The Washington Union from Washington, District of Columbia • 1

Hdri'ln 1lirittn 'wbebssr It AMI I. IB If I IB I II I II ll I Diataut auUciibcn n.a) Iniwuirf ua by letter, the it Jl I The NTRV PAPICR i. puhUahed dmiuf the Mr) cut Nafona of aiidarini-wrekly durtaf tha receaa. II n.utli.hrd tri wrrkly durilif the- aeaaion kuhacrtptione lor a period than a U1 bo iocfiY.fi on terana ft 00 proportioned to the above nuutioi ratra. 'j oo 1 "11 11'" i i certlflekte of remittance in pay moot for C'hUt will fa VOLUME II LIBERTY, THE UNION, AND THE CONSTITUTION." MIIMHEB i ikAII far HUMBSB 2 45.

ins, tu our by 11, l' Vl1 i I With encloKrd; or Are SIM I rnniei of the SF.MIW r.KKL I Wr.LKLY with or flvfc W'FKKI ttih CITY OF WASHINGTON, SATURDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 13 1847 18 00 IU41 Cry will bo furuiahed them Ihi I'meoptc 01111 for Hie rvllrf of tile Foor In Ireland. I On Tuesday evening a grant notional meeting was l.dd in the large saloon of the O.Jd Fellows'Hall. The Bneetuiz ft wed by the prepuce of many ladies, and an early Ikiiii the room was filled to its utmost cnfioci In iwi lition to tlie distinguished gentlemen mentioned part in prdtasdiMi, cfttfge tmashet gore, members ef the Houh Representatives. Ui till- Supieme Court, and others high in official Jj present to manifest their deep in pat In I ihone on whose behalf the meeting was assembled. -y At half-past at Ten the Mayor of the eitj Ballad the meeting to order under the following oiganh Batn'ii: 'h PRESIDENT.

I Hot. OBOROE Vkv PMhImI of the H'njted Si VK'i: PRESIDENTS. I Hon. John Fa'hfield, Senutor from Maine. i Hon.

(' a Atiikrton. Senator from New Hampshire, "i i Hon Kootk, Representative from Vermont. i Hon. lloBT. Winthrop, Representative from Mass, iv, I ii.in Senator from Rhode IslandI II.

I HI Representative from Connecticut. I Hon. I) Dickinson, Senator from New York. I Hon. Wv.

Wttwir, Rmwnatatln (ton New Jersey I Hon. Si.hon Cameron, Senator from Pennsylvania. Ai I Hon. M. Ci.

avion. Senator from Delaware. 'o I Hon. JamwA. Pcakcg, Senator fiam Maryland.

I lion James MrDowfi.i., Representative from Virginia. I Hon. P. Manoi m. Senator from N.

Carolina. I Ron John C. fjvjm South Carolina, I Ron. T. Bt 11 ni Kino, Representative from Georgia, pjj I Ron.

A. Daroan, Representative from Alahama. I .1 W. Chalmers, Senator from Mississippi. I linn Kmii.k Da Sere.

Representative from Louisiana. I Hon. U'm. Allen, Senator from Ohio. I linn.

.1. in i Senator from Kentucky. I Ron A. Johnson, Representative flram Tennessee. I Hon.

Jesse Bright, Senator from Indiana. I Hon. JaHN Wcntworth, Representative from Illinois. I Hon. It.

Atchison, Senator from Missouri. "i i Hon. chestkr Ashley, Senator from Arkansas. In I Hon. Lewis Cass, Senator from Michigan.

hn I Hon. J.J). Westcott, Senator from Florida. I Hon. 8am.

Houston, Senator from Texas. I Hod. SHF.PPAun Lf.ffi.er. Representative from Iowa. 1 I linn Morgan L.

from Wisconsin. ,1, I Hon. W. W. Seaton, District of Columbia.

SECRETARIES. in Joseph Gales, esq. Tiiomas Ritchie, esq. Krastis Hkooks, esq. W.

K. Robinson, esq. .1. A Houston, esq. G.

A. Pwight, esq. Nathan Saboent, esq. (J. Bah.y, esq.

K. llarriman.csq. James Mouss, esq. stl committee on resolutions, addresses, etc. la Hon.

Geokok of Massachusetts Hon. VVasiiinoton Mi nt, of New lion. J. J. Faran, of Ohio.

Hon. Isaac E. Holmes, of South Carolina. I lion. J.

B. Bowi.in, of Missouri. ca Hon. J. Inukksoi.l, of Pennsylvania.

Hon. W. W. Skaton, of Washington. 'I' Kev.

Ohvii.le Dewkv, I). of Washington, li. It. French, Clerk of House of Representatives. vp.

I). A. Hall, of Washington. James Bicelow, of Washington. se The meeting being duly the President, in a i i few introductory remarks, expressed liis deep sympathy I'for the suffering sf Ireland.

He rejoiced to see so nianv persons preseit 1o respond to tlie call which had been made lor a meeting to express national sympathy for the sufferings of a people upon whom a great calamity had fallen. Having conduced his remarks? Hon. Geo. Ashmen, chairman of the cominitlee on resolutions, called upon Mr. Webster to report a series of I resolutions which had been adopted by the committee.

u. The Hon. Tianiei. Webster, senator in Conn ess from the State of Massachusetts, then rose and said: I take v. great pleasure, Mr.

President, in complying with the re- se oiiest ot the committee, as expressed bv my honorable friend, its chairman, and have prepared a few brief resolutions, which I will submit to the tb The occasion is quite a new one. A famine, bring- ing want and distress a great of a whole or people, is unprecedented in Christendom in this age. The calamities of Ireland have been heard and read tli throughout the country, and have touched all American 'h hearts. New improvements in communication have j1" brought nations into nearer neighborhood with each other, and xve hear the cries of suffering Ireland almost as fresh and as strong as if thev had come from a of our own country. In this Innd of abundance we 1 Known noimng, nv our own ui huiihiij can hardly conceive of people dying, in families and by rroupH, through mere want of food.

No heart can he so hard as not to melt at the details, apparently authentic, 1,1 of the shocking distress existing in some parts of Ireland. It is a tit time for the activity and exertion of a national charity, and the flying moment should not he lost. While the ministrations of mercy are as beneficent as those of angels, let us render them, as far as we can, as swift also in carrying relief and consolation. Our object is not dr ostentation or parade. It is not to utter the sounds of empty brass or of tinkling cymbals, hut to do a deed of effectual charity, and to do it promptly, that the objects ot our compassion may hear tidings of kindness and of re- jf lief from across the ocean before death shall terminate their sufferings.

