The North-Carolinian., 1851-03-29
AN ADDRESS
Delivered before the Fayetteville Indepead-
emf Light Infantry Company, Dec. 4, 1850.
FeIloao Soldiers Of the Fayetteville

/ IHOepcUUSUt A@tSL MJ uUtTY company.
Your call upon me to address you on
this occasion was most unexpected. And
| cannot but regret that one better fitted
for this duty had not been selected. Bu,
it is enough for me to know that you de-
sire it, to call forth an effort on my par,
even conscious as may be Of inability to
meet your just expectations. Not that
am Indifferent to the subject, for in com
-ssThe plumed troop
! The splrit-stiring drum, the ear pearcing fife,
| The royal banner, and all quality,
| Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war .
My he art palpitates with emotions can
not express at every sound of martial
music, and swells nigh unto bursting from
my bosom whenever Hook upon the hon
ored banner Of my country. Beneath the
| flag that you now bear, how often in my
youth have INDUCED strange dreams Of
martial glory one day to be won. Aud
among the prou.lest moments Of my life
was that in which marched forth bearing
on my shoulders the two epaolets that
marked me as the Commander Of your
Company. Time since then hath wrought
many changes. But it hath not quenched
the love of lame that then burned in my
bosom, nor diminished the pride with which
| behold that banner floating in the breeze.
May it continue to wave in honor as long
as one silken thread remains of its texture,
and when that has perished through the
lapse of years, Phoenix like may another
spring forth from its remains as a ralIying
point for the youth Of our community.
Every people should have some things in
which they have a common pride and a
common interest. These form bands to
hold them together; they furnish a common
impulse for united action. They supply
the places Of the provincial altars Of the
Heathen, which, however we may deplore
the blind ido!atry that erected them. fur
nish to their worshippers the noblest mo-
tives to heroic action, and around them are
some Of the holiest affections of our nature
kindled into life. The community in
which we live is peculiarly unfortunate in
the want Of sue objects of common regard.
and our prosperity is on that account great
" retarded. What one man among US
loves. another hates. and seldom for any
better reason than that it is SO loved by
that other. In this respect our town is
sort Of epitome of our State; there is want
of community Of interest and feeling. and
a want of concert of action in what we
agree to do. Hence but little is done, and
t1dl tIttIP uOt uouC WtlIs tIuSl uVWs
however, that a better spirit is tawnng
upon US. and that common prosperity
will awaken in US feelings Of more gener-
Gus sympathy and concord, and more
general disposition to improve and cherish
every thing that can be said to belong to
Us as a people.
Among the few relics of the past that
vet remain to US is the Fayetteville Inde-
pendent Light Infantry Company. 1t
sprans out of the martial spirit which our
Revolution had besotten, and has been
most ProviGentialIy preserved to the
present day. 1t comes to US venerable for
its antiquity from among the shadows Of
departed time. 1t speaks to us Of the
loved ant, the buried who once mingled in
it's ranks. and the shout Of young warriors
vet unborn will be heard in its future his
tory. Not a single member is now living
who assisted in its organization; but it is
still the same Company. animated by the
same spirit. and destined, trust, to pre-
serve through ages to come the integrity OF
it's name. In the olden time, while Camp
belltOn and Cross Greek were yet familiar
words, this Company came into existence.
Her flag was then the raliyins point for the
pride and affections of our whole people.
Our community was then thriving. and our
merchants prospered in their dealings with
the rest of mankind. Even on my first ac-
quaintance with Fayetteville. it was almost
essential to young mans responsibility
that he should be member of the lnde
pendent Company. The seniors Of the
Town, and those among the most respect
ed. were of its members and its officers.
In the war Of 1S12-l5. it went forth to
suffer the privations and trials of life in
camp, and to encounter the dangers of flood
and field. No opportunity was afforded
it to win glory in the tented field. but for
all those qualities that mark the proper
preparation for duty in the bloody strife.
it was siynally distinguished. And few
years afterwards the Legislature Of our
State conferred upon it marks Of distinc-
t,on. by giving to its Officers brevet
rank bevend that which they regularly
bore. None Of those. think, who left
their homes with the hope Of bearing the
flag of the Independent Company upon the
battle field. remain amongst US, except
Martin Mcpherson, James Baker. Charles
P. Mailett, Duncan McNeiil; and William
Lumsden.- Of whom are in the vi gor Of
life, and ready, doubt not, should an op-
portunity occur, again to seek Tor reputa-
| ton even at the caDnOn's mouth.
But. as 1have already said. the Compa-
nv itself retains its perfect identity. now
I 80. voarc IF orn AMI fuiI nf hnnnrs