Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-10-31
The Oak City Guards,

W oeo'oh OaieS, LSq ou pTeSehtiS tte oaiiiiei W
the Oak City Guards a recent occasion, together
with the substance of the reply of Capt. High
Captain High responded in true soldierly style
Mr.. 6. possesses gifts speaker which, if fire.
quently exercised would win for him high posi-
ton among the orators Of the day. On the occasion
referred to Mr.. Gales said:
CAPT. Hill "A portion of the ladies of Raleigh
have united in the handsome compliment of present
ing to you and. through you, to the gallant Corps
under your command this splendid stand of colours,
and have been charged with the pleasing duty of |
rendering it to your acceptance The sentiments,
Sir which have prompted the fair donors such
as have universally inspired and characterized their
sex and form another and grateful instance of that
patriotic appreciation and virtuous public spirit
which woman has always manifested on every wor-
thy OCCASION 1t has been said, that the ladies' Of
Poan in its glorious struggle to free itself from
the yoke of Russian domination stripped the glitter
ing ornaments from their delicate fingers and snowy
necks and cast them into the famished treasury Of
their bleeding country. Our grand mothers of the
Revolution, having no jewels, moulded their pewter
spoons into bullets, and sent their sons with Wash
ington, to fight the battles If liberty Their daugh
tsrs of the present day have just consummaed that
sublime scheme which has parallel in the annals
of patriotism either in the beautiful fitness of its
conception or in the pure-minded and true-hearted
devotion that marked the progress of its accomplish
ment And thus ever, whether in war or in peace,
IN success or in disaster-in the calm, unclouded
hour of national repose or in the stormy and darken-
ing hour Of national peril woman, faithful to her
mission, by some illustrous and vrtuous deed, has
signalized herself and illustrated the era.
Recipients Sir, as the Oak City Guards are, of
distinguished honor at the hands of the ladies'
of Raleigh, it is to be hoped that the elegant gift
and still more the compliment implied in its be-
t,ouo kocc
and exciting their energies in keeping alive the mil
tary spirit in our midst. The reproach of our COM
munity in this respect has been that their efforts
have been too spasmodic, and consequently, short
lved, land. hence. however enthusiastic at times
may have been displays of military excitement
they have too generally been succeeded by dull
and lamentabe apathy. 1t is her citizen-soldiery
at last that country has relied and must rely,
the bulwark of her safety. And although volunteer
associations the schools in which her will be
taught the science of war; yet the volunteer does not
look upon it as occupation. lie never takes up
arms to assa the homes invade the rights of 9TH
ers he looks upon it only occasionly duty,
which his country has Alright to exact from him,
and he feels that every man should become soldier
in defence of his fire-side and of his own prvi
leges.. Should such emergency arise, you will
prove yourselves gentlemen, l we'll know worthy
defenders of your country, remembering, always,
that in every such struggle for the yindcation of
honor of right and of freedom,
"Fame is there to tell who bleeds
And Beauty's eye on daring deeds!"
In days of other times the toll of the warrior
knight found its cherished reward ia the approving
smiles of his y-lovc and the wreath with which
beauty's hand encrc.ed the soldiers brow repaid
him for all the dangers and perils of the battle hour
But you gentlemen have far higher motive Of ac-
tion than was ever possessed by errant knight of
old. He had the prospect of possible smile from
the mistress of his heart but you have the lives and
honor of wives, children sweet-hearts and friends to
watch over and protect
This flag, Sir, symbolizes our National Union
Originally displaying but thirteen stars, whose then
feeble radiance afforded but uncertain light to the
pilgrims and votaries of freedom throughout the
world, it now presents 10 the enraptured gaze Of
man glorious galaxy of thirty-three stars, that
gladden. with their benignant beams the remote and
waste places of the EARTH God prolong the day
single star shall be obscured! May it long be your
privilege and my privilege, and our common glory,
to rest in peace beneath the folds of this our Ma
tional ensign!
Take it, Sir, and cherish it as most sacred trust.
1t will speak to You, whenever and wherever it may
toy with the breeze, of the womanly, generous SYM
pathes that have prompted its bestowal. Haowed
and charming memories will cluster within its every
fold And the associations of this hour will inspire
your hearts and nerve your arms, in every crisis
that involves the honor or the safety of those, who,
in cntrustng to you this beautiful gift have consti
tuted you the guardians and defenders of both!
We are unable to give verbatim the feeling and
appropriate response of Capt High, upon accepting
the colors and content ourselves with the sub
stance of his remarks. He said:
That there were oftentimes occasions in the
march of every one, in which the emotions arising
from particular circumstances could not he sufi
cient!y expressed in ordinary language. That this
occasion was peculiarly one of that description.
That he rendered through Mr.. Gales to the fair do
nors of the handsome present he then held in his
hand, the sincere and heartfelt thanks Of himself
and of every member of the corps he had the honor
to command. That this manifestation of interest
the part of the mothers the wives the daughters,
and the sweethearts in our community, in the pros
perity of the Oak City Guards, was sincerely and
rghtully appreciated, and would nerve them in the
proper discharge of their duties as citizen soldiers;
and that here as It were, in the nanimate presence
of the great Father of his country, pontng to the
Statue of Washington he could promise for himself
and comrades to guard the gift bestowed upon them,
as they we're ready and determined to protect the
women of their own homes and households should
ever a necessity arise. Capt High said that his
forte was not in public speaking but that if ever
time for action came he was willing to be Judged
even by the fair friends who had laid him under
such deep obligations. Again he thanked them for
the interest exhibited in his corps, and thanked Mr.
Gales for the complimentary terms in which he was
pleased to allude to the company under his command
Handing the Flag to Ensign Ferrell he charged
him to guard it, to protect it. and as long as the
reveille summoned one man under its folds, to re-
member that it was their first and highest duty to
fight for those who gave it to them.
OREGoN.-On the I'd instant two United States
Senators were elected in due form by the Legisla-
ture of Oregon. j. W. Nesmith, Douglas Demo-
crat was elected for the long term, and E. D. Ba-
ker, black Republican, for the short term of five
years. This arrangement between the Douglasites
Senate.
:. q. r