Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-06-02
The flag was received by Mr.. JOHN d.
CHIcKERING. who spoke as follows

CHICKERING, who spoke as follows:
FAIR LADY Having been honored with
the duty of receiving this beautiful flag. per-
NIT me in accepting it, to tender to you and
to her whom you represent. the warmest and
most sincere thanks of our Captain and Com
pany. Upon it l behold, smiling in beautiful
crimson ten stars represetng those States
that have boldly resisted the yoke which the
fanatic usurpers of power have endeavored
to place upon them. That have with defiant
Indignation, hurled back into the faces of
those who forged them tn chains that were
to bind them forever to their will. In that
bright constellation / hope soon to benold
Tennessee brightest. She has always spoken
out in Ian guage that cannot be mistaken
and in tone of deep determination aud de-
clared that she will neUer submit to abolition
domination. And though she is not now a
member of the Southern COnfederacy, her in-
terest is common with that of her sisters of the
South and their destiny must be the same. L
regret to know that there are any slavehold-
holding States which still acknowledge an
allegiance to this abolition tyranny. but
earnestly hope that e'ere long they will sever
the tie that must enslave them and meet their
brethren upon the endeared principle OfSOlth
ern rights and unf1incbing resistance to the
tyrants who now seek 10 infringe upon them.
Ned 1 tell you that we are to-day in the
midst Of revolution in which is involved
the civil rights the dearest inte-ests and the
honor of every Southern city -n-one that is
to be fl: by mankind throughout the civiliz-
ed world? Need l even revert to its causes?
M, there is, perhaps, not school boy here
but what is familiar with them. In all revO-
lutions there is a great responsibility that
must be borne either by the governing or
those who are governed. Aud in this as in
mot that have before arisen, hesitate not
10 If fall tho1o holding the
reins of government.-Mr. Lincoln and bis
conductors. Some of our brethren of the
South may have been. aud as many OF us then
believed were too soon to offer resistance.
But to-day | believe that their course only
gave a pretext to the abolitionists to sooner
undertake what would certainly have been
attempted before Liucoln's term of Office ex
pired-the extinction of the institution of
slavery. Then l would appeal to every
Southern patriot not TO cansure them now.
We all have been attached to some political
party; many of us, perhaps, Eave been strong
parti-ans prejudice may for time have blind
ed our Judgment. The time has been when this
might be and the country still be safe; but the
day has now arrived when all past political
differences should be buried. and we should
meet upon one common principle and join in
the defence of common cause / believe
that am honest when L say that l, for one,
can, without a struggle or one vain regret,
bid adieu to all former party feelings, and
join, heart aud hand. with every SOutherner
who claims his rights and dares defend them.
Tennessee-braEe and noble Tennessee
once the land of Jackson, now the guardian
OF his ashes-the high sense of honor, the
calm courage and undoubted chivalry of
whose people have excited the admiration of
the world-has been the particular subject of
Lincoln's perfidious deception. To her he
has added insult to injury. She has never
been hasty; she was never unreasonable; but
truly devoted to the Union of these States,
she battled for it with untiring energy, until
every yestige of hope was swept away, and
until the last lingering ray was lost in the
threats of subjugation from yandal horde
of would-be despots. After many noble,
though vain efforts. to procure her just rights
peacefully in the Union-rights guaranteed
to her by that sacred Compact, which was
the foundation-stone in its cOnstructiOn-im-
itating the example of the sires of '76, she
unsheatbs the sword the last arbiter ofjustice,
and now that she has placed it in the hands
of her sons who know so well how to use
it, as an hundred battlefield can attest, woe
be to the goths who encounter them. The in.
centive that impels them to fight is not the
venal one of envy and booty, but The patri-
otto one of freedom and love of liberty; and
there is but one motto inscribed upon South
ern banners and enstamped upon Southern
hearts: Victory or Death" / believe that
our cause is just; that we are on the side of
right; that the God of Washington will aid
US in the coming struggle; and as you have
so beautifully said, SIN his name we will GER
tainly triumph" In conclusion, l would
say, that l accept this as the ensign of free
dom. We will guard it with unceasing Wig
lance. We will protect it with our strength
and defend is with our lives; and should we
he called to fight under it. its presence will
inspire our hearts with new courage, and
nerve US for the conflict. And should we
fail in its defence, when no longer able to
strike one blow, we will turn to it, and with
our eyes resting upon those beautiful stars
and honest bars, will offer up one fervent
prayer for its success, and for Gods best
blessings to be ever with those who bestowed
it.
The occasion was an extremely interesting
one, and the ceremonies passed off pleasant
ly to all. There were about two hundred
and fifty persons, for whom bountiful bar
becue had been provided.