Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-11-08

SrATE AND NATIONAL SOvgRRI1ETY, The fol-
lowing extract from the speech of Colonel James
Page OF Phiadelphia, on the presentation OF flags
10 The Thirly-frst Pennsylvania Regiment Of
Volunteers, Col. Williams, Que day last week,
sets forth IN brief and eloquent terms the diff
ference between the State and the national flag
in other words, the distinction between what are
called State rights and allegiance to the General
Government. The contrast is exceedingly well
drawn:
1--WE must be brief when traitors take the field
The stern realities of war are upon us, and its
issue involves the question Of Government.
country or no country, the glorious stripes and
stars or no flag at all. The South has drawn
the sword and thrown away the scabbard. She
has lighted the flame OF civil war, and IL is now
burning with all its horrors. The sword must
now decide between us. We must fight it out
We want peace, and must have it; but it Gun
only be that peace which we dictate ut the
mouths of our victorious cannon.
These flags are the emblems Of your State and
nation--the one has a subordinate, the other Il
paramount character. This Is the standard Of
the good old Commonwealth State and
mine. It reminds me of duty she has never
fuiled to perform In the war of the Revolution,
in that of 1912, and in the Mexican war, ever
tue and loyal as she is now-ever for the Union,
never against it. This tells us we have a hoas
but 1t gives us no country. What do foreign des-
pots know Of or care for this banner2 They oil
recognize that Of the Republic. They have too
often seen the fash of its lightning and felt the
power of it's thunder, not to fear and respect it,
But ths-this is the flag of the Union-the
glorious Stars and Stripes. IL denotes Nation
ality. With il We are Americans-without il
we are only Pennsylvanians. 1t speaks OF "a
glorious past-of victories on land and sea-of
heroes living and dead--of Washington, the father
of his country-of jackson, its defender in the
war Of 1872, the hero who said "the Union must
aud shall be preserVed"-of Scott, who planted
it over the halls of the Montezumas, and of
Lyon. who gave it his hearts blood in the valley
of Springfed-of Hull, who made the Red Cross
OF St George succumb TO ii on the Atlantic wave
of Decatur, who inscribed on it the glorious
pledge, "0ur country, right or wrong" - OF
Perry, the first vanquisher OF British feet and
his brief despatch, ave have met the enemy,
and they are oursn-of Lawrence, who diving. as
he looked upon ii, cried, "Dont give up tbe
ship"-and the veteran Stewart ''Old Iron
sides Of the "ConstitutOn," who went into
battle with one ship and came out with three.
II reminds us, too, Of statesmen and patriots
who have passed away-of Jefferson, the apostle
OF liberty-of Madison, the wise and good-of
Clay, the sage OF Ashland, and Of Webster, the
expounder OF the Constitution, who uttered the
noble sentiment, "the UuiOB, now and forever,
one and inseperable"-of these aud a host Of
others who have stood by IL 10 sunshine and in
storm, whose names and memories are entwined
in every stripe upon its folds, and tue lustre Of
whose deeds beams out from every star on its
azure field. 1t is the flag Of the flee, blood |
stained and bloOd-soarrel, the beacon light Of
liberty. Without il we shall have no country, |
Our strength and fame will perish ia lis fall, aud
the blaokness OF night enshrOnd the temple of
freedom. lie who seeks TO trample upon or
destroy 1t is . traitor to humanity for be would
rob the world Of its hopes.