Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-06-20
REPLY.

Permit me, respected sir, to congratulate you on
the distinguished honor adjoining your bachelor
brow On the present OCCASION as the chosen repre-
sentative of the ladies', and through you, Them on
the felicitous selection thy have made. As the
representative of Valley Division No SO, may not
attempt an expression Of the deep and heart felt E.
motions of pride and gratitude with which this flag
is received Unfortunate is the enterprise uncheer-
ed by woman's smile. She bears, TO- be sure, an
Intimate relation to the original cause of human wo
yet has she rendered her atonement Gas far as may
be) in her deeper participation in it, and in her con.
slant connection with its alienation. She has NOT
only manifested a fortitude in graphing with her
own dstresses, unparalleled in the sterner SEX bus
sympathy, acute IN It's perception and strong in re
appreciation Of the distresses of others, admirably
adapting her to the riost efficient agency in their
mitigation The haunt of sorrow has ever laughed
It's welcome TO her approaching footsteps, and the
tear of suffering humanity, under the smile of her
benevolence, reflected the "Iainbow Of promise"
So intimately has she been connected with every
humane and phanthropc enterprise that where her
countenance is withheld from cause, we have rea-
to regard it plant of the dark and its vota-
ry one chilled by the midnight dews of uupitied
privaton. To challenge successfully, on the cor
trary, her hearty cooperation, is Gas general e)
to be assured that we right. AS Sons, of lem
perance, we have ever had the utmost confidence in
the righteousness of our cause, and have recognized
as of the principal reasons Of our faith our I'M
dying opposition to that vile enemy of social peace,
Intemperance. Under his scourges, woman has
been, socially, the greatest, though the innocent
sufferer. Scoring herself to submit to his deested
embraces, she has not been equally ar,unate IN
shielding her happy ireside from his desolatins
breath and in the destruction of conugal love and
fllia regard she has experienced the blight of her
most valued enjoymeDs as wile--of her most cher
lshed anticipations mother. We have wit
messed the anguish of her heart, we have attempt
ed the destruction Of her foe.
Tie inebiiae in his tendency to the fate his i'm.
prudences have shaped for him, ELECTS our sympag
thy; her tears whose earthly destiny is linked with
his prompt us to the vigorous effort embodied in
the operations Of our order. For obvious and sffi-
cent reasons, she participates not in our delibera-
tions-she may rest assured, nevertheless, that we
seek i'm these to dash from her lips the cup OF gall
and to present her in its stead the chalice of love
sparkling with the unmngIed nectar of social bliss
She recognizes the effort, and bids us Gods speed
II is enough we are right. The special recipient
of the first promise made to man after the fail,
and the first despatch bearer of Sayiofs resurrec-
ton, comes to us with an appropriate gift-we re-
celye IT as the promise of entire deIiverance from
the tolls of the spoer and as token OF the result
recon Of our race from the sepuIchre of lniemper-
ance
The contemplation of an appropriate flag is al
ways inspiring to a soldier, and its reception from
the fair hands of woman, is in itself the pledge Of
a soldiers honor TO die if necessary in its defence.
In conclusion, therefore, behalf of Valley Div-
sion No. 80, Sons Of Temperance, beg leave to
sure the ladies you have the honor to REPRESENT
that, while we may not attempt expression OF
our emotion in the reception Of this Banhers VS.