The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-10-16

tality and love of liberty. These characters
tics are seized upon in this country by unmiti-
gated demagogues, and the warm-hearted Irish
man is decoyed into the meshes of Locofocoism,
thinking all the while that he has enlisted under
the flag of pure Democracy. He is caught by
the sweet sound of Democrat, and unknown to
himself, he is made to vote against his truest
friends, and his own best interests How was it
in 1S47, when Ireland was suffering all the hor-
rors of famine, and her perishing population
were calling upon us for bread? Who were
then the truest friends of Irishmen, and of fam
ishing Ireland! Let the public record speak,
and we challenge the severest scrutiny into the
facts of the case. Look at the action of Con-
gress on this subject, and see where the parties
stood.
THE IRISH RELIEF BILL.
SENATE, February IS, lS47-Mr Crittcnden
(Whig) introduced bill appropriating $780,
rectiOn of the President, and transporting the
same to the furnishing poor of Ireland and Scot
land in a national vessel.
Mr.. Crittenden supported the bill with great
elOquence and force.
Messrs. J. NJ. Clayton (whig) and Cass (Dem.)
followed on the same side.
Mr.. Miles (Dem.) opposed the bill, as setting
dangerous precedent, when, on motion of Mr..
Bagby (Dem.) it was postponed until to. morrow
to take up the bill reported by him yesterday.
for the relief of the suffering poor of Ireland and
Scotland.
Mr.. Sewer Dem.) opposed the motion, and it
was disagreed to-Yeas Is, (all Whigs)-Nays
49, (all Democrats, except Mr.. Davis.)
subsequently, during the same day, the bill
for the relief of Ireland passed the Senate by a
vote of Yeas p, Nays l3-all voting in the neg
alive being Democrats
Now, bear in mind that the bill passed the
Senate on Saturday, the 9th of February, but
three business days before the close of the ses-
sion. Immediately it became known that Pres
ident Polk was opposed to it, and that he would
veto it, if it passed the House. On Monday, the
bill was reported to the House, and the follow
ing proceedings had
| House OF REPRESENTATIVES, March l.
| The bill from the Senate for the relief of Ire
land and Scotland was read, and motion made
to lay it on the table was negativcd-Yeas Is,
Nays 50.
Mr.. Carroll (Whig) moved to go into Commit
tee OF the Whole for its consideration, which
was negatived-Yeas GO, Nays ITO.
| The bill was then referred to the Committee
of Ways and Means.
The object of the Democratic majority, in
sending the bill to the Committee Of Ways and
Means, at this stage of the session. must be OBJ
vious to every man Of ordinary observation
That it was sent there for the purpose of smoth-
ering it in Committee, is clearly evident from
the proceedings which follow:
House, March MIR. Carol moved rcsolu-
| ton to instruct the Committee of WAYS and
Means to report to the House the Senate bill for
the relief of ireland.
The motion was declared out of order
Mr.. Carol appealed.
The Yeas and Nays were taken and the Chair
sustained.
| The Speakers Chair was filed by John W.
Davis, of Indiana, President of the late Demo-
cratic National Convention a very plant instru-
mcnt of an INSCRIPTIONS majority, who had de-
| termned at all hazards to stavc off vote on
the bill upon its merits. No marvel, then, that
he should rule it out of order to require the
Committee to report it back to the House. But
they could not be permitted to skulk the issue
| in this way. Mr.. Winthrop, of Massachusetts, a
sterling Wing, and an excellent Parliamentary
an, forced them to show their hands upon the
question in the following FORM
Mr.. Winthrop (Whig) moved to suspend the
rules. to enable him to offer resolution to in
struct the Committee of Ways and Means to re-
port back to the House the Senate bill appropri-
ating 100000 for the relief of the sufferers by
famine in ireland, which was rejected by the
following vote:
| Yeas 1--WE omit the names) As Wings. IL DEM
ocrats Nays ii Wings, IS Democrats.
| Here we have it in black and white and no
dodging. Only eleren Democrats out of 100
voted to save the Irish from starvation, while
eighty-eigh recorded their votes against the
Irish. Had that appropriation, so nobly fought
for by Gov. Crittenden, passed. it would have
saved thousands of famine-strcken men, women
and children from the grave. Here was great
opportunity for the brawling leaders of the
Democratic party to show their love and regard
fort Tho ~ I,e1
and hug just before each election.