Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-11-20
COT. JOHNSON AND THE VIRGINIA
ELECTION.

Oar friead Of the J'sisa, (says the Washington
Republic, not CONTEXT with attempting 10 regulate
tie affairs of the General Government though the a.
g4ncy Of The Nashville Convention, has thought IL
bis duty to enlighten the citizens Of Virginia 10 re-
gard 10 The approaching election OF Gbvernor, Lieu
tenRu. Governor, and Attorney General With this
object hislcolu ms TEEN with assaults on the Hon
G. w. StMMERs the distinguished nominee or the
Whig party for the Office OF Governdr
We shall not undertake the defence Gf Mr.. Sc.r-
MFRS, His reputation is too well established 10 re-
qairc any such Office at our hands He is knewn
throughout the nation for his signal services 10 the
country whilst he was in Congress In his own
State he has recently acquired additional reputation
BY his brilliant displays ofeloquence and statesman
ship 10 the convention which framediis new consti-
tuition. The people of the Old Dominion, and es-
peciay Of the western portion of il. will no, readi-
II forget lie debt OF gratitude which they owe 10
tie distinguished champion OF their rights.
y But we propose, for the benefit Of ourcontempo,
rary, to- say few words in. regard TO Col JosEPu
JoaNaox The gentleman whose claims the Uaion
il so earnestly pressing on the good people of Viz
GINA.
The Usioa, ne all know, processes 10 be +. great
ffiend of cur adopted population particularly OF
theIfsb; an3itisequaly vehement in lis adherence
81 the advocates Of protective tariff and Of inter
nal improvements by the General Government
Let US try the Uaions fayorite by these standards
Col. JOHNSON has been long in The councils of the
nation; he is man Of more than sixty years al
age, and. despite his obscurity as statesman, he
has necessarily ef some traces Of his opinions and
public conducts on the records Of the country.
We all recollec, The dreadful famine which pre-.
vailed, in 1916, 10 Ireland II excited the lvelies
sympathy throughout our country. We are indebt-
ed 70 thai glorious but oppressed island for much
or our best population. Every thing whchtouche:
the Interests and well-being Of Ireland, therefore
hnds responsive chord in the American heart
Accordingly, when the appalling news Of the misery
and starvation which devastated the Emerald Islg
reached this country, the whole people were deeply
moved, and measuscs were at once adopted foi
their relief Liberal contributions were made hy
towns citiss, and individuals. to purchase food Ia
be distributed amongst the sufferers Bat this did
not satisfy the public sentiment. II was thought
the Government should move in the matter 60 a.
u give greater dignity and efficiency and a more
national character to this glorious manifestation o.
Americaa benevolence. Accordingly, Mr. Car,
ca by the generous impulses of hi. truly Irish heart
iuirodaceaa bill, appropriating five hundred thou.
sand dollars for the relief OF the sufferers into the
Senate Of the United States. was prom; lily con.
sidered and passed BY the Senate, and sent to the
blouse ofRepresentatives for its concurrence
Let us now see what became OF it in that body
By reference TO the Journal Of the Hogs under date
Of Marchl, fs47. (page 452,) the following entries
will be found
The bill from the Senate No. 1ls) entitled AN
act 10 provide some relief for the suffering people OF
Ireland was read first and second time
''Mr. George w Jones moved that il be laid on
he table and the question being put ii was de.
cided in the negatiye-yeas "a, nays BIZ
The yeas and nays were recorded, and amer Q
those in favor Of the motion TO lay on the table, or
in other words defeat the BILL will be found those
Of JosEPH JOHNSON and SHELTON f. LEAKE, the cam
6idates Of the Ustoa for Governor and Lieutenan,
Gpvernorof Virginia.
What say you, freshmen, and descendants Of
Irishmen, 70 such friendship this On The eve
Of elections, when your votes are wanted, The Union
and its Democratic friends swear goE are goriou,
people and that they ale your best friends But
when the day Of your adversely comes-when your
counuymen are siarving-whenthe whole nation i
moved byfeelings of Christian chariiy-these same
mtn deny you even a crus, OF bread 10 save vou
friends and eounrynen from their horrid fate l.
Nay, more; the Union and the Democratic parry
are now calling on you TO honor the men-JoHSsoN
and LEAKe-who turned deaf ear 10 the pleadings
OF your suffering eoaairyt
But this i not all the evidence Messrs. Jous-
son and LAKE having been defeated in their al
tempt to srangle the BILL ii was referred 10 the Com
MInee Of Ways and Means. On The Sd day Of
March, Isi7 Mr.. WisrHaop. of Boston, doubtless
rejecting The viii Of bis enlightened and generous
constituents it appears from the Journal (page 4e6
noved that the rules be suspended for the purpose
of enabling him TO offer resolution, insuncting
'the COMMITTEES Of Ways and Meahs to repor, forth
with 10 the House the bill from The Senate for the
relief OF ireland And The question being put, i,
was decided 10 the negative-yeas 81. nays l02-
Fortunately the yeas and nays were again recorded.
and againwe find The names Of JosErH JOHNSON and
SaELrox 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 ofi.ia journal, 70 he attention
-four Irish felow-ciiizsns. who are now sought 10
Be gulled into the support Of JoHssos and LEaKr,
the men who il the hour Of adversely we're opposed
10 Ireland. Acts speak louder TIA lords Be-
lieve moi, then, the Hit,ering words Of demagogues,
who YOU'D deceive Tou. Look 70 what shssA ~,
have ssas whsn they hid tie ncsw.r Il Ill Won ~
Eot q uhai:heyor heir friends MAJ sroHl,s d n
unen ~ p ere seeking your votes.
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IIVEn naErs