Mr. President, 1 propose to the meeting these resolu- b. lions; That the famine now existing in Ireland so extensive, nial in many places with such appalling 'Mies of ns to present a proper case for national 1 sympathy ami chaiity. II That ihe enlightened and improved spirit of the age, the of humanity, ami the authority of our holy re- 1 ligion, all suggest to the people of the United State- that pieli unexampled calamity and hii fieri rig ought to overeome JJ' in their regard nil of distance, foreign birth. 1 and residence, ami difference of national character, and that it is enough that they are men, women, and children, and as mijcIi belong to our ou intellectual lininan nature.

111. That, Taking into consideration the necessity ol as well as general action, ill order to produce a hepefirial result, and that in this city are assembled, at the present moment, many persons from all parts of the conn- try, it has appeared lit that measures for a general national movement in Ihvor of the poor of Ireland should 'V imminence here: Therefore That this meeting recommend to the people of the I nifed State- contribution in money or pro- visions, the proceeds to he forwarded, with all practicable VJilcli, to the scene of sutfering. RrtolrctJ, That his honor the mayor of New York, the Hon. Moses II. (irinnell, of the city of New York, and the Hon.

Cornelius W. Lawrence, collector of customs of the said? he requested lo net as a general committee to receive contributions, ami to forward the satilo to such 1 inl places in Ireland, ami place them in such hands for Mi distribution they i.i their discretion may think advisa- re Ritohirl, That his honor the mayor of New Orleans, the of eii'-toms, Samuel J. Peters, and Hag.in, requested nLo, as a gcnernl coinrnittcc, to receive nidi contributions a may more conveniently forwarded th 'o tlmt city, ami to Jbrward the same to such ports and to places in Ireland, and place theni in such hands for distri- gi "iition, they in their discretion may think advisable. cl Tiint if he recommended to the inhabitants oi Ml tin- me-, town-, ami villages in the United States iintneuiati-ly io appoint committee-to receive contributions uml tnnke 1 to be forwarded to the general committees 1 md New Orleans; and that the amount of fr 1 '-itrihiitioTi- transmitted by the said general committees id flour, Indian corn or meal, and other provisions, as the may deem exjjediehf." i That fh" general committees be requested to from time to time, the nrojjre of tic eontri- hntioim, and tic amounts transmitted to Ireland. t(1 the Mnvor of Washington, the Hon.

Ld A. IlanicgHn, of the Senate of the United States, the nf 'I ii. Hugh White, Win. W. Wood worth of the House of h1 prcHc vitjv ot the United States, W.

W. Corcoran, pj 1 'in f'arberry, K. U. Wrightman, William Gnnton, illniiii A. BrnHicv.

B. B. French, W. K. 1''niis, nnd G.

6tiily, of the city of Washing- 11 a oniiniitec to receive contributions from the in- a of Washington and persons now resident therein. A r.un VHTOi (II ims. uuricu m' lowing resolution: ir Runlrtii, Tli.it the mayor of Boston, the Hoti. Marcus Mor- tin illci'tiir ot ili" ot Ho-ton, and lion Abbott ri-ij' requested to act i- a gtnrnil committee for i'muiiI to receive ami lorwnr-1 11 Ireland. ft 1 ht motion of the Rev.

Mr Si.icfr, the mayor of it- timnre, (iener.tl Marriott, collector of customs for the of Baltimore, and Hutch Jenkins, were recom- nr "lett.lc 1 in a similar committee for that city. it motion of Mr. Sahiikni, the mavor ami collector of I niUlelphia were recommended as a similar conimittee it lor that city. Mr Fjtnan snsrcestoil tliat a similar committee lie rec- ommended for the citv of (Charleston, hut no names were ctitioned. tRev.

Okvh.t.f Dnvrv, D. from the committee ap- jointed to prepare an address, reported the following it ihlren to the Poll a from meet hi the IVnshtngiofi fw the relief of Fki.ww-i i An nw All crisis arrived in I -lai lint which failure of crops in that country lb inn tunc Icil to apprehend is no longer inn iter o. ophecy or conjecture ii is terrible reality. hand ot mine i- already sweeping down hundreds in Ilebind, unci not arretted, threatens wider destruction. Tlut worst iit yet cciiic.

Nine tnemths must pa over tlial coiuiti) ifnre another crop can come to its relief. Ireland is but st enteiing upon lier si life rings mily the lirst erics of liei 1 -tress are us -i heurd, unless charity from without shnll terpose tor her rescue. It is really use lor the sympathy of the nipothv el the whole Christum world The cnlillliity calamity of a nation, l'livtiic elmrily nun relieve priiie needs hut limn that gult of which famine iH'oiiiK in Ireland, mil) national bottnlv eiut avail, to bring But from whence shall it come Tiipantl ed distress in Kranee, from flood and famine, engages the tciitioti of lire people. The north of is -titicriiie tcnsivelv IVout the (allure of potato crop. In Scotland destitute thousands to Ire piOVldi lor.

Ihighnu), with own iunneii burdens of taxation tier the poor, is yet ling what she can; but still, with all that Iter governcnl people taut do, in Iter ill-fated sister istiiml tints, by titties in week, tire dropping into thews of famine. 1st America come to Iter rescue owe Iter much. llcr strong Hint, now purnlyzcd id brolten, hits helped to build up out strength ntal Ivunce our national growth, etdtore, and eomfort. She is part ot 'our liither-latul. Her hiltlren are with us and of 'lhi are our brethren that cry to its for help.

I.et lterieu hear ttttd help. 1s us not foil ot' opportunity hind togattuir these kindred nations in icjw and holier mils of sympathy. a generous people, ti say, eoine to the re cue I And -cue front w'hut Scarcely, amidst out abundance, can a conceive what it is lor it is ftorx'nti it is pining to -nth with hunger, from which thousands in Trcl mj I iinore to deliver them. "It is a liit ino.c horrible than iv that e.er came by Hood or lire, by War ot pestilence ho would not rather have perished in the army of Napoiti amidst the snows ol Kussiu, or have sunk in Scio ne nth the seimeMr of the Turkl It i- the tragedy of Ugitto, passing not in one-oliutry prison, but in thousands human habitation-. The accounts that are coining from Ireland confirm these presentations, and, indeed, surpass all that can be said in ty general representation.

