Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-18

| strated against such familiarity, that he was
stranger, and asked him if he knew who he
WASP 'Oh, damn you, we know you and all
your party replied the federal rutfian. u
hope, in six months time, to see you all ban
ished from the country then turning to a fel-
low named Orem, who used to act as a spy on
Mr.. Jefferson, and report what he said to the
President, remarked, Does not Dayton keep
them fellows in excellent order abiding to the
insolence of Day on, w;o was speaker OF the
House OF Representatives.
John Randolph was nsulted and iostled in
the theatre, in Philadelphia by certain officers
of the army and navy, for words spoken in de-
bate on the resolution for reducing the army,
which Mr. Randolph made the subject Of
communication to the President, complaining
of the outrage.
Mr.. Bache, a printer and near relation of
Dr. Franklin, was in May, 1898, threatened
with violence to himself and family by mob
of aristocrats, and had together all his friends
armed for his defence. The cowardly assassins
then dessted from their contemplated enter
prise, but bedaubed the statue of the venerable
Franklin with mud, and defled the entrance Of
every public building with crowns and ensigns
Of royalty. Large quantities Of arms and anu
| nitions, muskets and balls, were lodged in
house near the hall of Congress, which were to
| have been distributed to the federal mob. The
adherents of Mr.. Adams paraded the streets at
night until sunrise next morning, shouting God
save the King and Rule Britannia This was
in the height of the anti-French fever.
"On the 9th of February, 1899, motion was
| to be made in Congress for the repeal of the
| alien law. Petitions had been circulated in fa-
vor OF that object, and some were placed on
| the church doors of St. Mary's church. The
! adherents of the administration took offence at
this and raised a riot, in which some who came
out Of the church bore a prominent part; du-
ring which riot several republicans were want
only maltreated and seriously injured.
'On the sth Of May following a band of
federal deperadoes entered the Office of the
1urora with pistols in their hands, knocked
down Mr.. Duane, the editor, and dragged him
down stairs and severely beat him and his son,
a boy sixteen years of age, who threw himself
across the body ofhis father to screen him from
their blows. They would have demolished the
Office entirely, had not the republicans FASTENED
to his relief Mr.. Duane found it impossible,
during the administration of Mr. Adams, to OBJ
tain the smallest redress for the injuries he had
sustained in his person and property for this
| most unprovoked outrage.
similar scenes occurred from similar causes
in other cities of the Union. The pulpits of
the day Numbered the defamation Of clerical
politicians against philosophers and jacobins,
free-masons and illuminate. The emperors of
Rome, in the height of their power, received
from their humble subjects not more servle
marks of submission than we're paid, at this
period, to President Adams by the federal fac
ton. Addresses Of the most fulsome character
were constantly sent to him, lauding him for his
patriotism and energy in administering the
affairs of the government. The republican
who had firmness enough to know his own i'm
portance as citizen was insulted and often at
the hazard of his life, from the minions of an
aristocracy who were determined, by the force
Of tyrannical laws as well as by mob violence,
to subdue the spirit Of liberty in the land, and
accomplish their own tratorous designs. This
period has been justly and emphatically termed
the reign of terror"
No one can read the extracts we have cop
led, without being struck with the identity of
opinion, between the friends and supporters of
the sedition law, and many ofthe servile presses,
office holders, and politicians of the present
day. All that those old federalists, who had
unwillingly been changed from the subjects Of
king, into the citizens of republic, and had
still remaining in their hearts some of the old
leaven ofloyalty to the king-all that those old
federalists and monarchy-men contended for,
their successors who were born and reared un.
der the influences Of free institutions, now con-
tend for.
They tell us that we cannot be permitted to
find fault with our rulers. No matter 1rtat
they do-no matter what their usurpations-we
must hold our peace; our lips must be hermet-
ically sealed. Are these men democrats? 1t
is reproach to democracy to say so. They
are the old federalists in disguise. What
would become of this government if such men
were permitted to have sway? We would
have despot in place of a President-a nobil-
ity in place Of q cabinet and elected representa-
tives. Inplace Of freedom of speech, and opin.
ion, we would have fines, chains, and gibbets
for bold men who dared to grumble about
the government.
If these men think to curry favor with
Franklin Pierce by these means, they will find
themselves mistaken. He is a genuine repub.
lican-and, like all men of that stamp, he alb.
hors everything resembling that vile old sed
tious law. He exercised the privilege of ex-
pressing. his sentiments on public men and
measures before he, himself, was raised to the
chiefmagistracy. He spoke then like an honest
man, and if not mistaken in him, he feels an I'M
mitigated disgust, asovereign contemptform mean
spirited creatures who fawn upon, hatter, and
almost worship him. They would worship any
man in his place in the same manner. Take
an ape and crown it king, it is all the same to
| them.
Now, there are no more disagreeable and un-
worthy characters than those disconnected
men, who make it their habit to carp, cavil, and
find fault with everything. They show as
much meanness of nature, and as much weak
pess Of principle, by indiscriminate condem-
nation, as do the others by indscriminate
approval. But, in free country, citizen
should surely be permitted the privilege of OK.