New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-23
FLAG RAISING.

FLAG RAISING.
SPEECHES BY THE PRESIDENT, MR.. SEWARD,
hB. BLAIR, AND MR.. sMrTH-GREAr IN
THUsAsM or TIE PEOPLE.
WAsHINGroS, Wednesday, May y, lS6i.
Al noon to-day An immense concoune % 'thusSislc
persons Witnessed the ceremonies re- at on the
raising Of the American flag over tn neral Post
Office building. The President and Ca et Were seal
ed on platform especially erected for tier acconino
dation together with several other distinguished gen
temer General Skinner, on behalf of the ohce's ana
Clerks of the Department, opened the proceedings oy
addressing tie President, sayng, among other hS5'
thew in manifestation Of tier ceyoonto the Country,
Consultation, and the preservation Of the Union, had
determined TO raise over the building the glorious
Stripes and Stars under which our foretthors fought
and under which they achieved ourindePendence under
which il was now hoped freedom onld be perpeinaied
in all coming time. The clerks he said were proud 81
the opportunity of testhyng to the President therhde
ity and devotion 10 the Union, which they were deter
mined to maintain 10 the end. They would deem II TIE
highest honor consistent with the occasion he would
condo scend 10 raise the flag TO the mast from which IL
il to float.
The President having advanced to the front Of the
platform, was enthusiastically gfceed by the crowd
He then hoisted tie Arg by hand over hand move
ment amid deafenine cheers accompanied by the wnr
ing of bats aud handke from the ladies' the band
plaync meantime the Star Slagled Banner. The
nag having been attached 10 the staff, and three
cheer gwen for il aud repeated, The occupl' q
of trees h)use-tOps and windows pacicpat
inc in ,he general demo1sireion of joy, Ire
President again appeared in front Of the pli-
form, saving 1t occurred to him few words would be
appropriate 10 this occasion. Several weeks AGO tie
Stars and Strives hung anky about their stats all
over The Union 80 il was to-day when tbis iiag w.s
raised but THE glorious breeze has onfoed it, aud 1t
now floats as it should lie hoped he same breeze was
now spreading ont orr lorions flag all over the nation
TIE expression met with general and enthusiastic
response from he delighted multitude.
| Postnaster-Ge Blair in behalf Of the officers
and clerks Of the Department, THANKED the crowd ior
their presence As tie President had said, il seemed
for time that the affection of the people for the u
had cone in enc sec,iop but tis great error.
The old flag is Vet dear 10 a paris of the Union, and
the people are coming forward everywhere TO Uphold
and maintain IT, Il was not bccauae Of the beauty oi
It's colors il was not because Of tse rfsrs ald stripes
ON il, brt hecau-e II Is a..Ocs'ed with all that s dear
| 10 American freed M, and became it is the EN-
! bieln Of freedom aud gog-the emblem on pot-
nlar government go deep in tie hearts Of the nHion.
Ii for thin and this only that The people are pro-
tectng IL: not az party, because have cessed "a
| be a partv tCheersl We are no longer Democrats,
| Whics ard Republicans. We are Americans stand n2
IN for free institutions renewed cheers and M g.
70 exhibit to the world that in pursuance Of the gea
p,ineple of maintaining free institutions we arc a
one people devoted to that end, be fhe end far o
near. tApplausej Do moi mistake on S)utberr
friends. | am a Southern nan. They bet
you to come and feecue them from
military despotsm from the oonEpIatoIs against thc
freedom A voice--liang every enc OF tiein.l Ate
friher remarks nc added; Dsrin thcse con-VirH'
and theae Southern men Ike YOU, will echo you
voices in enihusi,,sn 10 the STAR ard Stripes. A. Nj
Blair concluded lie war applaudod Nv the multitude.
Secretary Seward responded 70 the impatient al,
oft repeated calis for nim. saying:
| FalLow-C IIIzETS: You iiere have known wen tn'
statelnen and orators II o The southern Stairs
We have known their courage, dnd toe coinage, ti'
| spirit and the resolution 81 tie geOple OF all u
Southern States; bu, knowing al these, know TIVE
things which they cannot DO ~ to destroy
| Hail, Columbia" and TIE other y 10 oeeiIVy ih'
| Sfar Slsblied Banner. Repeated cueeIs, interniu
| ged with exclamation of "Noi' keyerWI TeY
will fail ~ do IT ony became hrnau nature needs tb'
one shall Coatinue 10 he 70, nd that the other shhi
toht over the pea and lauG, and what human natur
needs God Almighty, the Father oi Human Naiiue
| decreos. lCbeers, and iniislc rom Tie tand.l
Secretary Smith, response 70 calls for him, ss''
that it WIS scarcely within the power Of any human
voice reach 50 vast multitude, but he knew tha
their hearts warmed by ,he feelings Of pat
rioism which prompted thoe who exhibited 10 them
to-day the glorious banner Of our country. N,
sight has ever been presented 10 ,he American eye
whether on The shores OF tourtry, or on d.
tart soil the vide extended occ9n, which Is NOR.
! calculated ia warn our hearts hnd e2ite our rl;fio
1 Isln
| the sight OF tnat glorious banner, the emblem
Of freedom ard evil liberty. lGrca, applause.
| Bnt ID here ever was day when the sic't OF that
Tag should excite aiTeel patriotism ana love 81
| country, that day IL now. Treason has encod he
4 hydra bead sDd thrcat6 now 10 crumble INTO iuu-
tire glorious fabric Of the Union, Dened by The vp
81 fathers and trail IN the dust thai ag which
looked 70 the list hone OF The oppressed Throughout
every lrIt o. the world ChoeIs, and cry OF" Fiat
tIue."I Upoa you, my friends who live N thL age,
is dev,ved higher duty tb.u, ever before retied
the American people; for when ieorPe Washington
led our fathers Through The fiery Orlehi Oi IRE kevOl-
tonary wal the duty and rssi1l s!bi1ty resting on
those usIiOs patriot, small ~ comparison Win
that resting you their descendants appaase More
than 10 years nave olaped, property has crowned
our connfrc and we their dc scendents, owe TO their
enjoy, on devOlyes the responsibility OF preserving
the liberty they won.
In the course of his remarks he expressed the belief
that the American people are equal all the
gencies; thai treason Will b. repeled, rebellion
crushed and the foundations 0f tie glorious Repuhhc
become stronger Ind more endea1ng after these
troubles shall have posed away than they ever yet
have been; that flag will sgdn iloat over a pros
porous aud united nation over The hand OF the iiee
and the home OF the brave
Other Distinguished gentlemen were called for, and
advanced 10 address the ptdoncaly excited multitude
Tie baud again played the Star-SIsngled Banner aud
a number Of voices Joined IN the wor''s Of the song
This hosting Of The DAG WA one Of the most interest