In the province of Coniiautlit here were tbrty-seven deaths by stnrvation in one week." the towns of Sktbbereen, Hallydelmli, Scull, Cnstle11en, astletown, titiT otter places, ten or fifteen fimurnls day are common, ittal collections are tuiulc in tlie ntrehes to provide coffins for the destitute. letter from county Mayo says: The scenes desc; bed arc airrible as uny related of beleagureil cities. Men are not tfreipientfy, it is stilted, found dead ill ditches by the ny-side. Soine are so changed as not to he recognised by cir friends their looks wolfish and glaring as madmen itliout clothes or fund of any kind, they roam about in nu ll of food till death seals their misery'." The Cork Kxam iner oontH letter I ins. J.

Ann-mount, Cork, addressed to the Duke of 'ellingtnn. Hero is an extract: "1 wont on the 15tli in nit to Skibboreen, ami, to give the instance of cute town- nd which I veiled as mi, of the ite of entire mst district, I shall stato simply what I there. It i- mated 011 the 11 side of a-thdriveil harbor, and is lined South Keen, in the parish ot Being aware A at I should have to witness ot frightful hunger, provided myself with as much bread as live men could my, and on reaching the I was surprised to find the readied hamlet apparently deserted. 1 entered some of hovels to ascertain the cause, and the that pre- nted themselves were such as no tongue or pen can con- 55 the slightest idea In the first, six fat nidi -d and lastly skeletons, to all appearance dead, were huddled in corner on some filthy straw, thoir solo covering what emed a rugged horse-cloth. 1 approached in horror, and mid, by low moaning, they were alive: t)iey were in ver, tour children, a woman, and what had onee been an.

It impossible to go through th -tail; suffice it t. that iu a few liiinnies I was surrounded by at ro hundred of such phnritoms, such frightful spectres words ran de. cribe. By liir the greater number (. cither from famine or from fever Their mm- pic arc still in my ears, and their horrible images fixed upon my brain." There is an affecting letter from the women of Dmnmnn- ay, in the county of Cork, addressed to th "Ladies of merica," and we are sure tint thoir appeal will not be in 11 Liu.

"Oh! that our American sisters," they say, "could the In borers on our roads, able bodied men, scarcely it ad, famishing with hunger, with despair in their onceleetfti! faces, staggering at their work, vet striving to earn men I which i- to keep in them to earn another too obably having tasted no fbcxl since die day at they could -e the fever and famine tali en family, iddlcd together on their bundle of imp straw, with one more corpses among them, which the survivors have not rcugtli to drag from beside that they could set- dead father, mother, or child, lying eofllnle and hear hercains of the survivors around ilietn. eau-ed not by now, but by the agony of hunger, they hands and arts are ever open to compassion would unite in one ighty effort to save Ireland from such misery." But enough. We feci that it is not neecs to dwell uger ujx'ii scenes like these, in order to awaken the eoniLssion of our people. We are not stocks or stones, to listen such recitals unmoved. We dwell in a land of abunmen, and are not wanting in a feeling of liberabtv, we 0 in some accordance with bounties I Hviu Provence lo us.

The corn in our valleys and ir hills shall not lump up reproach with our nor upon our ingratitude nrifI hardness ol' heart, ir abundance is no more our merit than the misery ot Ik-ring Ireland her fault; and as we either believe in or hear the word of ('hrist, we will not, I ike the Levi to, iss by ou the odier side, but, like the good Samaritan, will aw nigh and lidw compassion. Can we nigh to Ireland fun we do anything foi 1 This must be the feeling that Laps firth from th tart of this whole people We will not iu-ultthat I any attempt at pathetic, appeal to it. The is plain. () our neighbor, 11 any human being wore dying of at our door, we could not partake of our daily meal till chad divided it with him. Nothing hut iron bolts and irs could prevent our going to liiin and sharing with him our fulness.

Can we impart of our fulness to lrelandl In answer to this question, we propose the plan of action tbrth in the resolutions which precede this address. We ninoi doubt that the gentlemen therein named will a -me the benevolent trust hich is respectfully tendered to eni. We know that it will involve considerable rare and I nse. For the neees-ary care, we to their liuinuni- li and the sense they will doubtless entertain of the great- ssofthe occasion. For defraying the we fW'l at we may pledge the whole country.

Our churches, be- volent men of wealth, all men, ill contribute to a charilike this. The course of proceeding, then, is very simple. There list he hundreds, miy, thousands of farmers nod other perns throughout the land, who have some bushels of wheal ll corn, or barrels of flour or nn at, which, from their full ti they are ready to give to this great charity. The 4oph; are ready to do this. counties ot Muskingum id Jefferson, in Ohio, have already made a movement of is kind, and the farmers Indiana, some time ago, sent a pntatioii to Cincinnati to -a-f if oniethiag of this nature add not be done.

Let these contributions, then, as well i those of money, be forwarded to the rt nee live eommites in th seaport towns, by tliein to be snipped without lay to Ireland. Thus is opened way for the charities a great nation to How, in blessed streams, to a sister na- in need and in distress. Hut friends and countrymen, we must not delay. The fi come louder and louder from that unhappy lore. Hundreds, thousands may die before our aid can ac 11 them.

Instant action may save other hundred4, her thousands. Wools nre mockery here we are ihained to multiply them, instant action is the word that inn speak to Ireland. said a child dying of irviition, one of the "Mother, give-me I ree grains of corn!" That is what famishing Ireland says a us. "(Jive me something from your loaded granaries; oi i nil' si1111 hiic iii 1,111, hi ii) lild say it in vain. The resolutions and address being srhmitted, were lnnte.1 1)v acclamation.

lion. William H. Maci.av, representative in Congress a am the city of New Vork, being called on by the eiit, said: Although laboring under great bodily indisposition, had not felt at liberty to decline the request of le committee of arrangements to address a few words 1 i the meeting. The very appropriate anil eloquent re- arks of the distinguished gentleman from MassachuUts, the report which had just been read the Rev. Dr.

