Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-10
FRIENDLY SONS OF ST. PAT
RICK. e
The Question of Establishing
an Irish Emigrant
Aid Society.

|
Friendly Sons Of St. Patrick, held
Wednesday night, the following report,
submitted by P. J. Mulvihill, Esq, rela-
tive to establishing an Irish Emigrant
| Aid Society in connection with the So
ciety, was adopted;
Your Committee, appointed at the last
meeting Of this Society to report on the
practicability and the best means of
establishing, under the control and
superiniendence Of the Society, an
Irish Emigrant Aid Association" do
now, after exchanging and harmonizing
their views, make this, their report, and
say:
Fitst-That it is their opinion that
the establishment of such an association
is entirely practicablei and that, if
established, !. would prove highly bene-
fetal to the surrounding country, to this
city and to those Of. our race whom it
might be the means of inducing and Of
aiding to settle around us.
Second-Your Committee, though
aware of the stringency of the times and
the great stagnation of business, still
believe it possible. through little exer-
ton on the part of the members OF this
society, to obtain all the funds that may
be requisite to set up and establish this
proposed association, and give it
efficiency and vitality when so started.
What is needed, first, is money, or that
which may be converted into money,
and the only confederation Isl how is
this money TO be raisedY
Your committee believe that if those
members of this society who are old citi-
zens of this place, and who are well
known in the surrounding country,
would but interest themselves in the
matter, the planters Of Tennessee, Mis-
sissippi and Arkansas would themselves
contribute largely and literally, by vol
untary donations of money and lands.
The prime want of the Southern country
now is that of security to person and prop
erty. The emancipation ofthe slaves has
brought into direct and dangerous col
lision the black and white races, whose
instincts, recollections and animosities
but give point to the opposition of their
interests. One of these classes has la
Dor, the other has capital; the two
aggravating those exciting causes
cannot but be productive, for
years to come, of great disorder and
confusion. For these reasons we believe
the planters of the country will, from
motives of interest give this project
material help, and aid us in our endeav-
ors by their hearty sympathy. Already
many Of them have made your Committee
most liberal and encouraging offers OF
land and money and the newspapers,
hearing that this society had under de-
liberation the feasibility of erecting an
Emigrant Aid Association in Memphis,
gave us in advance pledge of their
warmest support. The people, in fact,
need immigration. 1t is their only hope
to get into the country honest, indus
trious and peaceably disposed laborers,
whose influence is Indispensable to their
prosperity and security. The presence
of these is a guarantee of peace, and at
no time in the history of this country has
there been 80 favorable on opportunity
for the poor of other lands to effect a
Judgment, and get a permanent home
in the South ct so little cost and exertion
as at this present time. Your committee
are persuaded, that if solicited, the State
of Tennessee would powerfully second
the exertions of this society. She has an
agent in New York city now to divert the
tide of immigration 10 her borders, and
| if Irisbmen are but true to themselves
and their people, we believe they will be
furnished whatever may be needed of
| land and money andsinhuence to give
vigor and efficiency to the proposed So
ciety. Ia our own city much may be
done by means of lectures, balls, parties,
etc., to raise the funds required. And
your committee do not hesitate to say
that if each of the Friendly Sons of st.
Patrick does his duty in the premises we
can make this ideal projection, of the
present living, efficient and active re-
atty.
Your Committee would further cay
that the establishment of this enterprise
should be begun at once Now is the
| golden time for action TO serve our
people. Land and means can now be
easily had, which in times of order and
security we cannot hope to obtain at all,
except at high prices, which perhaps we
may not be able to pay. We should,
therefore, work noto.
Your Committee have nothing at this
time to say about the government Of this
proposed association. Indeed what we
do say is said in haste, and we hope the
society will pardon US for our negli-
gence
Respectfully, JAS. FLAHERTY,
"a p. J. MULvIHILL,
ID. Fl. HAYES,
Committee =
The following resolution was also
adopted, after which the meeting ad-
iourned until the 10th inst:
Resolved, That the report of the Com
mittee made regarding the feasibility OF
inviting the emigration of lrishmen "
to the Southern country, be handed to
the Committee on Charter, in order that
they may at once enter upon the duty of
obtaining the same, so that our Society
may become a positive and permanent
organization.
TIE CIRCUS AND MENAGERIE.-Yester-
day afternoon the circus and menagerie
combination so extensively advertised,
gave the initial performance. followed
by another last night The time not
having been positively announced, the
attendance was smaller than it would
have been otherwise. There are eight or
nine cages containing animals, some of
which are seldom found in travelling ex-
hibitions. Prominent among them is a
large Bengal tiger, one of the most beau-