Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-05
CITY INTELLIGENCE.


county, Va, on the sd instant, composedf Of ciu-
zens of town and county, and OF Norfolk and
Portsmouth, temporarily sojourning IN Hampton,
a number Of gentlemen, whose names viii be found
in another column, were appointed a committee
TO proceed 70 Washington and make known to the
President the objects and desires of the meeting
The committee reached Washington yesterday
morning, and immediately sought an interview with
the President, which was granted without delay,
and were introduced by Dr. Smkins. The Rev.
John G. MeCabe, of Hampton, chairman Of the
Committee, addressed the President as follows
We appear before you, sir, as the representa-
tives OF sorrowing, suffering, disease-stricken,
and deathsmitten people, committee appointed
at meeting held in the town OF Hampton on yes
terday, composed of number of the citizens OF
Norfolk. Portsmouth, and Hampton, TO wait upon
the President Of the United States, and the appro-
pirate Heads Of Departments, to ask that relief
which the awful exigences OF the case require, and
which the resolutions we now submit, most re-
specially ask. As chairman OF that committee
am somewhat anticipated in my remarks by the
appalling facts which must each day reach the
ears of your Exeeency, as borne upon the wings
of the Telegraph or through the media of the
public prints and yet, sir, startling and terrible
as as are each days official reports from Norfolk
and Portsmouth Of the progress of the yellow
fever in those cities, they fall far and fearfully
short of the awful reality
Norfolk and Portsmouth are now, sir but little
more than vast charnel houses, and their unburied
dead are, perchance, at this moment, attracting
the keen scent of the ravening vultures Thou
sands of the people of those devoted cities, have
fed panic stricken; and would to God the rest had
flown Had it been SO, sir, we would have been
spared the recital of this tale Of wo and your Ex-
cellency the pain Of listening to a story whose
burden is desolation and DEATH Mr.. President,
physicians are falling at their posts; nurses are
dying at bedsides and the ministers of the cross
of Christ, as they stand at the couches of the sick
and dying are struck down
'sDumb and shvering."
Business Is almost entirely suspended in both
cities. The city Of Norfolk has but nominal
government, and nearly every private dwelling is
converted into mort house, and from almost ev-
cry chamber comes out a wail--for death Is there.
The remaining population of these seemingly
doomed cities, are too feeble and too few to give
efficient help to the sick and the suffering; and
ere long, unless God stay the destroyer, and the
strong arm Of men in power, be stretched forth in
their behalf the total depopulaton of those places
by death must be the result, and the Genius OF
Desolation will sit in ghasty and gloomy triumph,
sole master of their ports and marts. The reso-
lutions which we herewith present, will to some
extent explain, what it is we desire, and we sub
nit them in just and abiding confidence, that
as man, and as the Chief Magistrate of the coun-
try, in the welfare Of every section whereof we
believe you feel an interest, you will suggest and
afford that relief which must be immediate to be
available.
TO which the President responded in brief but
feeling manner. He expressed the most heartfelt
sympathy for the unfortunate sufferers in Norfolk
and Portsmouth, stated that the subject had cauied
him much anxious consideration and induced him
to shorten his visit to Virginia. and hasten his re-
turn to Washington, INDUCING the hope that some
mode Of relief might be afforded by the interven-
ton of the Federal Government and concluded
by assuring the committee that he would cooper
ate with them in any legitimate action that might
be determined upon
The President then entered into an unreserved
conversation with the members of the committee,
in which the practicabiiity of various plans was
discussed
The committee retired with an invitation from
the President TO call at o'clock in the evening.
The committee met the President at the time APP
pointed, and were to have a. final audience this
morning at 10 o'clock, when he would be able to
decide upon something definite.
The committee from Hampton, Norfolk and
Portsmouth met the Secretary of the Navy by APP
pointment, and the result was, that Commodore
McKeever win be authorized to close the yard at
Gosport, ifhe deems il expedent; and that twenty
days or a months pay in advance will be given to
the wofkmen who have families, iE order to ena-
BILE them TO remove. Orders also were issued this
morning we learn, by the Secretary of the Navy,
to the Washington yard and will be TO other yards,
to give employment to all the workmen from the
Gosport yard that may apply, and whose services
may be needed. Secretary Dobbin feels deeply for
the stricken people Of Norfolk and Portsmouth, as
is manifested in his directions TO Commodore Nc
Keever, and also 10 Mr.. Loyal, the navy agent at
Norfolk, 10 remove from that city 10 some neigh
boring location.
The committee waited on the President Of the
United States for final interview in reference to
the obtaining Fortress Monroe for the benefit OF
~. he l.
immediate removal Of the troops and an immediate
possession, which would alone be desirable
The President has manifested the strongest dis
position 10 comply with the wishes of the COM
nittee and though failing in this specific object Of
their mission, we believe the committee retired
impressed with the conviction that he had done
all in his power TO aid them in their wishes
As an evidence Of this fact, there we're several
extraordinary meetings Of the Cabinet called at bis
instance.
Just before the committee we're to take their
leave tho President placed in the hands Of the
Rev. DIR. McCabe the chairman contribution Of
1925, to be used for the benefit of the sufferers,
contributed by himself and the members of the
Cabinet, with the assurance that handsome sum
would be raised In the departments and that inn
mediatoly-modestly but generously - rendering
his own private purse stiH further, II occasion
should require.
The committee then took their leave, impressed
with the TACT that the falure oil their mission, so
far as Old Point was concerned, was not owing TO
On indisposton on the part Of the President 10 do
all that he could.
The Hampton, Norfolk, and Portsmouth com
mttee held meeting at Browns Hotel after re-
turning from their visit to the Departments, and
the Chairman appointed Colonel Charles K NAL
lory, Cincnnatus Newton, and Joseph Segar, Esqs.,
committee TO correspond with the Howard Asso-
citation Of Norfolk and the Mayor Of Portsmouth,
requesting them TO appoint committees Of three
for each town TO meet this committee in the town
Of Hampton, on Friday morning, the 9Th instant,
at ten o'clock. The committee then adjourned to
meet tomorrow evening at eight o'clock, on board
the steamer Louisiana
PRoPHEcY FULFILLEp.--The Hon. r. NJ. 7. Hun
ter, In speech delivered In Petersburg, Virginia,
some three months SINCE on the persecution Of
the Catholics, said
Deprive the Catholics Of all the Offices, bar
them out from every avenue TO political distnc-
az IN ham ,,. a,.h,c