Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-05-23
Raising of the American Flag over
the General 2. o. Building at the
CapitalL Speech of the preaidcnt

the General 2. 0. Building at the
Capital Speech of the Preaidcnt.
WASHINGTON, May 22.-At mon TODAY
an immense cOneoUrsctof co tliusiastic ,,sr-
sons witnessed the ceremonies attendant
ON tho raising Of the Americau fIar over
the General +. q. building. The presi-
dcntllrd his GaLiuct were seated on u plat
form especially erected fot their ncConimO-
/ dation, together with several distinguished
gentlemen. General Skinner, on behalf of
tue officers and clerks of the department.
opened the proceedings by sddt essiur, III,
President, saying, among other things
that they, in manifestation Of thrir deHo-
tim to tue country, the Constitution, and
the preservation of tire Union, had deter
mined TO raise over the building The 90.
ilous stars AMI stripes, under which uur
tcretaIhers bad fought, and uuder which
ting they achieved our independence, and
under which it was now hoped freedom
would pc perpetuated in all coming time.
The clerks, he said, were proud OF this on
portunity Of iPstilying to the President
their fidelity ind devotion TO the Union.
which they We're determined TO nuintnjp
TO the end. They would deem it the high.
EST lonoE consistent With the occus on II
ne would ecoudescend TO ralse5the Gag to
the mast from which II Is to float.
The President baying advanced to the
front OF the platform Was enthusiastic
eally greeted from the crowd below. The
President said he was very happy on all
occasions to be the humble instrument OF
forwarding the very worthy object which
lad been expressedi he therefore took
pieasurerin performing the part assigned
TO INN, aud supposfng that any extended
REMARKS We're not expected from him, lie
would proceed at once TO acthis part He
then hoisted the flag by hand over hand
movement, amid dcufening cheers, ACCOM-
panied by the waving Of hints nndof hand
kerchieis from tue ladies, the band PLAYING
IN the meantime the national Rnihem, the
Star Spangled Banner. The flag having
been attached to the staff, the three cheers
ana repeat were given, the occupants o
me uelghbortng trees, house-tops and
windows, pHrticipNtingi in the general DEM
constructions % JOY.
The President again appeared on the
front of the platform, saying it had occur
red to him thut few words would be
appropriate to this occasion. Several
weeks ago the Stars and Stripes hung
Lnnkly about Their stats NIL over the I'm
loni so 1t was to-day when this flag was
FIRST raised, but this glorious breeze has
Gnfurled it, and it no floats as it should.
lie hope the same breeze was now snrcad-
ing out our glorious flag all over The ma
ton. Tue expression met with II general
aud enthusiastir response from Tie de-
lighted multitude.
Post Master General Blnir in behalf of
Tue officers and clerks of the Department,
thanked tue nssemblagc for their presence.
AS the President had said, it seemed for II
time that the affections Of our people for
their lag had departed iu one section of
her country, but this was IL great error.
Tue old flag is yet dear to all parts of the
U=ion, nnd people are coming forward
everywhere to uphold and maintain it.
1t was not because of the beauty of its
colOrS, 1t was not BECAUSE of tho Stars
and Stripes thatar u it, but because t
Is associated with all that is dear to Amer
iCau freedom, and because it is the emblem,
OF frced0ms and glory, the emblem of a
popular QOnetnmeut SO deem in the hearts
9tsthc uattotii ft - llf this u4,! <
that tue people ne pro seting It, NOT us Il
itattys hecAuse we have ceased 10 know
party. tcheers.) We arc no longer Dem.
ocT"ts, Wings aud Republicans, We are
Americans, stnEd!ng up Tor free iu>titu-
lions, trenewed cheers, aud moan 10 Cx-
libit to the world, tlrlt in pursuance Of the
great principle of maintaining free institu-
tions,we arc as. Que people, devoted to the
end fir ar near. (.Npplausc. Do not
mistake our Southern friends | am n
i Southern man, They beg you to come
/ and preserve them from military despot-
ism, from conspiratars against their free
dom. voice; hang every one Of them
As Mr.. Blair concluded be wns loudly
| aPplauded by the multitude He was fol-
lowed by Mr. Seward aud Mr. Smith of
Indiann.