Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-12
Speech of Gen. Mcclellan at the Irish
Relief Meeting.

The following ia the speech delivered by Gen
Mcclellan at the mass meeting In Cooper In
stitute, New York, Tuesday evening, April q,
for the relief Of ireland:
MY friends, came here to might as listen
er and spectator, not to participate Ia the pro-
oeedings Of the evening. came here 10 hear
| the ablest and beat of the friends aud Sous of
ireland plead her cause tonight. ] have de-
parted from my usual rule of avoiding vast
asemblages, because knew that this had no
party or political purpose. ] knew that you
were assembled for the noblest OF all purposes,
that OF charity toward suffering brethr en- in
distant land. came here simply to evinoe my
sympathy in your cause. feel that | have
strong and peculiar reasons for feeling intense
sympathy aud interest in sll that refers to Ire
| land and the Irish. have sprung myself
flom o kindred race. l have often seen the
10y ally of the Irish to their government and to
their general proved | have seen the grsen
flag of Erin side by side with our own atars and
| stripes amid the smoke and din of battle,
have Witnessed the chivslFy and bravery of the
Irish race when boy upon the fields OF Mexi-
co and In maturer years, have seen these
qualities again displayed on the fields of Ma
ryland and Virginia. IL has often been my
sad lot, but pleasant withal, to watch the cheer,
fully smiling faces Of the lrish when suffering
from painful and ghastly wounds. have al
waIs, under all circumstances, found the Irish
heart warm and true, and as | have already
said, feel that have peculiar right TO sym.
pathize with your cause. 1t ia most unfoftu-
nate that there are 30 many in Ireland who
need our sympathy and assistance, but We should
| at least thank God that he has given US the
means to extend our hands to them and aid
them.
1t is unfortunate, perhaps, for Ireland, that
| laws; with the making Of which her people have
| had so little to do, and Govern ept inv hioh
they have been so little represented, should
have induced so many OF them to leave their
native land and seek refuge in foreign climes;
but the loes OF Ireland has been the gaiu of
America. 1t has given us some OF the bright.
i est intellecla that have adorned our history:
countless strong arms which aave developed
our resources, and soldiers innnmerable, who.
| 10 every field from those of the Revolution TO
those of the present sad rebellion, have urheld
the honor Of their adopted country. Therefore,
say, we have gained what Ireland has lost
J Que thing more before close Although, as
said before, We have come here tonight for 10
political purpose, yet no true friend OF his coun.
try in the present crisis can repFess altogether
tha thoughts that will crowd upon his brain
What is Is that enables ue now to extend our
hands in succor to your brethren across the
Atlantic What is il that our fathers worked
for aud for which we too worked, aud are work.
ing now7 1t was to establish on this broad
, continent one nation, ono free government
, that might be refuge from all foreign ands
, know, then, that express the sentiments o.
all who listen to me when say that all oul
energies, all our thoughts, all our means, ans
if necessary the last drop Of our blood must b,
given to uphold that unity, that natlOlality.
} did not rise to make speech, but simply /,
express my warm and most cordial thanks f,
: the greeting with which have been honored
will therefore thank you again, and the
make way Ifor abler and more eloquent mel
who will plead the cause of your country to
night.