B/C? A» ADDRESS OCCABIONEI) BT THE DEATH OF GENERAL LINGAN, WHO WAS MUBDEBED BT THi MOB JIT EMTIMORE, Delivered at Georgetown, September 1, iSl2, BY GEORGE WASHINGTON PARK CUSTIS. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY BRADFORD W BEAD, in ADDRESS. Shall the stranger, my friends, attempt to speak your Hero's praise ? — I never fed at his board, I never drank of his cup, nor did the cheering smile of welcome ever meet me at his hospitable thres- hold. Then sure no motives of partiality can influ- ence the sentiments, which I am about to utter, in behalf of one, whom I never knew. Yet as the brave man who fought the battles of my coimtry's liberty, is to be the subject of my praise ; as the illustrious citizen, who died in defence of one of the dearest rights which freemen can boast, is to be the Hero of my tale ; — I can only say, my friends, that were my powers commensurate with my zeal, I would hope on this day to do honor to his me- mory. By what standard of patriotism shall we try your Lingan ? — Shall we try him by the standard of mo- dern PATRIOTS ; MUSHROOMS of YESTERDAY, who have grown up from the soil, first fattened by J the blood of Heroes ; or rather shall we try him by the illustrious standard of 'Seventy Six V — Look to the mighty period \vhich "tried men's souls ;' 1 — look into the embattled nuiks oi' libcnty's host, and there will you find your LINGAN ! — Witness the dreadful combi\t of Long Island, where the fa- mous Maryland Regiment, after bearing the brunt of the day, were nearly annihilated and cut to pieces — Again behold him at the storming of Fort Wash- ington, and then you may change the scene. You have yet only viewed your friend, the gallant soldier in the tented field. — You must 7W7V behold him the wretched prisoner in the dungeons of the Prison Ship ! — There, while listening to the groans of ex- piring humanity ; there, while beholding his brave brethren d} ing by inches iji all the horrors of cap- tivity and want, well might your LINGAN say — Sweet, oh my country ! should be thy liberties, when they are purchased at this monstrous price ! Yes, my friends, of that very Prison Ship was your LINGAN a suftlrer, which, even at this late time of day, excites the warmest sensibilities in the American bosom. You have seen our brethren perform a pious pilgrimage to the spot where the victims were laid* — you have seen them rake up * The Orator here alludes to the funeral ecrcmouies in New V'ork — M hen llic Tannnany Society and citizens of the same political denomination, caused the boiies ol'hinnb'eds of Amer- icans who had perished on l)oard the Jersey prison ship, to be collected from the heach and buried beneath a nionument, pre- pared fur that purpose. On this occasion appropriate ora- tions were delivered, and tlic bones were attended to the ejrave i)y aji immense procession — (ieneral liiNOAN was one of tlie few \\\\Q survived these niartyretrated at the feet of tyrannic- power, and the lib- erty of tlie press violated and usurped : — And when he saw a band of youth prepare to defend their rights, or perish in the breach, the soul of the veteran rejoiced. — "I admire these gallant boys," he said, "their heroic ardor remmds me of my other days — I will join their gallant calling — age and ex- perience will be useful to temper their valor, to moderate their zeal, to direct their energies. I will JDC the Nestor to the young Achilles." When, after a brave defence, our brethren had laid down their arms, and submitted to the consti- tuted authorities of their coiuitry, mercy and gener- osity should have been shewn to submission. They are the privileges of the brave in every age and con- dition of society. Who were these prisoners ? — Were they the rak- ings of kennels ; were their shoes yet new, since they landed on our shores ? or were they sons of the sires, who had fought the battles, and labored in tlie councils of their country's glory ; y-eomen of our land, wlx) had grown up with the growth and strengthened with the strength of liberty ? Their cause was holy. They knew they had done no wrong — for people of America know, that when the laws of a community can no longer protect the citizen, the great law of Nature commands him to protect himself! ! ! — Yet, that the ends of jnstice might be subserved — that their accusers might ob- tain the full measure of justice denied to them ; these gallant