fMIL HILL COMMEMORATIVE FESTIVAL, March 5t h, 1858. PROTEST AGAINST THE DRFD SCOTT " DECISION." "BOSTON MASSACRE. .M.UU U 5t\», 1v10. , V On the 5tli "day of March, 1783, William Cooper, Town Clerk, made & motion embracing 1 lie following clauses: <■ >< . Whereas, The-ann'ual celebration of the Boston Massacre on the 5th of March, 1770, by; the institution of a public oration has been found to be of eminent advantage to the cause of virtue and patriotism among her citizens, and * * r * * * * ~Whcrcasy The-immediate motives which induced the commemoration of that day do now no longer exist in their primitive force * * * * - * " : * * * It is therefore t : * .• Resolved, That the Celebration of the 5th of March, from henceforth, shall cease, and that instead thereof, the anniversary of the fourth day of July, 1776 * * * * * * shall lie constantly celebrated by the delivery of a public oration * * * in which the orator shall consider the feelings, manners and principles, which led to this great national event, as well as the important and happy effects, whether general or domestic, which have already, and wijf, forever, continue to flow from this auspicious epoch. * in accordance therewith, there has not been a public.celebration of,the 5th of March since 178o. f . In view of the alarming spread of despotism in these United States— the suppression ■©•(' Free Speech in, one half of the Union — the subjugation of white citizens, and anni* dilation of the citizenship of Colored Americans by the Dre^Scott Decision, the subscriber has, after mature deliberation, concluded, that now is the timely and significant hour for application of that sentiment in the Constitution of Massachusetts, which declares "iliat a fre¬ quent recurrence to its fundamental principles is absolutely nxessary to preserve the advantages of liberty, and, to maintain a free gp:t^rnmenL And, therefore, invites his fellow-citizens^and friends to a Public Commemoration of the* SITI IIIIHISIIt OF TIE BOSTON NimCBi. TO BE OBSERVED IN * \ usr ON THUIiiSD A¥« EVENING, MARCH .6th, 1858. 7> -CHISFUS AT1UCK3. a oolo-.ed , \va.i born in Fpminghnni;-raised in Sutton,-.{mry MillburyVI MiWsequently cams' to Boston,- and while working in a ro;K'\v;t}'k. sit' the uorth-ond, became interested in the subject that' thon iii e;T tlx- breast's of all "true AimrLun^, a-:.3 : r'jn-jtanee to liritivh <>pprc«*ion. /ho orh nf'MTi^ch', 1770, ho jp; illhil a company of .-patriots-in- Doclt r^uiiV.Tnifir-'hed u|> King Stwt, and' in,,lifting "his.'a'w^ against Captain I'reston, I10. r e c ci ved • t wo ■ m uskqt balls, one in each breast, and Jell! lie being the first to attack and himself the first. martyr in the American Revolution., Various attempts have been, nuidt; to disparage the "Maims "of Attu^k's, but all 1:1 vain.—On tin; last 1th of July, those words were suspended acro-ss' State* street,-— *• Header, within your view ii the* sabred spot where fell tlitr tirsf 'martyrs in the cause of American Independence." Ilow many, passers by were conscious that among that pioneer party of 4-incjictfri Revolutionists, Crispus Attucks, a colored man, was thff lirst 'to attack; tuid was hjms'e f the first inartyr ? Henry Q. Spiith, of Boston, has issued a large and .handsome lithograph (uxeeuted by Champney) of this seerie. which gives due color to. the ofc.tsion. by assigning to Attucks his true and leading position; but J. F! Sehreoder, I J. .1) t is now publishing.the life .and times of Washington, *vitli illustrations by Chappel, and in part six has ^ ') nn engraviiig of tho Boston- Massacre, from which, Attucks has^ been wholly omitted.' And yet Botta.,-Ilewes; (of tea-party re-_v pyjiseences,) Goodrich and other, historians, in substance cononf^ i with John Adams, in his plea for the British.soldiers, that " A t- v ^ Vucks appeared to bo the hero of the night., and to. lead the peo¬ ple;'1 in acknowledgement of which, he was buried witii £rcat { honor. from Faneuil llall, and John Hancock, on March oth, 1771,> uyvoliedfche injured shades of the slain r including- Attuoks; • and I , , ,. j udge I)iutres, >vith a galaxy of sueeesstirJ— Ltn-ell,k Church,- Aus-,3 1 . OTl'it tin, Tudor, Mason, and others—eulogized the /ith of -March mar-^fl j L.a^eci- ^ tyrs lor thus'a.shering' in the day which history lias selected as tlieX. ^, .\lui''«i0Vy Ameiu-an Revolution^ . . . * , '; A , l,Lr,J ■ ho v.? shot thc'g'ullunt Pitcnirn a< he rfiountcd the pxrap'ef. C'oM as the elod t- .• 1 * . 1 ■' james. forten,. j; b.'vasiion, joiix joiinson, . ! joiin Bay, joiij? 