
measure was unconstitutional. Whether
they so regarded it or not, we have no
means of knowing. Whether they would
have been jus,ifedin so regarding tive are
about to afford the reader the means OF
knowing, by citation from an authentic
source, (fAe Congressional Globe Of the
opinions Of men. whose knowledge of the
constitution, the prccedents of the gov
eminent and the laws Of the LAID will not
suffer in comparison with that of JOSEPH
JOHNSON AND SHELTON +. LEAKE, howev-
er expert these gentlemen may be in the
difficult art Of special pleading, and how.
ever successful they may have been in
causes before the worshipful courts of Har-
rison or Madison county
If, after reading the authorities, we shall
produce. the reader shall be satisfied that
there was no constitutional impeachment to
this great act of national benefaction, he
will not we think fail to conclude, that these
gentlemen betrayed a narrow mindcdness
and hard-heartedaess which render them
unworthy the support of all,whose bosoms
ycarned with pity towards those whom
contagion and hunger and death were was
ting. as the breath of Destroying Angel
The 9th day of February 1917, Hon.
John J. Cri;;cnden (now the legal adviser
of the government and the Attorney Gene
raj of the United Sta,es,) rose in the SEN
ate and said, abe believed that all must be
aware of the suffering now existing among
the furnishing poor of ireland, and as he
believed it to be our duty as a Christian
nation to spare poriiono( that plenty with
which bounteous Providence has blessed
us to our unfortunate brethren of the Ene-
rale Isle, he would give notice that on to-
morrow lie should ask leave to bring in
bill making contribution in behalf of suf
fering Ireland" ...
The day following, Mr. Crittenden in
troduced a bill authorizing the President
ofthe United States "to cause to be pur-
chased such provisions as he may deem
suitable and proper, and to cause the same
to be transported and rendered, in the
name of the government of the United
States to that Of Great Britain, for the relief
of the people oflreland and Scotland, suf.
fering from the great calamity of scarcity
and famine"
The bill appropriated the sum of five
hundred thousand dollars "oat of any mo-
ney IN the treasury not otherwise appro-
priatcd" TO make the purchases. and au-
thorized the use of national vessels for trans
porting them.
In Introducing the bill, Mr.. Crittenden
said "the whole world has heard of the
calamity which has fallen on Ireland and
Scotland of the scarcity and famine which
prevail there. do not come here With
an empty parade of words, to impress the
picture of furnishing people upon the
minds of this honorable body. l come to
discharge only what consider solemn
duty. IL is our duty as representatives of
the people to carry out their rieacs, as they
hare been presented to this body. The ca
lamity is no ordinary one. 1t has not
come upon that people as the result ofide-
ness or folly on their part. 1t is one of
those inscrutable dispensa'ions of Provi-
dence, to which we are as nations, one and
all liable. and in which we must be one
and all interested. = Our LIBERAL.
ty has been exhibited as a nation IN cases
6y no means as pressing and appaling.-
The bill | have drawn up is in the lam
guage of the bill passed in 1919, for the re-
lief of the people of Venezuela, suffering
from the effects of an earthquake. | have
copied it from that bill, which was an
proved May Sth 1872. The bill was in
troduced by commute of which Mr.. Ma
con was chairman. Tie character Of Mr..
Macon is well known From lis ceascless
vigilance he soas lookedupon as THE WATCH
MAN OF TIE CONSTITUTION. The bill pass
Ell by unanimous rOte in the House Of
Representatives, and notice among those
voting for it the names of Randolph. Rich
ard NJ. Johnson and the Hon. Senator from
South. Carolina, Mr.. Calhoun. II docs not
appear flat there aeas any opposition to itin
the Senate, and that bill appropriated
$4,000. In that case, there was but
partial calamity arising from an earthquake.
No great national calamity continued to
sweep the people from the face of the
earth: it was a case Of partial and local
distress, get that case presented sufficient
nnotire tor the exercise Of national sympa
thy. How much more appalling and wide
spread is the calamity now appealing to
our charity. The people too of Venczue-
la were Of different race from us =
But who are the sufferers now : They are
oar kiRdred-bound to US not merely by
common humanity. but by more init
mate bonduf brotherhood. We are, to a
great extent. the descendants ofthe people