Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-03-27
Sneacb Of Mr.. Baldwin, of Augusta,


Upou tie presentation 10 him Of E2ordt
WREATH By Ike Ladtes Of Richmond.
Ladiey umZ Gcaicnten,-I AIN no politician;
thank God have never been Il politician; |
thank esd believe never couii be no!!il-
cian My aste, my inc!!natlons, al! lead nc to
he walks of private life. | acknowledge that
am mbitious-ainbitioas to excel IN what
ever undertake. | acknowledge am ann
bilious for the appreciation of the just and
the good. | trust shall never he undu!y
anxious for the approval OF the mere multi
tude; but [ admit that the approving smile,
the approving word Of the us5, the good and
the true, comes TO me with joy unspeakable.
Alas the little | have had to dc IN public al
fairs, the li;tle intercourse have had IN the
ways of political warfare and conflict, has sad
ly lessened in my estimation the number OF
men entitled 10 be called the good and the
true; yet still find they are .lubiant over
the approval Of the multitude. Bat what
shall say Of the approval Of y!r!notls women?
| ayow shat to gain by fair and honorable
means, without the sacrifice Of seli-respect
or personal integrity, such approval cnnStl-
iutcs with me one Of the highest aims OF my
lottiest ambition.
have received here in this most uncxpcct-
Ell manner such n Testimonial OF appreciation
from the ladies of Richmond as, | can assure
you, touches my heart. ! have no claim up
on YOUR favor except that AIN true--Grue 50
the principles that | profess, true to !he
cause that cSpouSe, true to the country that
| love. true to the Constitution under winch
| have lived and which has shielded and pro-
tecrcd me and mine iii al the time Of my
ali IA ,l,.,,x |
YOU There are those whn look upon our
Government, vino look upon our blessed Uni
on, who look upnn oar glorious liberty, ana
think uf it only III connection with wrong,
think Of it only in connection with evils that
are incident to I'LL free Governments, think OF
it only in connection with the IN Jury II might
do. It is my habit to look upon our Govern
ment AS Government which III the past has
| blessed me, which in the present protects me-,
ard which in the future promises me all the
considerations that l expect u enjoy IN the
world as citizen Of any Government. |
look not upon the stars and stripes, thank
| God, only to see stripes. look upon the iiag
| Of my country with q thrill nj patri"tc GevG
ton. cannot forgct---i would not forget il
| | would-thar it is the ilag which was borne
aloft upon every field OF glory, that distinguish
es the history of this great country. 1t is tile
flag which knows In the past no sectional
distinction, no local prejud:ces. but which
has blazed upou the fields of fame and glory
| in every part of our great aud glorious Con-
federacy 1t is the flag that Stark bore at
! Bennington 1t is the flag that waved 1T
Saratoga, it is the flag that waved ut Eutaw
Springs, at The Covpens and NJ Yorktown
! II represents in my mind my whole country,
would to God could say nY unliyied
conntry! (Applausc.l
Some nIu>lun ii1s been made t" the posi-
ton OF the State Of Virginia a this tlmc.--
| claim to be one Of her true SONS Tier in
tcrpsts, her honor, her ri ghts are near and
and dear to my heart. have alwaya believed,
and still believe, that her true interest, her
true honor and her highest rights require
| that she should stand firm by the Union and
the CONSTITUTIONS [ am proud Of Virginia
| in the past, but my pride in her is heightened,
| increased and intensified when think Of her
az one-ilnd not The least III fame and glory
of that magnificent constellation OF States
that made our glorious Union and our nation
| al name familiar to the friends Of civil and
reli gUIs liberty throughout the world. |
| expect to follow |Irginia's fortunes wherever
they may lead her. an not one Of those
| who came into the councils ui Virginia with
his baggage all packed to leave the State
in the event his advice does not prevail. |
am one of those identified with her past, iden-
titled with her i'll all NY hopes, looking to
| her future ~ my future. am proud of her
present position. She stands this dag between
the breasting and the surging waves Of
! Northern fanaticism and OF Southern violence
which beat upon her. She stands like a
| Lighthouse amidst the surgings of the storm;
the winds come, the rain falls, the storms
| blow and beat upon her, but she falls not,
| thank God, she moves not, she is founded
upon rock loud cheers.