Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-30
PATIENCE AND sIBMIssiYENEss.

| PATIENCE AND SUBMISSIVE NESS.
Ifany one doubts the peaceable character OF
a portion Of the citizens Of this Metropolis, we
| think we have proofs enough to convince the
most skeptical unbelieyer. Nay, not only are
they peaceably inclined, but patient submis-
siye and Of long suffering; ready to obey the
command which says, /" if thine enemy smite
thee on one cheek, turn thou the other to him
that he may smite that also" The portion we
alluae to are 50 tumble" so passive, so unre-
sisting that they would excite the admiration,
and almost the envy Of that admirable charac-
ter OF Dickens, Jeremiah Heap. A
Patience is great virtue; non-resistance Is
believed by some to be virtue also, and hui
mility all commend therefore the class OF our
citizens who possess these in such present.
ncnt degree as we know they do, are most vir-
tuous, indeed. They believe, and give prac-
teal evidence of the faith that is in them, that
it is their duty to honor the king to resist not
evil to say naught against "the powers that
be- II an outrage has been committed by the
President, If the laws and constitution have
been violated by those in power, iii armed
soldiers of the regular army, or the United
States Marines have been called out, and have
by order Of their officers shot down peaceabe,
u offending citizens, they would perhaps la
ment "the untoward circumstance but in
their opinion the less said about it the better;
to move in the matter, to ask of Congress an
investigation of the facts and circumstances.
that the guilty may be discovered and punish
ed, would only tend to stir up strife, and Gre
ate ill-feeling, and therefore it were better to
submit in silence and patience. May be"
say they, calmly, humbly and submissively,-
g may be the Government will not shoot down
any more of our citizens, If we say nothing
about the past, or give no offence to the May
or or the President in future; at all events,
they are stronger than we are, and might be
provoked to do us more harm in the same
manner, if we manifest a turbulent spirit;
therefore we decline to move in the matter, or,
to sign memorial asking Congress to investi-
gate the transactions which took place here on
the LIST Monday of June last. We are very
sorry those things happened then, very sorry
so many were killed and wounded but it was
their misfortune; if they had not been there
they would not have been shot by the United
States Marines; we are sorry for them and
their families; but--O, alb hem--we can't
oppose the government; 1t is great and pow
erful, and we are poor weak creatures"
Who is so insensible to goodness and virtue
as not to admire humility, patience, and sub
-missiveness like thiss And what American is
there who will not regret our ancestors did not
exhibit these virtues in a greater degree than
it seems they did, when the citizens of Boston
were fired upon by the British troops under
Captain Preston, in ITO, and also subsequently
when the tea was thrown overheard, and the
Continentals resisted at Buhker's Hill and seve-
raj other places2 What a pity such virtuous
men had not lived in those days to set the So
called "patriots" an example of submissive
hess, long-suffeling, non-resistance, and pas
sive obedience!
And yet there are some strange to say, who
will persist in admiring people that will not
bow the neck to power, kiss the hand that
smites, nor lick the foot that tramples con-
temptously upon them who would rather live
upon dry crusts and feel that they are Jreemen
and subject to no petty tyrant, than to roll in
wealth and be the subjects Of despotism,
whether that despotism be exercised under the
form of monarchical government or Demo-
cratic; by a king or a president And we have
reason to believe there are some few Of the lat
ter class here in this city that they are gener-
ally mechanics and working men not given to
sloth and idleness, not enervated by indul-
gence in luxurious ease, nor yet absorbed in
money making. They are an imprudent fiery
set who suffer their Indignation 10 find vent in
strong language whenever they see or feel the
heavy hand, or iron heel Of despotism, or the
bristling bayonets Of a mercenary soldiery
used as instruments Of oppression. What a
pity they cannot be counscllcd into modera-
ton, silence, and submission by their money
loving, peaceful, harmless, tumble, passive,
spiriless neighborsl How much more money
they could make, and possibly might have a
bone, or job of work tossed to them by the
Government or some Of its insolent tools.