The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-06-30

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opening his mouth, pointed to Quaker
of very dimunitive stature. who was
sitting in the front seat. The officer
Immediately seized the unoffending
little man by the breast of his collar
less coat, and without condescending to
give the why and wherefore, dragged
him down stairs, and transferred him
to the care of the sergeant-at-arms.-
The latter, after keeping him in safe
custady during the night, and COM
pelling him to pay nearly $50 for his
lodgings, set him at liberty on the fol-
lowing day.
About the same time, the debate,
which was about English laborers,
being one evening unusually dull, Jack
Finnarty, who had but a short time
before been imported from Tipperary,
said to the only other reporter in the
gallery at the time, that he felt very
drowsy, and that he would be after
taking little bit of nap, if he would
tell him when he awoke anv thing
which might take place. The other
agreed, and Jack in a moment, was
fast locked in the arms of Morpheus.
An hour elapsed, and after half dozen
yawns, Jack opened his eyes.
Has anything happened 2" was the
first question to his friend.
"To be sure there has,D said the
other, whose name was Morgan O'Sul-
livan. ...-.
"Has there, by the powersw ex-
claimed Jack, picking up his ears in
the plenitude of his anxiety to hear
what it was.
"Yes, Jack, and very important too"
"Then why don't you be after telling
it to me at once? what was it about 2H
"About the virtue of the Irish potato,
Jack"
"Was it the Irish potato you said,
Moreanw %
"The Irish potato; and most elo-
quent speech it was"
Thunder and lightning, then, and
why don't you tell it me 2"
"Pll read it from my notebook, Jack,
and you can take it down as go on"
said Morgan.
"Och, it's myself sure, that's ready
at any time to write what any member
says about our praities are you ready
to begin ?"
"Quite ready" answered Morgan.
"Now them" said Jack with an en-
ergy that strangely contrasted with the
previous languor of his manner snow.
Morgan, my boy"
Morgan. affecting to read from his
notebook. commenced thus.
THE honorable member said if
"Och, be aisy little Bit" interrup-
ted Jack, who was the honorable mem
Der ?"
Morgan hesitated for moment
"Was it his name you asked? Sure
it was Mr.. Wilberforce."
"Mr. Wilberforce och, very well,
them,
Morgan resumed.
"Mr, Wilberforce said, that it al
ways appeared to him beyond all ques-
ton, that the great cause why the Irish
laborers were, as a body, so much
stronger and CAPABLE of enduring so
much greater physical fatigue than
The English, was the surprising virtues
of their potato. And heb
Morgan, my dear fellowm shouted
Jack, at the mention of the Irish potato,
his countenance lightning up with ecs-
tacy as he spoke, morgan, my dear
fellow, this is so important that we
must give it in the first person."
"Do you think so 2" said Morgan.
"Troih, and | do," answered Jack.
every WE'LL" said Morgan, and then
resumed, and have no doubt conti-
nued Mr.. WiIberforce, that had it been
my lot to be born and reared IMP
"Did the member say reared2" inter
rupted Jack, exultingly associating the
word with the growth of potatoes in
his own blessed country,
ale said reared" observed the other
who then continued, chad it been my
lot to be born and reared in Ireland,
where my food would have principally
consisted Of the potato-that most nut
ritious and salubrious root-instead of
being the poor, inirm, shrivelled and
stunted* creature you, sir, and these
honorable gentlemen, now behold, I
would have been tall, athletic man,
and able to carry an enormous weight"
Here Jack Finnarty observed, look
ing his friend Morgan eagerly in the
face.
"Faith, Morgan, and that's what
call true eloquence. Go on"
Il hold that root to be invaluable :;
and the man who first cultivated it in
Ireland, regard as benefactor of the
first magnitude to his species. And
my decided opinion is, that never, until
we grow potatoes in England in suff-
cient quantities to feed all our laborers,
will these laborers be as able bodied
class as the Irish % Hear! hear from
both sides of the house.)
swell, by St. Patrick, but that bates
everything" observed Jack, on finish
ing his note; that's rale philosophy;
and the other member cried hear, hear '
did they?"
"The other members cried, hear
hear~ answered Morgan.
In quarter of an hour afterwards,
the house arose. Morgan went away