Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-03-06
NO. II.

have given accounts Of the bloody doines Of
Saturday night, in the vicinity Of Second street
and Massachusetts avenue, which are not in
many particulars, correct. No scene of VIC.
lence and blood can occur in Washington the
blame and disgrace of which is not Immediately
attached to members of the American party
These prints appear to have fervent delight
in attributing to the Know Nothings,n as
they are called, everything of disgraceful or
wicked nature that transpires among us. Ever
since "Bloody Monday" not misdeed, not
even an ugly word, has been done or spoken.
but the poor Know Nothings are to blame
There is policy In this. The bloody acts of
Bloody Monday" are to be justified in the
eyes Of the people abroad, and hence Washing
ton and Baltimore are held up to the world as
inhabited by Goddess and Christlessn Know
Nothings, who revel in blood, and delight in
acts OF violence and in the performance of
murderous Deeds the bare recital of which
makes the heart turn pale
Now, the fact is, the very reverse Of this is
the truth Members of the American party in
Washington--that, is, those who have the
courage to avow their membership--are per-
secuted and oppressed set of men, and have
been so fiercely set upon, and vndctively fol-
lowed up, for the purpose of depriying them
of the means Of earning bread for their fami-
lies, attacked and assailed by violence in the
public streets and in private and public houses,
that many of them have not thought it safe to
venture out after night, unless armed to the
teeth for resistance against the outlaws who
lay in wait for them, for the purpose of taking
their lives.
1t is known to every citizen of Washington
that our city has been for long lime, in pos
session of band of armed ruffians known as
Regulators" and that their declared busi-
ness here was to regulate things in Washing
ton. They attacked everything American
everything that bears the name American,
from an engine house to restaurant, where
Americans were known to resort. Every citi-
zen knows that it was and is dangerous to
walk abroad after night Robberies, murders,
stabbings, assaults insults offered to women,
are of daily and nightly occurrence And eve-
rybody knows, too, that this was and is
Democratic association, and many know and
all belieos, that it was brought here at the in
stigation of some of the heads of the municipal
government, who put their hands in their poe.
kets for their maintenance, and to prevent con-
viction when, accidentally, arrested These
things are true, and cannot be gainsayed
Let no one suppose that we are the adyo-
Gates ofwrong in any quarter. Not we. We
are for order, quiet, peace, "good will" to men.
But while we would not screen the perpetrator
Of wrong from punishment be he who he may,
we avow ourselves the advocate and defender
Of the oppressed, nor shall injustice be done to
any member of the American party without
due exposure, as far as in us lies. OF merited
punishment we do not complain. Ifany MEM
Der Of that party transgresses thelaws, let him
have a fair trial, and if honestly convicted, let
him suffer, say we. But the Democratic prac-
hce OF hiring ruffians and rowdies to come to
Washington and violate the peace and security
Of the city, murder Americans, insult females
and rob and main at viii, and then charge the
offence against "Americans," is not just the
thing that we are prepared to submit to.
We are american, in every sense of the
term In our veins flows revolutionary blood.
Our fathers fought and bled for freedom--our
mothers labored and toiled while their hus-
bands and brothers fought, and when they
could do nothing else, they prayed for the sue
cess Of their husbands and brothers, under the
lead Of their noble chieftain, George Washing
ton. We will not submit to wrong We know
our rights, and knowing, dare maintain them
Suffer, we may-but if we do suffer, it shall be
in the cause Of right. So go ahead, ye min
ions Of an arbitrary dynasty, and do your worst
we despise and defy you.
In the days of our fathers, there were those
who bascly truckled to the power Of the King.
So, in these days, there are some who basely
truckle to the power Of an arbitrary President
the President Of party, not the President
of the people They are moro despicable, If
possible, than the tyrants to whom they cringe.
They are degenerate sons Of noble sires, or
worthy representatives Of Tory ancestors. We
despise them.
The following, in relation TO the riot on Sat
urday night, we have from the lips of one of
the wounded upon that occasion:
Hearing there was to be rattle Of pig
at the house Of man named Dasey, and not
knowing exactly where the house was, he and
some others walked down as far as Second
street and Massachusetts, avenue, and when
within about forty feet Of the house, a crowd
came out Of the gate, and fired several shots, by
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