The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17
Irish Relief Meeting in New York.
Patriotic and Glowing Speech Of
Gen. Mcclellan.

Gen. Mcclellan.
A great mass meeting was held at the
Academy of Music, New York, on Tuesday
evening last, under the auspices of the
Knights of St. Patrick, having for it's OBJ
ject the organization of a comprehensive
plan for the relief of the destitute working
classes of Ireland. Before the regular
opening Of the proceedings, General Nc
CLEILAN entered one of the private boxes.
His presence was made known to the as
sembly by Mr.. JOHN BUTLER, President of
the association, who called for Three
cheers for Gen. MCCLELLAN" A scene of
tremendous excitement ensued. The en-
tire audience sprang to its feet, and for
several minutes the men cheered and
shouted for speech, and the ladies wildly
waved their handkerchiefs, until at last the
General, after bowing for some time from
the front of a private box, broke through
the silence he had resolved to impose upon
himself, and spoke as follows: 'ai
My friends, I came here tonight as a
listener and spectator, not to participate
in the proceedings of the evening. L came
here to hear the ablest and the best of the
sons of Ireland plead her cause tonight.
/ have departed from my usual rule of
avoiding vast assemblages because knew
that this had no party nor political pur-
pose. (Applause.) knew that you were
assembled for the noblest of all purposes,
that of charity toward suffering brethren
in distant land. I came here to simply
evince my sympathy in your cause. 1 feel
that l have strong and peculiar reasons
for feeling intense sympathy and interest
in all that refers to Ireland and the Irish.
(Applause.) 1 have sprung myself from a
kindred race. have often seen the 10y
atty of the Irish to their government and
their general proved have seen the
green flag of Erin side by side with our
own stars and stripes amid the smoke and
din of battle. / have witnessed the chiv-
airy and bravery Of the Irish race when a
boy on the fields of Mexico; and in ma
turer years | have seen, these qualities
again displayed on the fields of Maryland
and Virginia. Enthusiastic applause It
has often been my sad lot, but pleasing
withal, to watch the cheerfully smiling
faces of the Irish when suffering from
painful and ghastly wounds. I have al
ways, under all circumstances, found the
Irish heart warm and true, and, as I
have already said, feel that l have
peculiar right to sympathize with your
cause. 1t is most unfortunate that there
are SO many in Ireland who need our
kindly 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. It is unfortunate,
perhaps, for Ireland, that laws with the
making Of which her people had SO little
to do, and government in which they have
been so little represented, should have in
duced so many of them to leave their ma
tive land and seek refuge in foreign
climes but the loss of Ireland has been
the gain of America. [Great cheering I
1t has given us some of the brightest intel
lects that have adorned our history; count
less strong arms which have developed our
resources, and soldiers innumerable, who,
in every field, from those fthe Revolution
to those of the present sad rebellion have
upheld the honor of their adopted country.
[Cheers.1 Therefore, I say, we have gained
what Ireland has lost. One thing more
before close, although, as l said before,
we have come here tonight for no poll
tical purpose, yet no true friend of his
country in the present crisis can repress
altogether the thoughts that will crowd
upon his brain. What is it that enables
us now to extend our hands in succor to
our brethren across the Atlantic?
What is that our fathers worked for and |
for which we too worked, and are working |
now? 1t was to established on this broad |
continent one nation, one free government
that might be refuge for all free foreign
lands. know, then, that I express the
sentiments of all who listen to me when
say that all our energies, all our thoughts,
all our means, and if necessary the last
drop of our blood, must be given to uphold
that unity, thatnationality. [Great cheer
ing.1 I did not rise to make a speech, but
simply to express my warm and most cor
dial thanks for the greeting with which
have been honored. Twill therefore thank
you again, and then make way for ADLER
and more eloquent men who will plead the
cause of your country tonight. PRO
longed cheering and applause.]
The meeting was subsequently addressed
by Mayor Opdyke (who presidedD, Arch
bishop Hughes, Judge DAILY, Richard o.
John Mexican, P. J. Meehan,
William E. Robinson, Gen. Meagher, and
Horace Greeley. An address to the peo-
pie Of the United States was adopted, and
committees appointed to solicit subscrip-
tions.