Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-02-13
TO AMERICANS THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES.

UtOp VI DlOOu hoQ bCOii yVoh hA>AoJ
having long endured the expressions and per-
secutions Of the British crown--haying petit
toned in vain for redress of grievances, and
protested in the most solemn manner, against
the tyrannous usurpation of power by the Par
lament and finding oil their. remon-
strances and appeals for justice in vain, pre-
pared silently and solemnly for the stern
struggle which they saw was inevitable They
prepared for the worst resolved, that, come
what might they would be free, or die upon
the field where Freedoms battle should be
fought For men SO resolved and determined.
it was easy to conqucr--they were determined
not to be slaves, and whether victorious or de-
feated--living or dead--they still were free.
But we wish to refer to that period Of time
just antecedont to the firing Of British soldiers
upon the mob at Lexington and Concord, and
more especially to the time itself Our fathers
were soaiting-they had suffered long, they
had endured--they had writhed in spirit--they
had groaned and brooded over their wrongs
they were looking for something to come-what
that something was to be, they knew not--but
come they knew it would, and they were pre-
pared, come what might, to do or die in the
cause Of liberty. Every conceivable wrong
had been inflicted upon them--save one, and
that Was the shedding Of blood! Blood once
shed-the smouldering embers of their wrath
burst forth into mighty flame; that would
not be stayed until the earth had been saturated
with blood-with the blood Of their enemies
mingled freely with their own--unti their OPP
pressors were driven from the land and they
left in peaceable possession Of the soil which
their valor had won-trebly dear to them on
account of the torrents Of blood freely poured
out in the cause Of liberty.
Americana the position Of your fathers at
the outbreaking Of the war Of Independence,
| is your position now. AS were then the citi-
zens Of Concord, SO are now the Americans in
the city of Washington.
How did the citizens of the colonies act
towards their brethren of Concord when they
learned that they had been shot down in the
public streets brutally murdered by foreign
soldiery? Did they fold their arms, and list
lessly look on9 MOI When the bloody news
of the slaughter of their countrymen reached
them-the farmer left his pillow in the un-
finished furrow--the mechanic dropped his
| tools-the merchant closed his books-the
preacher Of the gospel descended from his
pulpit--the earth was left untilled--the fire in
forge was suffered to die out-peaceful avoca-
tons gave place to deeds and feats Of arms
the drum and fife, the shrill trump, and all the
pomp and circumstance of deadly strife, be-
came the absorbing thought and occupation
Of their lives. They marched to the relief of
their brethren, and soon the shedders of inno-
cent blood were taught the lesson that they
were determined to be free-that tyranny had
no restng-place upon their soil, and that the
minions of despotic power must leaUe land
they could not occupy people they could
not conquer.
The American party of Washington, brother
Americans, are in the condition our fathers and
mothers of Concord were, when their sons and
brothers and neighbors were shot down by an
infatuated foreign soldiery. They had been
subjected to prosecutions, the most virulent
and unrelenting- by the harpies of
a sham-D Democratic administration, bounded
on by promises Of Office and fat rewardsAcrea-
lures that follow in the track Of the political
victor to do his dirty work, and revenge him
upon his political enemies-hunting them
throughout the Departments, and pursuing
them to the public works, turning them out
Of office, and depri1 them Of the means of
earning their bread llhe sweat of their brows
thus taking the bread out of the mouths of
their wives and children, and leaving them to
starve and suffer in the midst Of plenty, on ac-
count Of their american principles.
This was the case, brothers, up to the first
of June last, and 10 pas bad enovgh-but on
that morning, pursuant TO plan concocted by
prominent members Of the Democratic party,
in order to prevent Americans from depositing
their votes, and thus giving a majority to the
democratic candidates OF the Fourth Ward
contrary to positive law, the U. S. Marines
were ordered out 70 queH riot that did not
erist, and by the orders Of these men fred
upon pesceablo and unofending citizens, kill
ing and wounding some thirty Of them, eight
of whom were either killed upon the spot, or
died, in excruciating tortures, Of the wounds
they then and there received
Americans, this is the condition Of your
brethren Of Washington They have been
murdered--are deprived Of work-it being
causeof dismissal from Office or employment,
to be found dealing with man who is known
TO be member Of the American party, or
who takes our paper, "he american" What
will you dor viii you initiate your fathers,
and nobly come 10 the rescued Weappeal to
you. We AK you to aid the circulation Of the
American, to the end that these truths may be
spread before the people--that they may know
and appreciate the good win Of the harmonious
emocracy--harmoniou when plumber is in
view--harmoniou even to the shedding Of
blood, to secure the spoils--but who fight like
hyenas over its distribution-who would, like
the traitor, Arnold, shake the pillars of the
Republic, and basely betray their country, il
they might live in ease and affluence. Amer
leans, these things are so, and they win never
be any better until americans rule Americo.
The steamboat Colonel Crossman, from New
Il n GA L IL