heroes consented to be carried, like malefac- tors^ to the Prison House ! — There they received the most solemn assurance, which honor and relig- ion could give, of perfect safety and protection. Who will then believe, that in a few short hours, the asylum of justice ; the asylum in which even the condemned criminal is sa/e ; should h6 converted into the chamber of death ! Hide, hide my country, thy diminished head ! Thouy an empire of laws, and yet this monstrous outrage within thy bosom ! Thou, the seat of jus- tice, and yet the asylum of justice, profaned with innocent blood ! The weeping genius of my coun- try seeks to draw a veil before the dreadful scene, but an higher Power commands that no veil shall screen this work of dai'kness from the light of Truth ! The Murder of Prisoners ! ! — Whv, 'tis ab- horrent to Nature — My soul sickens at the thought. Sure such hideous sin was once foreign to the Amer, ican character ! — Say, ye grey-headed men, veter- ans of liberty, and fathers of my country, -when was the time, during our arduous struggle, that the 8 soldier of freedom stained his laurels with hib prisoners' blood ! While storniinj^ the redoubts at Y(irk Town, the cry of the soldiers was, " Remem- ber Ncxv London^'''' yet, no sooner had tliefoc sub- mitted, than mercy, divine iMERcy, sat trium- phant on my country's colors — Aye, my friends, Hamilton and Lairens commanded then ! The Murder of Prisoners ! ! ! — Even san- guinar}^ France now cowers to our superior genius in iniquity — She is no longer supreme in sin. If we contemplate the tremendous scenes of her rev- olution, they appear but as Christmas-gambots to this hellish tragedy, for the state of society is decidedly different. — There the tiger had long been confined within the bars of ojjpression. For centuries had he gnawed his galling chain and thirs- ted for the blood of his oppressors ; but here, in the mild land of liberty, in a wise and good gov- ernment, whose laws provide the i)unishmcnt of crimes, what indeed must be that injury which re- quires an extra vengance ! The Murder of Prisoners ! ! ! — It is true, Napoleon, the chosen monster of crime, first set this horrid example at Jaffa ; but even inider Iris au- thority, the poor victims met a speedy and mer- ciful death ! — The battalion, which M^as drawn up against them, soon put a period to their sufferings, by an immediate passport to eternity. The Murder of Prisoners ! ! — When, even ^\hen the Indian Savage a prisoner takes, if he promises him protection, the poor cai>tive is safi. — 9 Nay, go further — Look to the Arab robber of the Desert, When he meets the wandering pilgrim in the sands, if he conducts him within his tent, the robber will die at his door in defence of his guest ! — Such are the examples of mercy, fidelity and honor which adorn even the savage life ; and yet, my countrymen, it has been left to the enlight- ened Republic of America, to shew more horrid examples of cruelty, then ever distinguished the In- quisition or the rack. Let us attend the venerable LINGAN in the last moments of his life. — When he found the inevitable fate which awaited him, that fortitude which had dis- tinguished the gallant veteran in the direful fields of the revolution, while fighting for the liberties of his country, did not desert him in the closing hour of his life. And yet, sure he thought, that if Americans were his foes, the sight of his venerable figure, bent with age, must touch their hearts ! Ah, LINGAN I thou hast indeed survived thy country's better days. There was a time, when thy venerable pre- sence would have arrested the falling dagger, had it been grasped by an American hand ! What did I say ? — Sure there was a time, when a thousand sabres would have gleamed to defend the grey head of an aged soldier, sinking at the feet of an assassin ! ! ! Alas ! those days are gone ! — The glory of my country hath sunk into the grave of her chief ! Attend the closing scene. The old man falls beneath their blows ; — yet feebly raising his woun- 10 ded h,cad, on which three score winters had shed their snows, lie appeals to his murderers — "Spare th/s old man, whose years are few to live ; Spare the father, whose orphans will want ! Spare the old soldier, whose faithful services, and A\hose hard sufferings have earned his country's liberties ! Sparc ! ! !" — Here, as if it were necessary to cap the climax of