Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-01-09
MORE PRESCRIPTION OF AMERI.

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few days ago discharged from their employ
ments at the Navy Yard, -6ecause they are
americans. This is not the ayowed reason
however; that is, the want of work. But
now let us inform the uninitiated, those igno-
rant of Buchan' how the thing is done.
1t is pretended just previous to the time when
it is determined to dismiss the americans,
that more hands are needed, and more hands
are accordingly employed mot americans,
no, not one,--but Irishmen, or Administers
ton rowdies from Baltimore. Well, in a few
days ii is reported that there is not work for
the hands, and that some Of them must be dis
charged, But who are discharged, the new
and inexperienced hands, the raw rowdies
from Baltimore, or the old, experienced and
faithful workmen who have families depend
ent upon their daily labor for heir support?
The latter, of course; and so they are forth
with furnished with walking tickets, and bid
to march out Of the Yard.
And so much man gets for being native
born american and believing that that por-
ton of the citizens of the United States who
were born upon the soil, have any rights or
privileges as such, in their own country Time
was when we were simple and unsophisticated
enough to believe that the announcement of
such prescription Of American citizens, would
have stirred up feeling Of indignation in the
bosom Of every son of the soil, and brought
down curses deep and loud upon the heads Of
those base enough to prescribe their own coun-
trymen to enable them to reward foreigners.
Butwe have lived too long in this sink -hole Of
political venality and base-born turbulence, to
expect anything of the kind. We have seen
enough to convince us that no outrage how
ever monstrous, no venality however mean
and contemplate, no corruption however sor-
did and ignoble, no persecution however I'M
just, cruel and malignant, can move the in
durated hearts Of those who have sold them
selves body, soul, head and conscience to thu
administration.
One Of the persistent demands made by the
indomitable Ne!herlanders in ther bloody con-
test with Philip I'd, of Spain,a contest that
drenched their land in blood, and in which the
most revolving crueties and wholesale massa-
ores were an everyday occurrence,--was that
the foreigners should be removed from the
land, and the people should be governed by
Netherlanders This memorable contest for
freedom to worship God according to the die
tates of their own consciences and to be gov
erned by native-born citizens according to the
laws and charters Of the land, has excited and
will ever call forth the admiration and ap-
every part Of the civilized world. And yet
in that nation of heroes there we've not want
ing those base recreants who could join the
oppressor, and aid foreigners, tyrants, mon
sters in human shape, to Cypress, massacre,
burn, hang, gibbet, and .orture upon the rack,
and roast over slow fires, their own country
men, friends neighbors, fathers and brothers.
And we know from experience that there are
among US those who for the sake of enjoying
the smiles of tyrants, and the rewards of Of
fice,-who in Short for the sake of a little
distinction, pelf and the Almighty dollar, are
ready to become the tools of oppressors, and
to applaud any act of injustice and cruelty
practised upon their own countrymen who are
perverse, obstinate, igHorant and wilful enough
to believe that Americans are entitled to
some rights and immunities in their own
land
A nation, absorbed in trade, commerce,
money making and moncy-spending, may sub
init to acts Of tyronny and oppression, until
they become callouS, Indifferent, and insensi-
ble We hope we have not arrived at any
such condition in this country; though we
must say that we do not believe that our fore.
fathers would have tamely submitted to any
thing like the prescription and despotism now
practised here, from George the Sd and his
ministers.