The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-07
From the Ne1c Orleans True Delta, Jan. Q
OH NATINE AIRS

OUR NATIVE AIRS.
One OF our contemporaries this morning follows
us in an appeal to the Southern people to preserve
such native airs as Hail Columbia and the Star
Spanged Banner.
80 Tar, the bloody revolutionary, red republican
hymn OF kouget D'Lise has superseded them with
out cause. But a reaction is taking place Atthe
arletles last evening, the Marseiaise was receiy-
ed with prolonged hiss This arose doubtless
from that patriotic feeling which is averse to i'm
porting foreign air as a substitute for our time
honored and beautiful native Odes, c0nsecrated to
liberty. And moreover, some of the audience
doubtless felt that if the American Union is to be
sundered, we should hold on to everything good
rejecting everything bad, and not leave the glor-
enemies.
Anarchy, crime, fraternal bloodshed mark the
history of the MarseiIlaise Rachel on the boards
OF the Theatre de la Republique, standing up in
ner carriage among Parlslan mob, showed how
much is to be feared from the chanting of the
hymn. 1t is grand liberty ode, but it has been
prosdtuted to all sorts of anarchic purposes, and
does not add dignity, from its very history, to the
American character
How different the Star Spangled Banner. the
MARTA notes of which burst forth so goriauslv
last night from the balcony of Odd Fellows HALF
| Inc memories with which it is Immortality linked
thrilled the hearts of our gallant soldiers from
Palo Alto to Buena Vista, from bcmbarded Vera
| Cruz to the grand plaza of the Mexican capital
Let US see what inspired the author Of the Star
| SPangied Is inner to write ode for rosterity.
British fleet was in Chesapeake bay. The
commander had planned the fall of Fort McIIenry
and the immediate capture of Baltimore. A gen
teman of that city under flag of truce went on
board OF British frigae to effect the release of
friend. He was detained board for fear that if
permitted to depart the plans Of the enemy would
be discovered The frigate bore down upon Fort
| McHenry before nghtfal, and commenced hosti-
ties As night closed in the patriotic Baltimorean
| looked proudly upon the American flag streaming
upon the ramparts. All through that dreary night
fell the British shot, CALAMITY and defantly an
swered by the brave soldier in the fort He could
only then see our flag still flying by the blaze of
rocket in the midst Of thick darkness And when
morning came the spangled banner still foated in
proud defiance, to the surprise of the BritOn who
| thought the fort would surrender in an hour
Francis Scott Key, lawyer of Baltimore and sub
sequent!y of Washington, made this incident the
| basis OF his immortal ode. short time before
Key died he was the recipient of an honor credita-
| BILE to all present. He visited place where a
band was treating an audience to fine music. As
| he entered the musicians struck up the Star
Spangied Banner, the audienc, rose and every eve
was bent upon its hor. Here is an ODE written
| by Southern man, the son of Southern soldier
! OF the revolution-an ode commemorative a hard
| fought struggle in Southern waters, the lombard
ment of fort which the key of defence of a
Southern city, put aside to make for the Mar
| seillaise.
The very words of Keys ode thrill with patriot
ic tervor. The very notes of the air in their rise
and fall, pulsate with liberty. The flag to which
1t alludes, was created when there was no fanati-
! cism in the land. Its latest triumphs were on
| southern fields The last battle fought the grand
finale of the struggle with Great Britain was the
field of Chalmettee, where it waved over the victo-
| rious heads of southern born men, Kentuckians,
| TennesSeeans, LOuisianians. And Southern men
bore it VIGOROUSLY to the very heart of tropical
Mexico. Why then should we dislike the fac and
the ode welded to it for all time?
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