Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-11
Relief 10 NorfoIk and Portsmouth.

We should really take shame to ourselves
that we devote day after day to long editorials
upon political evils which We hope may never
be realized, and omit any expression Of our
sympathy for those unhappy people who are
afflicted with destroying pestience that must
inevitably consume them.
We heard the simple statement made to our
citizens by Dr. Scofeld, Of Portsmouth. IL
awakened the pity Of all who were present
He narrated cases in which whole families
had been stricken down without help in sick
ness or sepulture in death, 'Wagon-loads of
collins" he said, "were brought into Ports
mouth and piled up. They excited no more
attention than wagon-loads of -four. One by
one they were taken away, and before night
there were none left" The population Of Ports
mouth had been reduced from ! 900 to about
5000, and it is plain that, without some abate-
ment Of the current mortality, the fever must
expire, for want ofmatcrial long before the first
irost-which, DR.. s. says, cannot be expected
before the 10Th November. 70 the rayages Of
the disease must be added the pangs of famine.
The same speaker said that the only stores for
the sale ofprovisions, open in Portsmouth, were
three groceries, two Of which had closed OF
would not be kept open much longer The
sole supply afforded that city was the daily
boat which the Sanaritans of Baltimore sent
with provisions to the sufferers. We heard
Mr.. Segar say few days since, that corn meal
had been three dollars per bushel and we sup
II. ., 4, Ia
Now, there uc hundreds Of good citizens in
Washington, who, f they could realize this
state Of things, would not hesitate to give o.
their abundance, or even Of their scarcity. The
pestilence may be our own next year The
agonics which rend society in those unhappy
cities may be amongst us within few months
and we may then appreciate what we can nov
only imagine. But VIC do not appeal to appre
hension or to interest There is duty due to
humanity. lfthose unfortunate cities were sur
rounded by an hottie forceif the people and
their property were destroyed by cannon balls
andbomb-shells, troops woudbemarching from
the most remote quarters Of the republic for
their protection, but the mortality of war would
be mercy III comparison with that fearful dis
ease that broods over them, carrying death
that no walls can shut out and no skill escape.
viii not ourpeople then bestow upon these
needy, suffering people win they not re-
member the hospitals and the helpless who
drag themselves to some garnet to diey
J., Will not our ladies remember that nearly
one hundred orphan children have been taken
from their bereaved homes, carried to a large
building, and put in charge Of public nurses
Let them think Of their own happy homes
with all the comforts that health and honest
labor have given them, and the contrast vii
appeal to every feeling heart
We hope Washington will demonstrate hei
sympathy with Portsmouth and Norfolk. w,
can conceive no more cnnobling picture thar
the cities OF the Union bending over the suffer
ing couch of an afflicted sister; and VIC know
that when this sympathetic spectacle is pre-.
scented, the Federal City will not be absent
We remind our friends that Ward commit.
tees have been appointed, and that any dona'
tions, either in money, provisions, or goods
viii be thankfully received and usetully appro,
uriated