Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-08-02

rapid.
An EIOquent speech.
On Friday of last week Mr.. J. B. 3. DEB0W, editor
of DsBol7s Rsvis1, in behalf Of number of ladies
of this city, presented to Col RAMS regiment Of
Tennessee volunteers a magnificent banner, accom-
panying its presentation with the following eloquent
address
COLONEL: am deputed by some Of the fair dauoh-
ters Of Tennessee interested especially in your for
tunes and in that of the gallant regiment which you
have the honor to command, and devoted, as woman
only can be, to the great cause in which much Of
security, liberty and honor involved present
to you this beautiful standard, which they have
caused to be fabricated under their gentle Supern
tendence, and with which they dismiss you TO the
battlefield, with fearful eyes, yet proud and swell
ing bosOms.
In all ages Of history, It has been the glorious
mission of woman to incite, by her approving smiles
and plauuits the most daring feats OF heroism, and
to sustain by her answering constaney. the cause
Of patriotism, when dropping IN the dust. The
classic page she has ever illustrated. The mothers
Of Sparta, the COrnelias Of Rome belong not Onlyto
tnatage. They re-appear in every period OF our
nrst great war Of independence the brilliant results
| Of which may be ascribed as much to her inspira-
tion the deeds Of the statesman at the council
! board Of the proves Of the warrior IN the field.
! The ages Of ehiTslry are not past, and woman to-
day IS as ready to belt the knight for the lis g. and
crOWnth the victor with the garland as in the days Of
| her, man advances to the cannon's mouth as IL a
| Deity al lent him armor.
| "GOd and our Country what words are these
that float out upon the broad and beautiful tissue,
which now rssists and nav reclines luxuriantly up
/ on the breeze. Like the burning words seen above
the cross of Constantine in the sky they rouse the
| sensibihties and fire the heart Without the gui~
dance OF the Most High, and without reliance up
on His right arm, the battle ceIses 70 be to the
strong, and maFshalled hosts melt away ike morn
ing dew; with that guidance, let the storm lower
it shall harmessy break; let the din Of battle be
loud and heTce-it shall not move. The sun shall
| not smite thee by day, the moon by night"
Our Country, too, with what proud e,nOtisns does
il swell the heart IL involves every thought which
man treasures-his friends, kindred, home around
1t cluster all the memories Of an heroic ancestry;
the wretch only is ObliviOus to its elaims-the
wretch only is aggard at its call. It is ever the
theme which fires the poets Imagination and causes
TO burn the embers upon the patriots heart. 1t is
the Eden, from which the curse OF perpetual exile
leaves man a wanderer and desolate.
And what is it that God and Country require Of
us to-day. Ii is to go forth, with brave heart and
strong arm, to meet and repel insulting and ar
rOgant foe, who, defiant Of al obligations sacred
among men, breaks down the forms Of government,
established by mutual compact and sacrifices, and
seeks to Oyerwhelm and crush. with the very pow
er we have aided to establish Do you refuse this
mission. Do your hearts quake at sight Of The
bOastfUl and swelling columns. Every page Ii the
chronicle of glorious old Tennessee, whether writ
ten the heights of Kings Mountain, on the PLAINS
Of Chalmettee, on the prsiries OF the West, or In
the desperate struggles of Mexico, gives the lie to
such an impu tatiOn.
In the presence OF the sacred shades of your an
cestOFs, remember soldiers, that your swords are
drawn in maintenance of a government, which they
fIamed BY their councils, or cemented BY their
blOOd-a government which has been the pride and
hope of fEeemen, throughout the world and IN re-
sisting the infamous purpose OF those who having
wickedly sUbyerted that government, seek with
bristling bayonets and Pompousy parsded armies
10 force upon you gOverhment which these an
cestOrs struggled against and repudlated and which,
under the mere himsy guise Of democracy, involves
the most sbject forms Of despotism--the despOtism
of irresponsible masses-Ot ignorant, preJudlced,
unsympathizing numbers-Of those who proclaim
irreprsssibe warfare against all that has cOnst
tuted the wealth. resources, and civilization Of the
South.
Great God could brave and true man hesitate
now ! With the heel Of the despOt upon his neck,
could he dare breathe the name Of Washington, Of
Sumter of Henry or Of your own immortal chief,
who repOses almost within sightr Could his
martial form appear again at the head Of your col
umns, in battle array, 70 what and where would II
beckOn you on Can you doubt? Which OF you
would shrink away rather would Il make.
'sach petty a.ts'y in ysur bodies
As hardy 3 The Nselean mons ntrVsl
The Union. which he reverenced and illustrated,
represented alone, by this flag (the other and older
having become symbolic Of despOusm,) 1T must
and shall be preserved
sSna.ch from the ashes Of yBur sres
The sembers Of their former fires,
And be in this strife expires
Will AID 70 theirs Of far
That tyrsnny shall quake to hear
Take the flag: let it wave proudly upon the
breeze; let the sun gid it; let the storm rock It;
ever floating never fUrled till the foe perish and the
cause triumph. This Is no holiday pageant Float
out glorious sheet In the hour OF carnage, in the
day of death, when battles are to be fought and
won, be seen, ike the tail and quiyering plume OF
Murst indicating to the eager chief who may watch
its fortunes, the point where danger lowers most
and whence the cry first shall come, so recently
heard on the great day Of Manassas, Of Victory,
Victory, Victory, Victory
Col RAINS replied to the above graceful address
in an eloquent speech, delivered in style exceed
ngly credtable to his brilliant powers az an ora
tor.