Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-05-24
Impo.lns cersnony At wa.hington



Raising of a Flag sy the President. .
Sgsschts By Msssfs. LiueOia Blair, Seteard an,
aa Smith. i
WAsHiNoroN, May % AT noon to-day, al
immense concourse Of enthusiastic people wit
messed the ceremonies ATTENDANT on the raising
of the American flag over the General Post
Office Building
The President and his Cabinet were seated on
platter Especially erected for their accom-
u odation,) together with several other distin-
guished gentlemen.
General Skinner, on behalf of the officers and
clerks OF the department. opened the proceed
ings by addressing the President, saying, among
other things that they, in manifestation of their
devotion 10 the country the Constitution, aud
the preservation Of the Union, had determined to
raise over the building the glorious stars aud
stripes under which our forefathors had fought
aud under which flag they achieved our indie
pendence, and under which, it was now hoped,
freedom would be perpetuated in all coming
time. The clerks, no said, were proud Of the
opportunity Of teatifying to the President their
fidelity and devotion to the Union, which they
| were determined TO maintain to the end And
they would deem 1t the highest honor consistent
with the occasion II he would condescend to
raise the flag to the mast from which IL Is 10
aoat.
The President having advanced to the front
platform, was enthusiastically greeted from the
| crowd below.
The President said he was very happy, on all
occasions, to be the humble instrument Of for.
wardiug the very worthy objects which had just
heel expressed. He therefore took pleasure in
| performing the part assigned to him, and, sup
posing that any extended remarks were not ex.
pecled from him, be would proceed at once to
act his part.
lie then hoisted the Gag by hand over hand
rao a.s
| by the waving Of hats and OF handkerohiefs by
the ladies the bands playing, in the meantime,
the national anthem, The Star-Spangled Ban
ner.
The flag having been attached to the staff,
the three cheers aud repeat we're given, the
occupants Of the neighboring trees, housetOps,
and windows participating in the general demon
straiion of joy.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT.
The President again appeared on the front
platform, saying it had occurred to him that
lev words wopld be appropriate to this occasion
Several weeks ago the stars and stripes hung
laukily about their stats, all over the Union =
SO 1t was to-day, when this flag was raised but
this glorious breeze has unfurled it, and Il now
floats rs It should. He hoped the came breeze
was now spreading out our glorious fog all over
The nation.
The expression met with general and enthusi
asiic response from the delighted multitude.
SPEECH OF POST MASTER GENERAL BLAIR.
Postmaster General Blair, on behalf of the
officers and clerks Of the Departments, thanked
the assemblage for their presence As the Pre-
sident had said, il seemed for time that the
affections of The people for the flag had departed
in one section Of our country but this was
great error. The flag is yet dear to all parts Of
the Union, and the people are coming forward
everywhereto uphold and maintain IT, II was
lpFnuaR d Ne 10 af IN 10
not because Of the stars and stripes on il but
because it is associated with all that is dear to
American freedom, and because iii the emblem
offreedom and glory-tha emblem Of popular
Government, SO deep in the hearts Of the nation
1t is for this, and this only. that the people are
protecting il--not as party, because we have
ceased to know party. ICheers. We are no
longer Democrats, Wings, and Republicans. We
are Americans standing up for free institutions,
lrenewed cheers, aud mean to exhibit to the
world that 10 the pursuance Of the grent prinoi-
pie Of maintaining free institutions we are as one
people devoted to that end, be the end far or
near. Applause. Do not mistake our South
ern f'ien Is. l am Southern man. They beg
you to come and preserve them from military
despotism. from conspirAtOrs against their free
dom. A voice. Hang every one Of them
After further remarks he added Disarm these
couspirators aud these Southern men, like you,
will echo your voices in enthusiasm for the stars
and stripes. -
SPEECH OF Mr.. SEWARD.
Mr. Seward then responded to the impatient
and oft-repeated calls for him, saying.
FELLow-CITIzEss: You here have known well
the statesmen and orators Of some OF the South
ern States. We have known their courage, and
courage, the spirit, and tho resolution of the
people Of all the Southern States. But knowing
all these, we know two things which even they
cannot do-oEe is to destroy Hail Columbus, and
the other is, to destroy the Star spauged Ban
ner. Repeated cheers, interminglod with ex-
clamations Of "No, never."] They will fail
to do it only because human nature needs that
the one ahal continue to be SO, aud the other shall
continue to float over the sea and the land, and
what human nature Deeds God Almighty, the
Father Of Human Nature, DEGREES. [Cheers,
and repeated applause, aud music from the
band
Secretary Smith also responded to call upon
him. The occasion was one of great enthusiasm.