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CORRESPONDENCE.-noi-r.3.ItsecNixshew, Oct. 20.1862.Mr. Editor:—I have been waiting a longlime for something to tarn np worthv of beir g ? T *itemized—something aside from the common ' 3 every day occurrences that succeed each other in u::'interesting regularity. We; . what I amg leg to tell you o w is in regard to a s.L.• »Iwexhibition wi.ieh was given bv Mrs.at oar place, on last Saturday eremi g, the1 S: u which was well at ter Jed by .. i s and geutica**). Mrs. H«uulin’s pupils ae;.it-ted tbemselres w . in regard : •• . . . ,.jbeen teaching them daring the summer. The esi. rcises of the evening consisted principally in speaking, dialogues, singing, etc; after whirl. M’S. Hamlin presented Mr. Largky with a beantilul hag. accompanying it withthe folio wi tig - marks :Lad.cs and gentlemen : The pleasing taskn *v 1 ives .;- :i me of presenting this tiag ,e to Mr. I-a: gley. ai J I do it with the greater id pleasure, as he ha? expressed a wish t p ssess v this beautiful emMem of his country's lii*ertv, ,e thus proving his loyalty and patriotism to tl -,] Mag. which Ha leek so beaut:fully describes in :e the following words : Iie ** When freedom from her mountain bight, I'aforled her standard to the air,R • ]'.• t re the azure robe of night,ATid -et the 'tar- M e! tv th -rv ’mShe mingled with it' gorgeous dies ^ The milky baldric of the skies,(j And trij*ed its pure eelestial whiteWith .'treakiugs of the m ruing liglit;3. Then from hi' mansi n in tlj»* uuShe called her eagle hearer down, it And gave into his mighty hand,d This symbol of his chosen land!*t Flag f the freeheart s only h me,0 1 lljr angel hands to valor given,ie Thy 'tar' have lit the welkin dome,IL And all thy hues were born in Heaven!Forever float that standard sheet,Where breathe' the foe but fall? before «' ?W ith freedom’s soil beneath our feet.And freedom*' banner streaming *’er u !’*3rrrea.niiirois |Vis Mr. Langley, I present you this flag, knowing th . yoa have already breasted the battle’s front in defense uf its honor and glory, and i, with the full assurance that, if called upon d again in your country’s cause, you will once ]' more buckle ou your armor and brave the ter-U„ rors of war, to sustain the liber:y bequeathed you by your forefathers, remembering that love and duty to your country is only second to vour love and duty to your God.* • Jh Accept, then, this flag, and iu doing so you- f virtually acknowledge allegiance to the Government and Constitution under which you •- have so loug lived, and under which you hope ie to die : and should you ever be called upon to ^ fight under its folds, may it lead you on to • victory, and palsied be the hand that shall e dare to strike one star from its azure field !Mr. Langley replied as follows : n Ladies and gentlemen : When an individualh becomes the recipient of an honorary gilt, it is e customary for that person to make a response to the donor, but, owing to my inadequacy to „ make a public speech, I will beg the audience o to withhold any criticisms they might justly make, in regard to the few brief words I ameai.r,vgoing to saw0 o J)- In the first place, I can say that I not only•1 feel grateful, but proud, to receive this beautiful flag, the emblem of liberty, from the hands• of Mrs. Hamlin: for, a3 she has told vou. I•»d once fought under its starry folds, and it al-I ways seemed like a guardian angel hovering over my head in the battle smoke, to urge me*t on in defense of my country's honor, and should1 ever be called again to the bloody fields ofh carnage, to aid in the rescue of human liberty•i- from the demon grasp of despotism, that flagf shall be the day star of my devotion, to guide s me on •• through sulphur, smoke, ’mid dying l- j wail and battle stroke.”s Eighty-six years ago, when that flag wast first unfurled on this continent, it contained within its azure field but thirteen stars, but.o * like an impetuous torrent that rushes from its/ mountain bight, and winds its wav through a h^ vast extent of country, receiving new acces-;s sions and new strength as it moves along, un-if til it pours itself, an immense river, into its ocean home,—so that flag, precipitating itself from Hunker Hill, has moved careeringlv across!• j C •f the great American continent, marking the outlines and boundaries of Commonwealths with which Greece and Home, in all their ancient splendor, could not compare I while opulent cities and beautiful towns have sprung up like0 magic from the ta; gled wilderness beneath its a shade, wherever it has waved, untii our eagleperches himself on Shasta‘s flights, enthroned j on a constellation of thirty-four stars, gazing at the setting sun. as it sinks like a ball of Areinto the Western ocean.Now we see that flag with its thirty four*»- m,1 Mars, representing thirty-four great States, e woven together by a net-work of rivers, canals. ^ railroads and magnetic wires, which, if broken, j (and God forbid that it ever should be) will ! bury our political fabric in an indistinguishable mass of ruin ! But if such a contingency ever■ does occur, before it can take place, millions of patriotic lives will be immolated on the altar, of American nationality. •£ I-'t death t fall flt;*r freedom’s right ?He’s dead alone who lacks her light,■ And murder stains, in Heaven*?-sight,? : The sword he draws!^ What can alone ennoble light ?—A ii hie cause!• this and wi 1 me war t bra c F- ’s l:ng :ruins. Heaven - recki: g - e:II ' ~ jf ~ -» 3 ’ -' a m:t. Th-.. .KMce. independence, truth gof.,rthForth's compass round.Till thy high dictates Miull make earth c All hall oved ground.'*When *he exhibition was over, the evening's.amusements concluded with a dance, andA -..... . - . :r. _1 until the *• wee sma' hoar avoct the twal re-minded the votaries of Terpsichore that they,. were infringing on the Sabbath morn, when i they retired to their respective homes, well pleased with their evening's entertainment.eair
Newspaper Details
Oroville Weekly Butte Record
Oroville, California, US
Sat, Oct 25, 1862
Page 2
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 24 Jul 2020
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