The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-10-15

alluded TO- ours truly, -. EAR
Il e FOUNTAIN P AUSTIN.
| @-N t'" SPEECH g.
| -u. .r... FOUNTAIN P. AUSTIN, ESQ, r . r,..
DELIVERED AT THE AMERICAN BARBECUE, IN SHREvE
/ PORT, OCTOBER lsT, 1856.
GENTLEMEN-l am the favored representative of th
American ladies upon this OCCASION to present to tn
American party the American flag. Far away from
the clamors of life, the delusons of ambition the iea
lousles and strtes of men, around the home altar
the bosom of domestic peace inspired by their own in
herent patriotism, projected by their houshold gods
cheered by approving hearts and smiles of heaven ou
fair country women have gathered the lily the viole
and the rose and, blending their colors exquisite
! harmony, and spangling them over with stars hav,
wrought for you this beautiful banner Al ~
In their name, present it to you to-day, as the
tional emblem OF our common country. 1t covers
by the waters oceans and protects
under its agis twenty five millions of freemen Every
where throughout the earth upon land and sea- it il
respected, and honored and affords security to ou
countrymen. Even amid the despotisms of the ole
world where sighs Of anguish come gushing up from
bleeding hearts, where the flash Of tyrans glance is
laW-even there the wing OF It's eagle is curtain O
repose to the American citizen and he can lie dow1
under its shadow as if beneath canopy of flowers tt
pleasant dreams OF his native land And in far of
years to come, when our Union and constitution shall
have gone and this goodly heritage of ours shall have
passed away; when some pilgrim antiquarv in search
|
our dead patriots and the broken columns of our ruin
ed capitol this flag with its clusters of holy memories
and Its trophies of arts and arms will be to him the
richest treasure OF all, and to the struggling brays
throughout the earh the signal Of hopend the tails
man of freedom
next present it to you as the ensign of victory
Whether borne by gallant little navy proclaimng
'ree trade and sailors rights to the mvrmidons of the
sea- sllencng forever the nvincbty of England upon
her native element whether before Trpo or upon the
har thnn r.
and Chamette Or Drawing the battle and the breeze
IN the mountain gorges and orange groves of Mexico
till 1t ioated from the palisades of the Montezumas
1t has been followed by shouts of victory and hailed
| as the monarch flag of the world
next present it to you as the device of the Ameri
can party. With Millard Fillmore for its bearer in
the storm that is ready to burst upon our country it's
stars stand out upon its field of blue like sentines upon
the watch tower to tell you what of the night its
stripes, like rainbows, are metaphors of peace.
st, put not least present 1t to you represen-
tatlrc of its fair donors. While its rare combination
OF hes Is typical of our national character is the bar
blnger OF victory and the device of our party we read
the silent eoquence of its escutcheon the character
OF the American woman. Its lily tells the unsullied
purity of her heart its violet speaks her gentle modes
ty, and It's rose is bushing emblem of her beauty.
But these are not the only characteristics the Amer
lean woman In every period of history from the
time when the maiden swords of our fathers cleaned
In the bloody dawn of the revolution down to the
present crisis whether in the piping times of peace"
gong upon missions of mercy, visiting the lonely
hovel OF the pauper unlocking the caske of heart
and dispensing the jewels of charity; whether fes
tooning the domestic altar with the garlands of her
love- or teaching lsping childhood to say-"Father;"
whether in the storms of calamity, when the war
god shakes his crimson locks and lights his battle
torch; whether in great moral reforms, ghty pot
cal convusion when the antagonstic elements of the
nation have been arTayed against each other contend
ing for supremacy-the American woman instieated
alone, by vlrtuous and patriotic motives has ever
encouraged and sustained the pure the noble and the
good, and been the advocate of right and the cham
pion of the truth. And when fanaticism infatvsted
to insanity has raised its horrid front with the par
cida knife in its grasp, striking the peace and per-
petuty OF the contedency the American ladies have
proclaimed trumpet-tongued, "a union of hearts and
a union of hands, for the sake of the union of the
States.
Governed by sentiments like these believing the
hopes of our people rest upon our platform relying
upon the tried integrity ability, patriotism and moral
chisalry of Millard Fillmore The only one, who in
these tunes OF disaster, restore harmony and con-
cord to our divided land; prescribed by law of the
right of suffrage yet with hearts loyal and true they
have woven this banner, and commissioned me to
present 1t to you as testimonial of their devotion
to their country. .
Emenatng from source so pure, dedicated to a
cause SO sacred, representing the sublime national
American idea Of party and consecrated by the
blessings ct woman, what gift could be more appro-
pirate, what boon should be more highly priced bv
the American party? I know it will be to you, like
the pillar OF cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by
trodden wilderness or what Bayard oriflammead
ed with the lilies of France to his devoted follow
ers, nucleus around which Americans all can cling
an incentive to inspire the apathetic with zeal
and to stimulate the faithful in their efforts to achieve
the ultimate triumph Of American principles and to |
secure the elevation of Miard Fillmore to the chief
of this republic.
hope you will pardon the depression, if for few
moments leave the standard to take cursorv glance
at the character and services of our standard bearer
Born In obscurity nursed in poverty, without inAu-
ence or the prestige of great name, with no friend
but his talents and no fortune but his brave heart
and integrity, he entered the lists in the tournament
IF life as the Unknown Knight, champion for the
prize How well he has won it, etthe history of his
country speak.
Occupying the most distinguished positions in His .
native State and the federal government he has co2
erred honor upon them all and not they upon him.
Pure and unsullied in heart, governed always by
conservative wisdom and national policy, having no
ambition but his countrys prosperity, he stands the
model of man, patriot and statesman. Called
o the executive chair, when the hills were finging
pack the melancholy echoes of the bells that tolled
he requiem of the lamented Taylor; when the ma
ions heart was bleeding not only at the loss of her
PRESIDENT but by the dagger of the fanatc when the
lorth drunk with rage, and the south mad with ex-
ttement, were arayed against each other in enven-
med hostility; at a time, when the imprisoned winds
we're let loose and the tempest unturled its dark
,inion; when the brave began to fear and the good
o doubt the power of God; but he unawed by popu-
ar sentiment from either extreme of the Union, dis
arding all sectional jeaousies, all party predilec-
IONS and forgetting all but his country and her sal
alton, hung out with his mighty arm the bow Of
promise upon the storm The winds were hushed,
he troubled waters calmed, and the dove taking its
light from the ark of the constitution carried the olive
ranch of peace to the remotest extremties of our dis
racted land -
No southerner will fail to recoect, that the fuga-
i've slave bill formed part of the compromise
of 1850 You also recollect the bitter opposi-
ion with which the execution of this bill was met at
he north. Yet Mr. Fillmore declared that it should
executed at all hazards and ordering out the troops
f the government, be bid defiance to public opinion,
uelled the violence of the mob and vindcated the
NV. How any southern man can doubt, in the
Of facts like these, that if elected president he
I'LL guaranty to the south her rights is matter of
ronder to me. s# esarSa#a@ sza.a..sssn. @1.
Again, when military expedition was being fitted
ut from shores to invade the island Of Cuba, he
,sued his proclamation warning all those who were
ngaged in the illegal enterprise that they subjected
,emselyes to the penalties denounced against such
fences and forfeited all claim to the protection of
ur government in their behalf. And while we ap-
~ hath hond