horror, to render the catastrophe of Hell complete — know, Americans, that JAMES LINGAN, the soldier of your WASHINGTON, the patriot, the hero, and the friend ; the man of charity who felt for others' woes ; the noble ex- ample to youth ; the man of virtue, religion and honor ; died, died under the appellation of a Tory. Are there men in this Assembly who can feel ? — Now let them feel ! Oh, Maryland! Would that the waters of thy Chesapeake could wash this foul stain from thy char- acter ! — Oh M A R YLA N D 1 Would that the record- ing angel, who carries thy black deed to Heaven's chancery on high, could drop a tear upon it, and blot it out forever ! But no ! A voice cries from the tomb of the brave. It rises to the God of Nature and Humanity, and demands a vengeance on the murderer ! And are there no young men in Montgomery, who will go and redeem the remains of their vener- able friend, and give them the rites of sepulture near his own house. Sure it would soothe the widow's sorrowing heart — Sure it would soothe 11 the orphans' woes ! — Then go, perform the pious task, and the applause of all good men speed you on your way ! — Mark well my words — 'Tis not that I would sharpen your swords to vengeance — ven- geance belongs to the laws ; but / would open your hearts to gratitude — gratitude belongs to man ! Shade of the venerable LINGAN ! Farewell ! Accept the feeble tribute erf a stranger's praise ; although thy Sun hath sunk in the horizon, still its last parting gleam sheds a benign lustre on thy fame. The laurel that covers thy hoary head, old man ! shall ever bloom with youthful verdure ! Thy illus- trious services in liberty's cause shall rear for thee a cenotaph in each freeman's bosom, while thy endearing virtues will cause the ready tear of affec- tion to freshen the turf on thy humble grave ! Soldier of my Country ! Defender of her Liberties— FAREWELL ! Permit me, my friends, to offer you a few re- marks, touching ths present state of our republic. People of America ! The Liberty of the Press is one of the noblest rights a freeman can boast. When the right of opinion, the liberty of speech, and the liberty of the press, are prostrated- at the feet of lawless power, the citadel of freedom must soon surre?ider. Yes, my friends, and that power which destroys these attributes of liberty, is the pioneer which precedes the march of despotism ! I well remember the good old Federal times, when the fl\ther of his country, blest with his vir- Lorc 12 lues our rising Empire. Then was Uic majesty ol* the laws supreme ; then ^vas tlie Liberty of the Press inviolate ; and sure, if ever there was a time, when its licentiousness required a curb, it was, when its slanders were aimed at the reputation of the First of Men ! The modern Archimedes of malice and ambition had upreared his mighty en- gines of calumny, to assail our Chieftain's virtue ! But the great, the godlike WASHINGTON, had only to oppose the iEgis of his integrity, and their shafts fell harmless to the ground ! Yes, Peo- ple of America ! and wretched indeed is that man's cause, which cannot be defended by his integrity ! Why are federalists a persecuted race ? Must they leave their Egypt, and under the conduct of another Moses, seek a new Canaan "? Can they boast of no virtues, no services, to entitle them to the joys of Liberty's land ? Who reared the temple of national freedom ? Who kindled the sacred Hame on its altars ? Whose virtues, whose services, have contributed to nourish that flame ? Go ! untie the scroll of fame ! — Peruse the list of American worthies, and tell me if any Federalists are there ! Go to the hard fought fields of the Revolution — kneel on their sacred earth, which tells no lies, and ask her, if on the memorable days, when we fought for Liberty, no Federal blood moistened her bosom ? Nay, persecuted as we are, perhaps at this moment some gallant sailor climbs the shattered mast to nail the flag of my country to its stump — My life on it. that fellow is a Federalist ! — Perl)aj)s soni<" k.. 13 gallant soldier may yet scale the Heights of Abra- ham, to wreathe Liberty's standard around Mont- gomery's tomb — I tell you the first foot, which presses that classic ground, will be a Federalisfs. Forever live the glorious name our WASHING- TON bore ! — Forever let his example inspire his children ! The spirit of Federalism rises from the tomb of Mount