Dewey, of New Vork. as well as the na- ire of the occasion itself, supersede 1 the necessity of say- 11 ig more. The evil which it was the object of the meet- ig to devise wise, and, he trusted, comprehensive mean- 1 res to alleviate, had been fully stated in the report. 1 las! no elaborate statement, no painful enumeration details were needed to describe it. It was summed up i the fearful announcement, which had struck terror to lany a heart in this country, that a civilized and Chris- I an nation, eight months removed from the time of its arvest, was at the verj moment he was speaking suffer- I ig the fearful Pangs and horrors of famine.

It was not hint to indulge in any idle speculation whether the vil was political or social, or in what it had its origin It as enough for him, for them, for every right-minded utn throughout the country, to know that it trial-i. It ran true ocean rolled its billows between us and the bjeets of this suffering, but, as not all its waters could rash away the obligation under whieh we rested to that nhappy island, so neither ought this harrier to diminish i ur sympathies, or induce us to abate one jot or tittle of i ur active exertions to remove distresses so appalling 1 le was glad that, in depicting these distresses, the report a 1 alluded also to these obligations. Never let it be said i a the future, by the historian who shall narrate the i iistory of these times, that Amerira was indifferent he present sufferings of Ireland. We ofred her a eht of gratitude. vVho could rightlv appreciate how nnch of our prosperity was attributaole to the num of her sons who have crossed the Atlantic will heir and children, and household gods; havt K-lil up an example, imitated by other nations; havi milt our cities, cultivated our waste domain, and iecome happily blended and incorporated into the rent American family.

Why, in point of capital taking that word in its broadest sense;) in point of commerce, interior and foreign; in point of the facilities foi mploying that commerce to the best advantage; in if agriculture am) the subjugation of the soil to the rub if the husbandman, of peopling the deserted wastes 01 lature with crowds of cultivated life: in he increased population, wealth and resources of these Tnited Slates, we are indebted to no other cause, to the ntne extent, as to that of emigration, encouraged at period by the enlightened policy of our government ml so huge a portion of which had proceeded from 1 remd. He said he was an American citizen, not by adopion; he was born among the constituency who had sent iim to this city to represent their wishes and interests If could not forget that he never passed through the rent thoroughfare of his native city without his eye ivstig upon the monuments which public gratitude had recfea to commemorate the service, and to perpetuate to istant times the virtues of an Km met and a Montgomery. These were claims, inappreciable he knew to some linds, but they were nevertheless claims, and strong nes, us. If it were jtossible there were any pres lit uninfluenced by considerations like these, he would ppeal to their humanity, since he could not awaken leir rratitiidr. Had they read the accounts of suffering rought over hy the last steamer? (Ireat (lod, think of lousands and thousands of starving men, willing, ay nxions (how anxious he hoped we might never know) i labor for their bread, yet without the employment hich could vield it to the means of esiping from the misery that surrounded them, and with le melancholy consciousness that it must sooner or la engulf them Think of whole families perishing of unger! Think of manhood withered, struck down in prime! Did they love their own offspring? The heart the poorest in the meanest clay cabin in Iremd, beat as warmly towards his.

Think, oh! think of he "mothers who, with eyes unwet," glare o'er their erishing children. If we can do anything to relieve these horrors, we canot, without guilt, pass hy upon the other side. The same leing who, in his mysterious allotments, had apjiortioned usery ami destitution to them aim happiness ana pieniv us, had it on our jtart with the consciousess of what is our duty. He did not believe there was one in that meeting, no, if could swell his voice until it pierced the ear of every tan in this land, he did not believe there would be one base as to shut himself in his own dwelling, in his wn selfishness, while he knew that his neighbor was erishinz for lack of food. God had made the suffering ten and women and children of Ireland our neighbors, ict worthy of the relation.

Let a voice go out from this all to-nizht, with power to awaken the sympathies of fie whole nation. Some time ago Mr. Maclay said that his father had ocasion to visit Ireland. One of the acquaintances, a reportable rlerirvman, he had then made, had addressed im a letter, which was contained in the he held in is hand, and which he had just received. The meeting could pardon hiin for reading an extract: "Coocanv, (noar Sligo, Ireland,) Dec.

It. lHgi "I shall be understood when 1 say tlint some iny brethren, tic people to whont 1 minister, and their hildren, re on the eve of starvation One of man rlio is both intelligent and respectable, and who 'to -g ,11 ild lie nsliani to tell me yesterday that, in the onrse of last month, his head often dizzy from hunger, nd that his children bad to fast some days at a time." Let the meeting indulge hint with one word of militant. If intelligent ana respectable men, "who to beg I'ouldbe ashamed," are reduced to this extremity, what mst be the condition of those who subsist upon alms, to beg are not ashamed, since no other resource is ft them Another extract addressed itself to us. It says "Hapless people tlnit we are, whither shall we tarn brethren, we turn to you with confident expeetaons. True, we nre widely separated front broad tlantif mils hetwcrn ih tun Hint cannot 1 i 1 i 111 brotherhood, so to nullity our -1.

i 111 or to nnniilnte your obligations. The kingdom of our Lord is one. is tin' people, of whatever mime or country, ro members of his uody. 1 would say, in onclUfion, that 1 have writtpn this the of tp needy brptlirpn, and in their name. I would say to tie ajitists of Ainericti, hrelhren, as flod lias blessed you with otli flour and money, send us a small share.

We it, re crape it. We are besieged by famine." While this is the wretched state of Ireland, our own itul, rejoicing in fruitful seasons, is blessed beyond all titers in the gifts of nature. The basin of the Mississippi contains 1,01 .1,0 square eographical miles, it is declared by a writer upon opulation that, if peonled in the same proportion tis the iritish isles, it would have three hundred and fifty niilotts of inhabitants. Let the rich products with which tis noble extent of surface teems be wafted swiftly cross the Atlantic; let us show to the world that our harity as well as our liberty abounds. So shall we tip rove ourselves to our own consciences, the blessings of mny who are ready to perish shall come upon its, and te hearts of thousands shall leap for joy at the very name America.

Hon. Robert Date Owen, representative in Congress rom the State of Indiana, followed and said Mr. President Kven on the invitation of the comtittee, to lend my aid in so good a cause, I scruple to say single word, on a subject and an occasion like this. If I speak to those wno have not read the heartrending etails that make tip the present history of the people of reland, what words of mine could replace that simple arrativc? If to those who have heard, even what was ontained in the address which was this evening read to lie meeting, what eloquence, if eloquence I had, could even a feather's weight to the power of its dreadful evolutions There was one expression in that address vhich struck upon my heart as it was real. Contribuions are now made in Ireland for the dead, not for the iving.

