Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-17

nave Just returned after a verv brie
visit to the "ould counthry," and in tn,
belief that few lines, embodying the re
suits OF my observations, NAV be interestin,
to your readers, / am induced to send vol
this letter.
On my outward trip in the City of Man
chester (sailed from New York October 25
1861, was surprised to find number O
lrlshmen returning home, with the avoweC
intention of remaining there. They ex
pressed themselves pretty forcibly on the
subject of emigration to the United States
and were evidently determined to prevent
any of their friends from venturing to such
a country. Some of the reasons given by
them for returning to the Emerald Isle
were sufficiently amusing One stalwart
Milesian said he had been working on q
railroad in Pennsylvania, and had drunk
more water there in one day than in all his
life before. "Why," said he. "the weather
there is so divilish hot that livery gang OF
fifteen men has one man doing nothing at
all but carrying wather for 'um."
Another was satisfied with the wages paid
in the United States, "but," said he, whats
the use of good wages whin you have to pay
the biggest half of 'um away agin to the doc
ther, to get cured of the favar an agev?"
Another couldn't get along with the New
York whisky few drinks of it would give
him more headache than hogshead of po-
theen.
| Belfast was my destination. l found that
| city fully two-thirds larger than when | left
it in 1858. As your readers are no doubt
aware, Belfast is the headquarters of the
Irish linen trade. The impetus given to
that trade by the late rebellion was looked
upon as godsend to Belfast Linen facto-
r1es sprung up everywhere. Everybody who
had or could obtain either money or credit
embarked in the linen trade. The farmers
raised fax instead of vegetables, and the
result was that the housewives of Belfast
grumbled over the price of potatoes and
cabbages quite as much as their sisters in
Richmond
The Belfastians (the Catholic portion of
the population excepted) sympathized with
the rebels, and wereyery bitter against the
Yankees" Their idea was that so long as
the rebellion continued cotton would be
scarce and linen in demand Millions
might suffer so that Belfast grew rich. The
Belfast Northern Wing was the only paper
in that region that showed a friendly spirit
toward the Union, and its course is all the
more praiseworthy and deserving of respect,
that, In advocating the rights and justice of
the Union cause, it was running counter to
its pecuniary interests,
The United States Consul, John Young,
Esq. proved to be the right man in he right
place. His integrity and industry are well
known in Belfast. In those dark times when
the tide seemed turning in favor of the
rebels, and when the rebel sympathizers
were eIultant over what they thought was
the impending ruin of this great Republic,
Mr.. Young, like true patriot as he is,
never permitted himself to doubt for a mo-
ment what the issue Of the contest would be,
and never ceased to uphold his country with
dignity, courage, and perseverance that
would have redounded to his credit had he
been minister instead of consul.
His kindness and hospitality to Americans,
or to any friend of America, is something to
be gratefully remembered, and proves that
his native country has a worthy son in the
consul at Belfast.
The Belfast linen men are jubilant over
an order lately received from the English
Government for linen for the army. The
scarcity OF cotton has nccessitated the sub
stitution of linen for that fabric for army
shirts. The paupers in the wOrkhouscs also
wear coarse linen shirts instead of cotton, as
heretofore, all of which makes the people OF
Belfast feel good.