'daV-is, charles black, / : ./ jA^.OTHERS. There are many tributes to their bravery in the Naval engage¬ ments on Lakes Ei;i-i Champlain and elsewhere, as testified to by Commodore Chauaeey' sletjer to Capt. Pfrry'and other responsi¬ ble sources. _ ' ■ Indeed the war'of" 1812 was undertaken because of the impress¬ ment of three seamen, two''6f whom were colored.1 Satisiactorjr, proof at least that thtfy'w«%-American Citizens." . ' JOllX Jfl'LICS, JOI^DAX 1). jXOULE, ANTHONY OTlfEIlS. To th,q 400 colored.sbidiers'at the battle of New Oi leans. eral Jackson addressed 'the following eloquentwords: you vili receive the applause and'gratitudeof your countrymen.* [ Again,, in- the- address which hei su,tiseqTieiitly issued to his colored soldi¬ ers', on December 18th, he said;'" \Yhenvon.th< PETER g>f,T:M, TITUS CO BURN4, ALEXANDER AMES, BARZILIA LEW, CATO IIOWE & OTHERS, jSwett, the early-historian of Bunker Hill battle, gives a graphic «i:iiount of t'he signal act of-Peter Salem, a colored American, who i.hot Major Pitcairn, and thus helped essentially to turn the tide Vents on, that .memorable (,lay,-s A contribution was made in tfo'drmy l'or the colored soldiet, and he was formally presented to Ui.$neral Washington, witji special reference to haying performed tLis.feat. ,,4 . _ _ . . f't . "Tri somO 'engravings'of this'battle, Salem occupies a'prominent pajiiti'on^ but in more recent editions, his figure is not to be seen —avgnificant, but inglorious omission. On some bills, however, g>f ilie Monumental Bank, Charlestown, and Frcema'n's Bank, Boston; his presence is manifest. / "But in Mr. Erothingham's version of the battle, no mention is made of Peter Salem, who had he been a white man would have been immortalized as the most gallant American of them all. . i fe ii " work-published .in 1850, by Henry C. Watson,- called »* Camp Fires of the Revolution," an attempt is made to ignore, the performance of this deed of the colored man, by putting into the mouth of a white soldier, the \vords—" I shot him." ' "But in - contradistinction'.frrtm this abnegation-of the colored man's patriotism and bravery, Hon. Edward-EVtrett, in his ora¬ tion last 17th of June gave utterance to the iollowing tribute,which tyeing loudly applauded, was evidently appreciated by the multi- fiide: _ • " No njme adorns the shaft, but ages hence,".though 01# alpha¬ bet may become as obscure as those which cpver the monuments of .Ninevah and Babylon,"its uninseribed suriace, on which mon- wghs might bfe proud"to engrave their titles, will perpetuate the i sion to parade, through .the principal streets of the city; and in memory of the 17th of June. It is the monument of -the day, of -! this procession'.the,vetcrahs,'both* white anctcolpi-ed, wereassign-f the event, dfcthe battle "of "Hunker Hill, of all the brave.men jvho I ed the post of honor, carriages having been provided for their con* ihared its perils—alike of Prcscott and Putnam and Warren, the veyanc^,3Jiey were followed by the, Governor and staff, aiid, o^jit-fs of the day, and the colorca man Sa/rm, who is reported to ' alter the; the banks of,the Mo- vou to take.unarms, inviting vou tp partake the per- y ,'bjf your "it'IUTll FKLLOir~(Jl 1 cxpecteci much from you ' for I was .not ignorant .that,1 .you, puivr sessecl .qualities most formidable to an invading enemy: ' 'I knew- ■ with what fortitude you could endure hunger and thirst; .and all. the fatigues of a campaign. I knew well JtQw you loved vorn na- 'nvk .Cou.ntskv,- and that you, as well as ourselves, had to defend what man holds niost dear-^his parents, wife, children and prop¬ erty. You have done more than I expected. In addition to th«. previous qualities 1 before knew you to possess, I found among you a noble enthusiasm. wluSh leads to the.perlorrr.ance of greut things." - . . •' • 1 *'• . t, The valor of'these;colored. soldiers and the proclamation of General Jackson were complitnented by Hon. Robett C. Winthrojj in his congressipnal speeclj of September, 1850,. and of the cele¬ bration of the battle, (the 8th of the present month,) the jymo Or¬ leans Picayune gives the Iollowing incidents ^ ' "• - •'* " The. Legion," the Oldest and proudest milital^-^>o.cly in thu State, are escorting to the.'City Hall the ye.t.epanT*of 18l'4-'l5— the white veterans and the'colored veterans, and like honors are , paid-to each. As they .approach the hall, the ,.up.-town military companies, above enumerated, are brought out from ihe square and formed iri double columns along St. Charles. Street for the recep- ti.011.pf the veterans; and as the gray-headed white; men and gray- headed colored men marched through tho'-opeij file they were re¬ spectively saluted. \vit.h presented arms, while the different band* in attendance united in playing," 'See, the conquering heroe* come,'- * ■* ■* * * . .\ * * * " Of the colored veterans -there were thirty-five in all:— about the saii)c number they were of the whites. .'