The collections." such I believe were the words iscd, "are to provide coffins for the destitute!" Klsevhcrc, in other countries where Hope yet survives, CharI furnishes bread, clothing, comforts for those who surive. CtiJJin.s lor the destitute are now provided in Ireand! A commentary how terrible on the work of huncr and of death Perhaps it may not be wholly useless to say a few words reply to the current objections east forth by the unhinking: for even to tin object so eminently humane, so loly as this, objections will be made. Charity- begins at home. That is the most common orm of discouragement. Charity begins tit home! There truth in the axiom, cold as its spirit is.

If, at out oors, in the streets of this city, men were dying for lack if food, our duty would he first to relieve them before ve extended our relief to a distant nation. It instead of lie plenty ami comfort that, with few exceptions, arc ound throughout our favored country, cold and famine misery were doing their fatal work, it would he even vrong to pass by these our perishing countrymen to I10Ip trangers. Charity, then, begins at hut should it nd there? If these Irish were only our neighbors, ah, then it night be our is the admission of the nd the give them aid. Our neighbors Vho was the neighbor of him who fell among thieves Vau twit Ihn nmn wlmuo honrf nifv for In ilo condition, who tended his wounds, who ministered t' lis necessities We shall he, in the best sense of the erm, the neighbors of the Irish, if now in their extreme of distress we Succor anil relieve them. The matter of neighborship, too, changes its chnrartn roin day to dnv.

It is but Uiree days since Mr. Morse he inventor of the telegraph, informed me that a irentle nan, ha vim; the command of large capital, called tipoi dm to ascertain on what conditions a company could oham from him the riirht to construct a telegraph acros he continent to Oregon. Railroads and telegraphs art Tinging nations that were far apart as it were together ind as it is in the physical, so should it be in the mom vorld. Advancing civilization should approach menV marts to each other. There is another objection sometimes urged, namely hat this relief is but temporary; that it reaches not tin ources of the evil; and that the famine which may hobeyed by our cHorts to-day may return the next week the next month, with undiminished force.

That rue. Some great change, political and social, can alom irevent the recurrence of tne calamities that now pros rate Ireland. That change is of importance far greater ban any relief for the hour of the day. Rut are we herefore, absolved from obligation to minister to hei wants I fin the bed of hopeless we neglect to alleviate those sufferings which we fee can never cure The duty to do something towards the relief of much misery Would he felt, am sure, by every one no absolutely callous to every humane impression, if lb which we know are now passing in Ireland i enacted before our eyes. If we could see hunger its fearful work, if we could hear the cry of irnin wail of perishing despair, it would not lie in huma i it could not he in the nature of man who ha 1 in his heart humanity enough to hint here go about his daily avocatio partake of the daily comforts of home its if such existed not.

The sights he had seen, the cries he heatd, would hnuqt him day and night and compe to And jet is the evil less crying, is the miser; real, because we see and hear it not? We know i exists. We know it as surely as if we had watche after day the waning strength of the father; as if i seen the wasted form of the mother slowly sinkin exhausted nature itemed even to the babe at her I I the allotted nourishment; as if we had heard the of childhood praying for bread to (inrcnts must deny cfen a prayer like that! We know that things nre If we saw and heard them, could our to relieve be greater than now it is? And suppose the case reversed. And say that i green island, where famine now holds swav, there comfort and plenty, rich harvests, and all that the desires, and that here, in our own republic, famine and misery, would not the Irish, think you, their Warm hearts and their quick sympathies, i much for us as we now propose to do for them I would, uiuild I know them well. They art 1 nhatically the nation of the open hand open Not only do freely while wealth' and lust, hut ever; crust mey witt'tMtte with tin fortunate. For the relief of such a people shall I our plentiful stores? 1 I will answer for own home, the West, it used to be she will.

Such an peal is never made to her in vain. It would be tut rage unheard of among those who sent me here to the hungry from the door unsatisfied. The occupa the humblest cabin in my district will will shari meal, poor if lie, with the needy stranger, as will as if that stranger were his brother. And with the I when their need becomes known, I promise it for they will share such as they have. Manv of them say, with one of old, "silver and gold have I no hut will add also, "such as I have will I give lv." They will furnish provisions.

The Ohio and Wabash will soon see flathoats loaded with produc their wiii to New Orleans, there to be reshipped foi ports of Ireland. That will be the answer to this ap And now, sutler me, in conclusion, to urge ution audience one of the recommendations contained in address. We must act at once. There must be no crastination. The crisis is imminent.

That which do, we must do quickly. We must not delay. Far death, delay not! I call to mind, sir, that there are distinguished still on the list of sneakers, and believe that I shall consult wishes of this assembly by now giving I to them. The President stated that the Hon. E.

A. Hann and the Hon. Thos. Corwin, senators in Conuress the States of Indiana and Ohio, who had promised dress the meeting, were detained by sickness. He called upon? The Hon.

J. J. Crittenden, senator in Congress the State of Kentucky, who said that he concurred heartily in the sonorous movement which had brr us together. A people proverbial for their hospitt who, even from the hand of poverty, share the or meal with the less fortunate, are now reduced to sti tion.and are crying for bread. The Almighty (lis ser of gool has seen fit to afflict a large number of on low-men with the most horrihlp of all calamities? I lamity of which even the utmost stretch of the iina.j tion could form no idea.

I le could have some idea i most any scene of misery; ay, he could even form idea of the pestilence that walketh in darkness hi famine he could lorm no idea; the infant dying mother's breast for want of sustenance, even" from fountain which a bounteous nature had provided to 1 ish its tender form To -ee innocent childhood bea for a crumb of brea 1 which not even a mother's could this too in a nation whose fieople come anions us and mingled with us till they nav come bone of our hone and flesh of our flesh one us in kindred and in can we hesitate a merit? fy-t every one feel duty resting upon hii for instant action. The individual effort can do in hut how noble will it be for a happy nation, a hungry man was never seen, where it is in sible to tell how a hungry man looks, to rise up both hands full, and from the abundance with wlii kind Providence has blessed us, give to the jioor and fering of anothernation what will alleviate distress, In en the gloom of despair, and make the weary and the I en-hearted rejoice The spirit of the age demand? from us. Nations are becoming more closely allied tercourse with each other, and interchange of courtesies are weakening national asperities, and strei eningHie lies which we hope mat soon bind togeth love the whole family of family in which member will sympathize with every other, and ready to relieve and comfort each other when any calamity may befall the most distant members of great brotherhood, and when every groan of misery be silenced in the generous expression of universal pithy. is enough for us to know that we cap Ireland now; that the improved speed gnd certain intercommunication between the nations of the will render it possible loi the effects of this very mei to be fell In Ireland within twenty days. And with gratitude will the news be received of our proceei this evening among that brc hearted people! What prayers will ascend to He from those warm yet breaking hearts to, ctdl blessings upon our heads We can lay no mort reptahle offering on the altars of our holy ligion than a prompt extension of relief to suffering poor.

