Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political

ADDRESS TO COLUMBIA.
SACRED TO THE PATRIOTIC BAND OF BAL-
TIMORE.

Columbia weep! assume the garb of woe,
Let Echo peals of heavy sadness throw!
Columbia weep! a sable robe display,
For clouds, portentous, have enwrapt the day.
Those clouds saw rising with prophetic eye,
When Washington, thy shield, thy father, son,
For Heaven, resign'd the glorious laurels won.
With sombre shades have mantled o'er the
sky.
The Day alas, a sable aspect wears!
Fell Anarchy its Demon falchion rears;
It strides-escap'd from the confines of hell.
Abroad it stalks--aloud is heard its yell;
Displays abroad its hydra headed crest,
By Faction nurtur'd, by your foes carest.
Deeds, black as Erebus, the mind appal,
Your Soldiers bleed, your Patriots murder'd
fall.
Such acts of horror, did that night unfold,
That makes the blood around the heart run
cold.
Let er'ry face, a face of anguish meet!
Let ev'ry freeman's heart, responsive beat
To groans, wrung from the Patriotic band
Allur'd by wiles, to the Assassin's hand.
Deceived, pent up, like sheep for slaughter.
they
Were look'd, and gaz'd on, by the beast of
prey.
Oh blush Columbia! rather blush than weep!
That you a parent, should such Watchmen
keep:
Your sword, your laws were in the hands of
those,
Who slept at post, or acted with your foes.
No wall was batter'd, none was scal'd from
high,
The Patriot band was led, lock'd up to die;
Eager for blood, as the fierce tygers bound,
The Demon foe. a welcome access found.
The hour arrived, for deeds of murderous hue,
Back glid the bolts, the doors wide open flew.
The wolves, who plotted, and who led the van,
Merit no more the epithet of man;
But yet the wolf, the hungry wolves of prey,
Compar'd with those, are gentle lambs of play.
Bid ev'ry face, a face of anguish meet!
Bid groan, to heart-felt groan responsive beat,
While truth the pencil guides, unfolds a tale,
That makes the cheek of apathy turn pale!
The virtuous Lingan, gentle, brave and good.
Has sealed his love of freedom, with his blood.
His venerable face was cover'd o'er
With wounds, his snow-white hair with clotted
gore.
Was this the Lingan, amiable and mild?
Was this the Lingan, freedom's darling child?
O yes, 'twas he, the Soldier of renown,
By vulgar men, and weapons beaten down!
By ruffian hands, was vet'ran Lingan torn,
Who had the banners of his country borne.
Was this a death, Columbia, for your son?
Look'd you aghast not, when the deed was
done?
And Lee, who fac'd proud Tarlton on the
plain,
The gallant Lee was left among the slain;
Who, when a youth, a valiant army led,
Was batter'd, mangled, heap'd upon the dead;
To Freedom true, in youth and age the same.
And on her records, long will Lee remain.
Nor strange, Columbia, that the murd'rous foe,
Hurl'd on his head the oft repeated blow!
Nor strange, his throat should feel the ruffian
hold,
Nor strange, his lips so eloquently bold
For Liberty, should meet the rage of those,
The savage hate of them, who are her foes.
Yes well, Columbia, did the Demon know,
He was black anarchy's intrepid foe!
For Lee, and action, can no more unite,
Than midnight darkness, and the noonday
light.
Oh say, Columbia! is it thus you shield,
Men who have fought and "brav'd the tented
field?"
T' achieve that liberty, immortal crown,
The freeman's boast, and jewel of renown.
Insulted Liberty! the daring deed,
Was pointed at her heart, and made it bleed:
The brother band did in her cause unite
To guard her press, the freeman's sacred
right.
And long will Hanson, Thompson, ev'ry name
Of these her sons, so dear to virtuous fame.
The cause was Liberty's her heroes bled!
She felt the base indignity and fled:
Beware Columbia! learn and be aware,
You forge your fetters, if the foe you spare.
Fell anarchy, despotic fiend will reign,
Will feed and gorge, on blood of thousands
slain.
Look, look on France, and such a fate avoid!
Think on the thousands, faction there de-
stroy'd!
The matron, maiden, infants, babes unborn,
Were slaughter'd, mangled, limbs asunder
torn.
And yet her sons, by nature, were as free
From love of human gore, as yours can be.
Twas anarchy that made their rivers red,
With blood of parents, brothers, infants shed.
Arouse, Columbia, 'wake, awake in time!
Or freedom leaves you for some other clime.
Raise, raise her standard let the trumpet,
sound!
Her valiant, veteran sons, will rally round.
Arouse, and let it through the world be heard,
Your laws are honor'd and your press rever'd.
See to your councils--what's impure remove,
And shield your children with a parent love.
Humble yourself, in dust and ashes lie,
Before the great Supreme who lives on high;
He, he, alone can save, protect from harm,
Who rules the tempest, and rides on the
storm.