The Irish standard., 1886-08-07
AN IRISH EMICRANT SOCIETY
Its Founders and What They Have
Accomplished-1rish Servant
Girls Generosity.
JOHN C. CALHoUN's LETTER.
The Illustrious South Oarolinian Was
Proud of the Irish Blood that
Ooursed Through His VEINS.

Proud Of the Irish Blood that
Ooursed Through His VEINS.
The Irish Emigrant Society wa:
founded in 1871, with a philanhropi<
purpose that has been carried out with
marked fidelity by its directors. Most
Of the men who rocked it's cradle have
been gathered to their fathers: but
their magnificent work remaiDsa a monu.
ment more enduring than brass to their
philantHropic forethought and brnevol
ent solicitude.
Among the names OF it's founders
are those of Dr.. McNeyin. DR.. Robert
Hogan, Gregory Dillon. Felix Ingolds-
by, and many others noted for thel
prominence in the community theil i'll
tegcity, and public spirit. The Irish
immigrants then landing on Cur shores
were not numerous compared with the
sWarmS that caJae six or seven years
later. They found their way hither on
the sturdy bark or stanch sailing ship
that left Galway, Sligo, Belfast and the
Cove of Cork, many years before that
cosey town was named after her Maj
esty, Queen Victoria. There was nc
emigration commission aud no tenn
porary refuge for the exlles then, many
Of whom found themselves without
means and without friends AS they
stepped Oh the threshold OF the new
land
The generous impulses of tlleir more
fortunate countrymen who had already
made their mark here in legal. medical,
and mercantile professions were quick
ened, and earnest steps were taken Tor
the protection and welfare Of the Irish
immigrant. Thomas Adds Emnet,
the brief record OF whose noble life can
be read by any visitor to St. Paul's s
churchyard inBroadway was then one of
the foremost figures at the New York
bar, which counted among its bright
luminaries such lnen fas Kent, Story and
Ogden Hoffman. There were a half
dozen young Irish merchants besides
Mr.. Ingoldsby who, by their energy a1l,t
enterprise, had built up great houses
and all dispensed the wealth they had
accumulated with liberal hand in deeds
OF charity. Such We're the men who
lnaugurated this movement in behalf Of
the poor immigrant, and under whose
auspices the Irish Emigran3 society
started OH its long career OF usefulness
The names OF Martin Van Buren, and
John G. Calhoun can be found upon the
roll of its earliest members. The illus
trious South Carolinian, who WAS proud
Of his Irish blood, writing from hls seat
in the United States Senate, enclosed
his contribution in the Following letter:
SENATE CHAMBER, 18th Sept. 1s41.
DEAR SIR: have been so much engaged in
the discharging of my public duties that have
been compelled to neglect almost everything
else for the past few weeks, which hope will
be sufficient apology tor not answering at al
ever taken pride in my Irish descen, nay father,
Patrick Calhoun. having been born in Donegal
county. His father emigrated when be was a
child. AS 81 son of an emigrant cheerful!y
join your society. Its object does honor to its
founders. l enclose SIS, which the society will
please regard as my annual subscription for
the next five years. With great regard, | am
yours, tcc.,
JOHN c. CALHOUN.
10 THE SECRETARY IR1sH EM1GRANT So
utErY.
In l542 the G was a marked increase
iii the tide Of immigration to these
shores over that Of the preceding year.
and the society found Its hands full in
redressing the wrongs and preventing
the impositions and frauds which had
begun to be practised upon the
unWary newcomers. An Office was
opened at 22 Spruce street for the safe
transmission of money to the old coun-
try. This mode OF protection against
the drawers Of FRAUDULENT bills proved an
incalculable blessing, land saved many
hard-earned dollar from entering into
the pockets OF the sharks and unprinci-
pied scoundrels who were ever on the
alert to entrap and cozen the unsus-
pecting sons and generous daughters of
the Green Isle.
In 1851 the society removed it's busi-
ness to 81 Chambers street, where year
after year it continued to increase it's
usefulness and charities. The building
was an old-fiasaipq,ed} three story. and.
attic brick dwelling: THE patloYs: oh
the FIRST floor were : used as IS fh fthe count
irigSpopts Of TIE: Esiil1grtui Indii.ssttiAl
Savings Bank ahd tfrs. frfH .Eniar;az7it I t
society. Among the occupants of the
upper floors in those days were Peter
B. Sweeny, then Public Administrator,
Robert j. Dillon, Counsel to Corpora
tion, Abraham r. Tappan Rufus r.
Andrews, James M. Sweeny, John.
Clancy and others whose history is a
part of the city's history. a soldierly,
good looking young man. who at the