The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-09-15
s E L E C T E D ).
Wlbefi0rce's Great Speech on Po-
81 tatOes,

JoAS ot d dFlIdLneHIary reporter is Idken
from the Great Metropolis, London
work.
About IS years ago, when only one
sentence of q speech was given on an
average every FIVE or six minutes, and
when the reporters had to sit for many
hours at time. they were often at a
loss what to do with themselves. On
one occasion, when laboring under an
attack of ennui. and also under the ef-
fects, Jack Finnarty, a well known re-
porter of that period. yawned out
Mr.. Speaker, viii you favor US with
asong %
A roar of Slaughter followed from all
parts OF The house. One of the officers
Immediately repaired to the gallery
and inquired who the offender was !;
Jack Finnarty, without opening his
mouth, pointed TO Quaker of veTy d.
sminutive stature, who was sitting in
the front seat. The officer Immediately
seized the unofending little man by
the breast of his collarless coat, and
without condescending TO give the why
and wherefore, dragged him down stairs,
GS41d tld6SAClCa W INC CdIG Vi luG
sefgeant-at-arms. The latter, after
keeping him in safe custody during the
night and compelling him TO pay near
ly $50 for his lodgings, set him at lib
erly on the following day.
About the same time, the debate,
which was about English laboreSs, be-
ing one evening unusually dull. Jack
Finnarty, who had but short time be-
fore been imported from Tipperary,
said 10 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 anything which
might take place. The other agreed,
and Jack, in moment. was fast locked
in the arms of Morpheus. An hour
elapsed. and after half dozen yawns,
Jack opened his eyes.
"Has anything happenedg" was the
first question to his friend.
+" To be sure there has.n said the
other, whose name was Morgan O'Sul-
Ivan.
Has there, by the powers?" ex-
claimed Jack, pricking mp his ears in
the plenitude of his anxiety to hear
what il was
Yes, Jack, and very important. toon
Then why don't you be after tell
IN me at once? What was il about 7"
=" About the virtue of the Irish pota-
10, Jack.n
"Was it the Irish potato you said.
Morgan ?"
The Irish potato; and a most elo-
quent speech il was"
"Thunder and lightning. then, and
why don't you tell ii 10 me-"
Eli read it from my note book, 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 2"
"Quite ready answered Morgan.
Now theH," said Jack. with an en-
ergv that strangely contrasted with the
previous languor of his manner. Now,
Morgan. my boy"
Morgan, affecting 10 read from his
note book, commenced thus:
The honorable member said, thar'-
Och, be aisy little bit,n interrupt
ed Jack, "who was the honorble mem
Der ?v
Morgan hesitated moment. "Was
ii his name you asked? Sure it was
Mr.. Wilberforce."
Mr.. Wilberforce! Och, very well.
them
Morgan resumed.
80 Mr.. Wilberforce said that it always
.appeared to him beyond all question,
that the great cause why the Irish labo-
rers were, as body, so much stronger
and capable of enduring so much great
er physical fatigue than the English,
was the surprising virtues of their po-
taio. And he--"
!. Morgan, my dear fellowl" shouted
Jack, at the mention of the Irish potato, |
his counienance lighted up with costa,
cy, as he spoke. " Morgan, my dear fels
low, this is 50 important, that we must |
give lit'in thefrst person."
Do you think sola said Morgan.
80. =. Troth and I do answered Jack.
aVery well,o said Morgan, and then
resumed. And have no doubt, con-
tfnued Mr.. Wilberfofce, that had il been
my lot 10 be born aud reared in-v
Did the member say reared ap inter-
rupted Jack, exaliingly, evidently as
sociaiing the word with the growth of
potatoes in his own blessed country
He said reared,n observed The other,
who then continued, s'Had it been my
lot to be born and reared in Ireland,
where my food would have principally
consisted of the potato-that most nn-
eritious and salubrious root-instead of
Dsing the poor, inirm, shrivelled and
stuntsd creature you, sir, and these hon.
1fable gentlemen, now behold, I would
have been astall, athletic man, and able
70 carry an enormous weight"
Here Jack Finnarty observed, looking
lis friend Morgan eagerly in the face.
Faith, Morgan, and that's what i
AL tfne eloquence. Go on.n Ha8 Il
g hold that root to be invaluable;
md the man who first cultivated it in
ireland. regard as O benefactor of the j,