We can show no deeper sense of itude to the Divine Author of all good, who has hi us with 11 bountiful abundance, than to open our and hands to relieve the people of that beautiful groe and, now suffering under the mysterious dispensati His providence. It belongs to our national chara Particularly tie a free people, to tell by a great nat benefaction to all the world the superabundance bountiful gifts which we enjoy under our happy in tions. lie was sure that when the influence of this i ing was felt in that young and happy west from he came, ever) sirenni would be covered with sup accumulating like the volume of waters, till it arriv the city of New Orleans in a mighty stream of bet mighty as that upon whose bosom it will The fioor Irish girls and emigrants toiling in this cot for their daily sustenance have in one year from tin of New York sent eight hundred thousand dollars to and sustain the hungry and needy. Let us not be hi these warm-hearted people in opening our more boui means for the relief of those generous people, now ing and crying to us for help. They must in vain.

Hon. Vfr Maci.ay then submitted the tollowing iliion which unanimously adopted Rmolved, Thai tie- Hon. Daniel Webster, Hon. Ilanuegan, Hsn. Kdwa.il Curtis, ttcv.

Orville Dewey, 1 mid W. In' committee to trn: i copies ol iti prx'redings to the several general coi: tees, mid in publish tli, proreedings nnd address. W. K. Robinson, said that he rose to offer a lution, which, he doubted not, would meet the entii i probation ol the meeting.

To hn sure, the resolute was about to submit In or lit be construed referri 1 I himself', lie took no credit to himself, however, for thintr he had done. He had hut done his duty. i an Irishman, and felt too grateful to the distingu Americans who had taken so kind an interest in th nevolent object of tile meetinir, to suffer any sense icitcy 011 his part to prevent him from doing an act tice to these distinguished gentlemen. He could say nride and pleasure that almost every one to whe had spoken to aid in the meeting had entered inl 1 business with the greatest cordiality. He therefore the following resolution, which lie put, and whicl carried by acclamation.

Retolrfil, That tlie thanks of this meeting tire einir dm' and hereby tendered to the honorable pres I the honorable vice presidents, the secretaries, the coi i the speakers, nnd others, liy whose exertions a sympathy of American lecling lor the sutfering IntslisHrit and generuas-hearteil people lias found sion in so large a meeting of a great and hnppy nn representatives. Hon. Mr. Mact.ay moved that the meeting ndj which was agreed to; and so the vast asseinblaii about 10 o'clock, dispersed. In accordance with the above resolutions, the fci ing circular has been addressed to the gentlemen tl mentioned, in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, more, and New Orleans Washinoton, February 10, I' I (irNTr.F.Mr.N have the honor to transmit yo proceedings and resolutions of meeting held in thi 1 yesterday, hv which you will perceive that an imm and general contribution is recommended to the of the United States for the relief of the suffering were "I Ireland; and that you are requested to act nsagenedoinir ral committee, to receive such and to for- the ward them to their destination.

11 na- are quite aware that your selection as argents for the any i accomplishment of this benevolent object may impose on bring you no inconsiderable degree of attention and trouble but lis, to i we tiersimde ourselves that you will that account, hiiqcs decline a service, the performance of which, by somecomhad I patent liands, seems so imperatively called for bv all the 1 him I feelings of humanity and a deep sense of duty. We need less hardly say that no time is to lie lost. To give usefully hut it and beneficially, we must give quickly. Kverv day'sded day I'ay more and more embitters human sullering, and en ha dangers human life. The recommendation which we till have made to all the citizens of the 1 nit-b Stateneast the application which we now address to you, will, we eeble doubt not, lie received, regarded, and attended to in the who spirit of that charity which is kind, which seeketh not such her own.

which beared) all things, lmpetlt all duty nevei failetli. And, while the rich contribute of their I abundance, and cast their gifts into tins treasury of love the will, those whose means are less will remember tlie benediction bestowed on her who of her penury cast heart With entire we are, gentlemen, your obedient with i servants, DANIEL WEBSTER, 1 hev i E. A. HANNEGAN, OR VILLI: DEWEY, EDWARD CUKTIS, E. ROBINSON.

fir FOBEWW. Far tonal Items by tlie Steniuei- Sm ul? Sme.N. I ap-i Out- Condition of Ireland. I't'of! 'le extracts portray the wretched condition e)H of the poor of Ireland. A letter in the London Herald, I a ingly dated at Dublin, the 2d of January, says: rish, "The accounts from all parts of Ireland are this day I hem, heartrending.

Deatlr from starvation is now so common can that it scarcely excites notice. One gentleman, from 11 ne Mayo, writes 'Death is now so common that wakes are free- seldom the bodies are conveyed silently by the a few friends to their followers being, in up- on vearance, ghastly as their departed relatives or the It is impossible to do sufficient justice to the patient endu- a peal, ranee of the people under this truly awful visitation." John Coghlan, parish priest of Kilkelly, county of' pro- Mayo, has addressed a letter to the London Times, in i we which he says: a "Two months ago my parishioners exceeded i souls; they are now considerably reduced below that j' i hv Htnrvntwm hn? mn ila fonrfnl mvniri.w wav This week two persons have died of a girl, named Mary Dodd, of Barcoll, aged 1 fl years; theother a man named James CDonnel), of Sownaclane, years. I attended another last night, name 1 William '1 trom fallen, dying of starvation. Of the entire number of a(l- about now living, I solemnly declare, to the best of (1 then my opinion, that not more than 200 of them have more to support nature than half a meal in the twenty-four hours from The corn is all gone; not even the seed for the ensuing most year remains. The turnips are all used.