-They were all gray-, headed, well-dressed, decent-looking men, and after being duly honored-.hy the receiving 'eorp j on the street,.they were escorted into the;hall, wherferefreshments ha'fl^een provided for them- . " Subsequently,the variqtis-militaSyr-'hodie^lo.rmed into praces- ! procession was over, all the veterans-dined together." (l.e'ft BKlainhad her Colored ■ S/Mi» rs in tint lutile. Tl»e luii>ed. S'a'es ha-l hers. CJreat briuin's beeanm freemen and, }M(iz.-ns; tho-e of the United States continued only halt' free at.d slaves. Kvcep iog in the military tlaine the colored citizen of M ts-, {■avhuseus standj equal with all other citizens before tue 1* w ; bnt sknnc to tell, some New England States have exhibited hti in¬ decent haste to ostracise h;s nationality. In some ot' t*ie Middle StiWes he enjoys but limited suftYa^e, in others nnnf ; while the Western States are conspiring by various trick* of legislation to lilotr him out from the earth and drives him into the Oepths of oi*euth U proposing to reduce their list f fiee col¬ ored population to absolute bondage, and all this in servile obe¬ dience t<» the fiit of Chief Justice Taney which rales the colored man of the United States Courts, and. pronpunc* s hiui a* 1 .av'ing •' 110 riiihts that a white man i- hound to res-pec'.-' There, is touching eloquenee.as well a* rome.ilung of Spartan brevity in the appeal of a well knoMi Colored Man, II v. I'eti-r Willuis of Nfw York : "';We are Notices of this country: we. a-k only to be. treated as well as Foreigners. Not a few of our fathers sullVred and bled to pjifi h ise, its independence ; we. ask Ov.ly to be treated as well as i,hi.se who fought against ir. We have toiled. to cultivate it, stud to raise it to its present ptospeious condition; we ask onl^r n> share »''c.'n gained and loud pas >ns luv*» , JVAi'helthe sky alwvf,. while the colored man's share has bc?n to s'and outside and wait for the cru mbs (hat fall from liberty's festive board. In the language of .Win. II. Day, " We a>k for liberty here, liberty on the Chalmette 1*1 aim—liberty wherevrp il >ats the American Flag. We demand for the sons of the men who fought tor jou, equal privileges. We hrin<* to you to-day. the tears of our fathers —.each tear is a volume and speaks m jou. Wo point you to iheir b'ood. cpht ])>ss over. We take von to their sepulchres, to see the bond of honor between you and them kept on their part, faithfully,—- even until death." To those who under lead of Judge Taney would " for no color of,crime, but for the crime of color," crush out our every right, let the following expr ssive resolution, submitted by Philip^. i>ell in New Y> rk, January 8th,. 1S39, be our irrevocable ans¬ wer,—viz: " Resolved, That our s} mpathies for the slave, the love we bear our na ive land, our respect and veneration for the institutions and government of our country, are so many cords which bind ns to our h"ine, the soil of our birth, which has been wet by the. tears ami fertilized by the blood of our ancestors, and from which while life la-.ts, in spite of the oppressor's wrongs we will never' be seduced or driven, bat abide by principle, and placing our trust in the Loid of Hosts we will tell the white Americans j that lheir country shall be bur country. We will be governed i by the same laws and worship at the same altar,—where they j live we «i I live, where they die, thete will we be buried, and our I graves shall remain as monuments of our sull'eiing and triuriiph, 1 or of our failure and their disgi ace.'' l Colored Citizens :—Co!n,o tfren] to Faneuil Hall, March 5th, 1858, to! commemorate the name of Crispus Attucks, and those others of his race, - * * •' n'Ao. siile. hi/ able with Washington, ' Fur equal 1/lessings did contend : And who with H'urren h'ed and died, Their ci.umry's honor to defend;' for. if' others fail to appreciate, the merit of the colored man, let us cherish the deserted shrine. The names which others neglect should only be the more sacredly our care. Let us keep them for the hoped:for-day of full emancipation, when redeemed from the long ifight of ignorance that has rest¬ ed over us, we-may recall them to memory, recollecting, with gratitude, that the stars which shone, in our horizon have ushered in a glorious dawn. .'Let us gather then, that mankind may receive a fresh token that we dare to ponder for our¬ selves—to wreigh Tyrants in the balance—to spsak of Freedom; the forbidden fruit. 'Come, then, Friends of Humanity .; Lovers of Freedom, of whatever Color, Clime, Sect or Party, and by your presence thus record your protest against the " Dred Scott Decision." 'The exercises will consist of Speeches from, a number of Freedom's gifted Orators, interspersed ■with appropriate Music, Vocal and instrumental. Tableaux Exhibition of Relics j Emblems, &e:> . &e,; full details of which will be duly announced in Circular No. 2. ? ■, • WILLIAM C. NELL. Ilosmv. January 25th, 1858.