The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-07-23
r. :, For the Western Democrat.
FLAG PRESENTATION.

OF witnessing the preseR tation OF Flag by the
I ladies Of Waxhaw aud Cain Creek to Capt. j. j
CsSteeie's company of Volunteers, known as the
Waxtaw Jackson Guards. The meeting was called
to order BY DR. il, W illiams, and the exercises of
] the day were commen nced with prayer by the Rev
| DR. Williams then delivered an Introductory ad-
faress, and closed By Introducing to the audience
! Miss Anna \. Cureton, who with becoming grace
and modesty said Is sr s..s-r4.a. - zs. .s f'
!. CoPfoi": It is my pleasing duty in behalf o.
! the mothers, sisters. and friends of the g haw
jackson Guards to present to you this beautiful
! banner. Eighty-six years ago. the citizens Of
Mecklenburs county, Of which Union was then a
! part, snlartipg under the insults and wrongs Of
! British oppression, solemnly declared thoir con-
nection with the British crown forever dissolved
/ During the war of the revolution, the sires Of
those now before me, noby sustained the action of
! the Z0th OF May, and on many well fought field
convinced the hirclings Of Britain that freemen
! with arms in their hands could not be conquered
/ For long series of years thereafter peace and
! plenty smiled upon our land; our growth aud
! prosperity are unexamplcd in the annals of the
world; ike a band Of brothers we dwelt together
in unity; common destiny and feeling Of mutual
dependence cemented the ties that bound Us;
pure and unselfsh patriotism taught US, to sor-
row, to know no North South our proudest
| boast to be called American citizen; the
separate and peculiar interests and institutions Of
each were acknowledged and respected, till in
sdousy crept in the demon of fanaticism which
for period of twenty years has openly threatened
and assacd domestic peace and happiness.
We have demonstrated; our remonstrances have
been disregarded; we have entreated them they
have turned deaf ear to entreatics We have
warned them again and again; they have treated
our warning with cold Indifference, we have en-
dured " till endurance is no longer virtue, and
only is left the alternative of becoming the
abect slaves Of the Ncrth, asserting our inde-
pendence by an appeal to arms. Never was
cause more just; our ghts, our liberty, all
hang trembling in the balance Let this nerve
your arms and steel your swords. Every incentive
which blind passion and diabolical rage can sug-
gcst, have been urged to arouse to madness and to
deeds of blood the abject menals of their popu-
lous cities, who have eked out miserable sub
sistence by murder, theft and robbery. Our Con
federacy is to be subdued by means which have
never been countenanced by any civilized nation
of earth, and from which even savage would turn
in scorn and horror. Flood, fire and the hand of
the midnight assassin, have been deliberately pro-
posed means to accomplish their fendish pur
pose. After we are conquered, our fertile fields
are to be parceed out to their brutal soldery
" Beauty and booty is the watchword Of the
vandal hordes who are to conquer and possess our
homes. You will soon take your stand on the
borders of Confederacy, there to meet foe,
perhaps your superior in number, and stung to
madness by the reflection that the and stripes
which they oft had boasted had never been lowered
before an enemy, was made to trail in the dust by
our gallant little sister South Carolina S..
While nanfuy battling for your homes, ro-
member that you stand upon the soil sacred as the
birth place Of Washington !; remember that you
are from the Waxhaws, the birth place of Jack
son, and that their pure spirits will overshadow
you with their wings, and lead you on to victory.
Remember that everything you hold dear depends
upon the issue of the contest. But to reand you
of these things i. superfuous: Carolinian's
honor is dearer to him Than life; and to imagine
for moment, that you will prove aught than
worthy sons Of noble ancestry, would be insult
ing to your pride, to your manhood and to your
patriotism. -
= CAPTAIN, take this Banner-by this presentation
the donors say to you as ~ .fs. @.:f
~gs ..-" Said the Spartan mother to her son. r b
10 And pointed to his shield, . 4.....r |
a+-"1'f Come with it when the battles done,
81 e,sz% On onsA from the field" ~ st.-1z a-&
In such hands they feel assured its silken folds
will neyer meet With tshonor but that its
will be marked With death and discontinue to the
ruthless foe who has dared to tlesecratc our soil by
its pollutog TOUGH On the field Of strife let ifs
bright folds proudly to the breeze be flung. When [
amid he~bursing of shells, and the fall of iron
nan, resemDerT that the fcfFcnt prayers Oh p0us
hearts viii be borne upon every breeze to the God
Of battles. that he may shield you from harm and
danger and return you victorious once more to the
hearts -. your faaAijy aud friends. ssg.-@ i
IituIcnant Wilson replied on behalf Of the /
company, Wth althe fervor Of Southern patriotism
and IN his eaey and eloquent manner Characteristic
Of the scholar and patriot His remarks together .
with the military bearing Of the Company vas
sufficient security that our Gag was safe in their
Keeping. - ..... ...- ........ /
Sfter Lieutenant Wilson's address, II Maasy
delivered very feeling address to the Volunteers.
full Of cloquence and patriotic feeling, anl closed
bis remarks By saying that he felt fully satisfied
that this Company, going forth from tic Wax
haws and from the land of Jackson, would fully
sustain the high and chiyalrous opinion heretofore
Of them.
Next followed the Rev Mr. JoHes in one Of the
most chaste. patriotic and eoquen: addresses it has
ever been good pleasure to lise to; and at the
close Of his remarks presented, on behalf of the
ladies', Bible to each one Of the Volunteers, In
pressing upon them in pathetic tones the great
secessty Of incucating lis truths, the only sure
and safe basis which to build our hopes Of sue
less in this unhappy conflict Of arms. -.
Next followed the reading Of the Regular
Toasts, by DR. J Williams:
l. Our Chief Exccutire JeHlrson Dqris-A man second
. Our Southern Confederacv is proud 10 honor
,im President He, like washington, ru!es in tie
ear OF God.