We have no night Indian meal. The very small quantity of oatmeal to be ility, found is selling at 2sh. per 1 12 pounds. Indian meal is 'anty not to be had in Sligo for less than XI0 per ton. The I I arva- people on the public works are not permitted to earn pen- more than 3s.

per week. They could earn more if per- li fel- milted to bring their families. Such a rational course the 1 a ca- board of works will not permit. Oh, sir, if ever suffering a gina- humanity commanded your sympathy, the dying destitu- Jf al- tion of my parishioners loudly does so. Day and night I some am for food." ut of The accounts from Mayo, given in the Freeman's Jonru its nal, are very painful.

In the parish of Cong, 27 deaths oc- that curred within a week- In a neighboring parish a like tour- number in three weeks, Rev. Patrick Fitzgerald, Roman fging Catholick curate of Kilgeever, thus illustrates the intensi- love ty of the famine: have Hha.ll never forget the impression made on my mind a few days ago by a most heart-rending case of starvawith have witnessed the mother of live in family sending her little children, almost lifeless from hunger, nselt jQ and, despairing of ever seeing them alive, she took her last leave of them. In the morning, her fust here act waH touch their lips with her hand to see if the lireath of life still remained hut the poor mother's fears Willi wcre not groundless, for not a breath could she feel from a some of her dear little children that night buried them jflgr in the night of eternity." The Cork examiner sums up the state of things in the I i this neighborhood of Skibhereen: in- In the parish of Kilmoe I I died on Sunday; three of indly these were buried in coffins, eleven were buried without iigtlf- other covering than the rags they wore when alive. One j' in i trooil and r.hnritnldf* man fttinrilrintr ihi? 11 very case, The distress is so appalling that we must 1 stand throw away all feeling of And another says: great I would rather give Is. to a starving man than Is.

lid. for I1 that a shall MA died in the Skibbereen workhouse in one month svm- 8 have died in one day! And Mr. McCarthy Downing help states that 'they came into the house merely and solely ity of for the purpose of getting a a earth "Rev. Mr. Clancy visits a farm, and there, in one eting house, 'lie administered the last riles of religion to six I what On a subsequent occasion, he 'prepared for lings death a father and a daughter Iving in the same iken- "Itev.

Mr. Caul field sees '13 members of one family iiven lying down in lown "Rev. Mr. Fitzpatrick retires to rest at 3 o'clock in the ac- morning, and rises after a couple of hours' heavy sleep. re- It is the same with his coadjutors.

these "Mr. Donovan solemnly assures a public meeting that grat- the people arc 'dropping in dozens about essed "Mr. Marmion says that work on the public road learts is even more destructive than fever; for the unfel isl- wretches have not energy enough to keep their blood in on of circulation, and they drop down from the united effects of icter, cold and hunger, never to rise again." ioiial Frniiri', if the On the I lth ult. the Frencli Chambers xvere formally opened. I net- Xlie following is the King's speech "hich plies, 'n summoning you to resume the labor of the session, ed at brst wish is that you should alford my government ievo- your co-operation, in order to relieve the sufferings float which this year press upon a portion of our population.

llntrx have hastened to order the measures calculated to at, cjt'v i tain that end. I hope that, by the firm maintenance of i feed order, by the liberty and security of commercial tr.insacjhind by an ample and judjeious application of the public atiful fortune, efficiently aiding the zeal of private charity, we utler- shall mitigate, these trials with which Providence some -i i vihUK the most prosjierous states. "My relations with all the foreign powers afford the esol- 'lrm confidence that the peace of the world continues se- cured. "The marriage of my beloved son the Duke de Mont- with my beloved niere, the infanta of Spain, Lottnstnii isa Fernanda, lias completed the satisfaction and consomnitlations which Proidence has vouchsafed me in my family. This union will prove a fresh pledge of those mid intimate relntions that have so long existed here up- tween France and Spain, and the maintenance of which mine in an desirable for the prosperity as the mutual security, ng to of both states.

any- "I have reason to hope that the affairs of the Plate was river will, before long, be adjusted conformably to the islied views adopted by government, in concert with that ie be- of the Queen of Great Britain, for the re-entablishment del- of tlie security of our commercial relntions in that conn- jus- try. 1 with "I have concluded with the Emperor of Russsia a im ne treaty ol navigation, wmrn guarantees to us. ny a just the i reciprocity in our maritime relations with that empire, i tovetl advantages which it was important to us to preserve. i i was unexpected event lias impaired the state of things i founded in Europe by the late treaty of Vienna. The relently public of Cracow, an independent an 1 neutral state, has ideni.

heen incorporated with the empire of Austria. 1 have promiiiti tested against that infraction of the treaties deep I "At home, the constant progress of the public revenue, oi despite the causes that murht have checked it, demonstrates that the activity and resources of the country tinue to increase, of finance, and i arious others relative to important improvements in the legislation and adlottrn, ministration of the kingdom, will lie submitted to your at deliberation "The great public works which we have undertaken shall he completed with the perseverance which the init Tr" 'hp country demand, and with the prudence indispensable to the maintenance oi public credit. "You will also have to direct your attention to calculated to second in our African (Algerine) posit the sessions the progress of colonization and of its internal is city prosperity, i ratxjuilIity, so happily restored to Algeria, edinte by the valor and ot our army, enables us to examine maturely that important question, respecting poor which a special bill will be presented to you "Messieurs, common feeling animates us. You are ill, like me and mine, demoted to the happiness and granleur of our country already long experience has enlightened us as to the jiolicy best suited lo her moral ind material interests, an which must secure present irosperity and the pacific and regular development of her uture destinies, await with confidence, from your pariotism and wisdom, the co-operation necessary to the ircomplishment of this great task. Let us assist each ither in supporting the burden, and France will reap the ruit of our efforts." The effect of the speech was to bring down the funds.

The most serious apprehensions of famine are in consequence of the continued scarcity and high nices of corn and provisions in France. Serious riots pave taken place in the provinces among the poor, who bread shops. 'I roops were called out. The French budget for is Pi shows a deficiency of sixty aillions of francs. The Journal des Debate publishes the ailJress of Presient Folk to the American Congress in full, which it critiiees with much severity.