Vernon. — and when my country shall bend under the storms of adversity, the children of Wash- in gton will show "their generous nature," When the storms of adversity shall rock Liberty's temple to its base, the Sampson of Federalism will grasp the pillars, and in his expiring struggles, will perish with Liberty, in Liberty's ruins. Yes, Americans ! the power which made you great and free, independent and happy, still opens its arms to receive the prodigal returned — When my country shall have been deeply stricken by mis- fortune, may she — grown wise by her experience- determine to restore the age of Washington — ^to render the last of Republics immoutal ! Did I speak of the age of Washington ? the gol- den age of my country ? when peace, prosperity and protection blessed our land ! — Great is the con- trast now — Attend me, friends, to a Federalist's house in 1812 : I open you the door, and that too of a man who can look his country in the face, and say,* / have been thy benefactor ; near the cradle * Arlington Sheep-Shearing, founded in 1803, first (auglii our country to hail the sounds of industry with independeucf. ''.\merica shall be great and free, and minister to Iter want* 14 of my sleeping chiicl stands the musket and bayo- net ; near tb.e pillow of my innocent wife the sharp- ened sabre ! — and why? Because I will enjoy tin; right of opinion, the freedom of speech, and the liberty of the press — these sacred privileges I in- haled with my first breath, and will only lose them with my last. When my Parentf was perishing at York-Town, he becpieathcd this invLUuable legacy to his child, and damned be the man who would relinquish the rights obtained by a parent's sufter- ings ! !— Oh, WASHINGTON ! discerning man; well indeed didst thou foresee thy country's fallen deijtiny ! As a parent didst thou warn tliy children of the precipice to which they were approaching. Yes, as thy country's guardian angel didst thou stand on the brink, and j)oijit to the abyss below — Thy sun kis sunk in the west, but may its last parting gream still serve to light us in our dark- some course, till the sun of another Washington shall arise, and give to America a glorious day ! Weep not, my brethren, that our Chief is gone. Dry up your tears ; and thank the Author of Di- vine Mercies for having so long preserved our Benefactor for our happiness — and at last only to "by the employment of her own resources." — "The American "citizen will {trondly appear when clothed in the produce of "his native soil" — [^Speeches of Mr. C'listis, at the Jirlington sheep shearxn^.'\ t Mr. Ciistis's father died near Yorktown in 1781. from an infections disorder received in the liritisli camp. Mr. C'listis, tl^en au iufunt, was adopted in tin' family of Mount > ernon. 15 have taken him from us when the degeneracy of his country had began to sorrow his declining years — Methinks I hear his mighty spirit sigh in the breeze — Methinks I see his venerated form enshrined in glory ! — his opened arms receive the Shade of Lin- GAN ! — listen to his mighty words : "Well done, thou good and faithful soldier, who twice hath bled in Liberty's cause ; enter nito the joys reserved for the brave !" My task is almost done — Thanks to you, friends, for your patient attention. The tear which fills the furrow in the veteran's cheek, the sympathy of age, youth and beauty, Oh Lingan ! speak thy best eulogium ! This great, this immortal day, will proudly shine in Freedcm's annals— and while the prayers of the wise, the virtuous, and the brave ascend to the Throne of Grace to hallaw our Hero's memory, go tell your children that their lives belong to the liberties of their country ! My task is done — Think me not an intruder here —I could not bear to see the remains of the vete- ran Soldier sink dishonored and neglected to the grave — I could not let the man, who had earned the liberties which I enjoy, want the poor tribute of my services to speak his praise. Such as they are, most freely have they been exerted in his cause : would that they had been better, they still should have been his. I never felt the grasp of his friendly hand ; I never sat under the shade of his hospitality — but I IG LIBRPRY OF CONGRESS 014 368 490 8 ^ ohould disgrace the illustrious name I bear — I should disgrace my breeding at Mount Vernon, should I omit to speak the praise of virtue, and venerate the memory of the Brave !