It remarks tiiat the President iow appears, although ather too late, to entertain serious pprcheusions as to the consequences of the war he has ngaged in against the republic of Mexico. Italy. The popularity of the continues unabated. He ins recently raised the wages of the hiliorers, and given lirections for extensive drainage works. The weather in Italy has been unusually severe.

Mwiiscrluid. An insurrectionary the canton it Fribttrg on the ilth ult. ninHoitants of Rulle, Mnrnt, and Ramont assembled for the purose of marching on the capital in two columns. Findtg, however, that the government was prepared to resist be attack, retreated. They were subsequently icked and defeated by the government troops.

Several rrests have taken place at Friburg. Spain. Accounts from Madrid to the 11th ultimo speak of a hange in the ministry as likelv to take place. M. Mon, was expected would leave office, and M.

Isturitz would emain at the head of the cabinet. Portugal. Advices from Lisbon to the nth ult. state that the Miuelite forces, by which liraga was held under Macdon.hl, to the number of nearly men, bail been entirely efcated by the. Queen's troops under Casal, of the iliguelites being killed, while tliere were only forty on he Queen's side hoi (III comlxit.

The mmiirinal chnni. er of Coimbni declined to with Das Antas, ml Saldanha has chased him out of that town. Nearly ighty of Das Antas's men had deserted over to the latter, icnwalbach was inarching against Evora, which would ertainly submit. Poland. By order of the Imperial government, Poland has Ballv ceased to exist, and is to be incorporated with the tussian Empire.

Warsaw is in a state of consternation. The Russian General Rudiga now occupies the frontiers the old republic of Cracow with 10,000 troops. Ausria is alarmed at this movement. Nwodrii. The Rhenish Observer, of the publishes the rdlowing letter, dated Vienna, Much excite- rent has been created in the diplomatic salons by a proest against the incorporation ol Cracow, which Baron de Iochschild, the Swedish ambassador, has presented to he Austrian government on the part of King Oscar, in lis quality of a guaranteeing party to the treaty of Viena.

It is'said that the style of this note is most dignified, nd that the king of Sweden, although convinced of the lecessity of the measure against which he protests, ev- resses a hope that it will be the last measure of a simiir nature to which the throe powers will have recourse." Austria. The merchants of Breslau, says the Nuremburg corresondent, have received an official circular from the Ausrian government, announcing that it has established a ine ot customs on the frontier of Cracow, hut that the arangements have not yet been completed for the receipt of uties. Turkey. Several important changes in the ministry have taken ilacc, which may lead to a crisis in the affairs of the government. The revolutionary movement under Mnhmoud, in Boslia, has been put down by the Turkish government.

The hiefs were shot. Greece. The Budget of is 17 has been presented to the Chamiers by the finance minister. The receipts arc rachmas, and the drachmas. Coletti, the minister, has sufficiently recovered his ieallh to enable him to resume his official duties.

Athens nf the 91 at nit hat consi lerable excitement was created in that city by letter which had been published in a newspaper called he Elpis, and which was immedintaly seized by the gov- rnment. This letter stated that 1'rince Metternich had iroposed to the other powers to suppress the existing contitution in Greece, and to replace it by one similar to hose enjoyed by the small German States; that Austria could accomplish this feat by inarching 10,000 troops nto Greece; and that suhseijuently the Greek regular nny should be incorporated with that of Austria. To his proposition it was said that England alone had reused to consent. In. It is stateJ that the choleni continues to make frightful avages throughout nearly the whole of Persia Cape of Hope.

Advices have been received from Cape Town to Nov. s. The chief, Sandilla, it was apprehended, would not ie found so docile as might be desired, in delivering up lis arms Or even the cattle stolen. Attempts were to he made to land stores at Port Alaitind, and establish a regular station there, and, in the 1 vent of success, the troops will he enabled to jienetrate nto the heart of the Caffrc country. 1 Tin- Corn Trade of Enropr.

Fiom the London Murk Lane Express, Jan. 18. The value of wheat has risen day by day for many veeks consecutively without a single pause, and prices lave now attained an altitude calculated to induce catt- ion on tin' part of buyers. Prudent tradesmen consider peculative investments at present rates hazardous, and nirties who purchase only in the regular way of Imsiiess, are gradually restricting their operations, being unwilling to take more than just sutlicielit to their customers supplied. When allairs arrive at his position a reaction usually follows, hut, owing to he peculiar circumstances of the present seasion we reutly doubt whether such will, in this instance, prove he rase.

The fact that large shipments of grain ronintic to be made from England to Ireland, from which ountry, in the ordinary course of events, we are in the iubit of drawing a considerable proportion of our alone sufficient to upset all previously conceived lotions. But the singularity of our position does not nd here. The loss of the potato crop in Ireland, and he consequent necessity of feeding several millions of leople, not generally in the habit of consuming grain, so expensive a substitute, is certainly one very nowirful reason for concluding that prices" ennnot well re one; out wnen iu inis is atuieu ine present state ni "ranee, and other continental countries, where the rojis of corn have proved so short as to obi me the hfterent governments to have recourse to such xpedients as those lately adopted by the French altering the navigation laws to encourage im- ortation, hy admitting Hour under flags of all nations, md subsequently taking otFthe duties of grain altogether -there are certainly grounds to apprehend that it will necessary to pay very high prices anroail to induce our ontinental neighbors to part with a commodity they itand in such urgent need of themselves. We are, thereore, inclined to think that, unless the spring should extraordinarily propitious, and the arrivals from he other side of the Atlantic more extensive thnti we lave reason to calculate on, the value of all kinds of ood will remain high up to the time of next harvest. I'he trade in wheat has not been quite so excited this as he.

preceding week, the very high terms demanded havng flail the effect, as stated above, of causing all parties exercise more than usual prudence in their operations. dut, notwithstanding a somewhat diminished demand, he tendency of prices has been steadily upwards; in iroof of which we shall quote the advance realized at of the leading provincial markets. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, there was a good attendance if buyers from the manufacturing districts, und from Ireland and the quantity of wheat on sale lieine moderate, ates lid. (ier to or lid. per quarter above those that day se'nmght, were obtained without difficulty later in the week a further enhancement of 3d.

to 3d. per 70 lbs. was established, several parcels having been taken on Friday by speculators at the rise last named. The reports from the lending towns in Yorkshire inform us that biisinrss in wheat had been more or less checked by the advance; still needy buyers had had no alternative, and had been under the of paying.