The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-24
Raising q Flag at Washington.

AAeTo Was Il great time At WaSQlnEt ton las
Wednesday, on the occasion of raising Fed
eral flag over the General Post Office build
Ing. Lincoln and his Cabinet took promi
nent part in the performance, and the follow
ing account was telegraphed to the Nor thern
newspapers:
The President having advanced to the front
OF the platform, was enthuslds icaly greeted
from the throng below, aud said
lie was very happy, on all occasions, to be
the humble instrument of forwarding the
very worthy objects which had been ex
pressed. He, therefore, took pleasure in per
forming the part assigned him. Surprising
that ext tended remarks were not expected
from him, he proceeded at once to act his part.
he then holSted the nag by hand over
hand movement, amid deafenIng cheers,
companied by the waving of hats, and OF
handkerchiefs by the ladies, the band play ing
meantime, the "Star-Spangled Banner -
Ahe nag having been attached to the stuff,
three cheers and a repeat were given-the oc-
cupants OF trees, housetops and windows par
ticipatIng in the general demons tratiou OF 10Y.
The President again appeared i'll front OF the
platform, saying IL occurred to him that a few
words would be appropriate TO this occasion.
Several weeks ago the Stars and Stripes hung
lankly about their STATS all over the Union.
So it to- day when this flag was first rails
cd, but the glorious breeze has unfolded it,
aud il now floats as il should. He hoped the
same breeze Was now spreading out our gio-
TiOus flag all over the nation.
This expression met with q general and en-
thusiastic response from the delighted multi
tude
Postmaster General Blair, in behalf OF the
officers and clerks of the Department, thanked
| the assemblage for their presence. AS the
! President had said, it seemed for time that
! the affections OF the people for the flag had
! gone in one section, but this was great error;
! the old flag is yet dear in all parts OF the
| Union, and the people are coming forward ev
| erywhere to uphold and maintain it.
| 1t was not because OF the beauty OF It's CO.
| lors-it was not because OF the stars and
| stripes upon it--but because 1t is associated
| with all that is dear TO American freedom, and
| because it is the emblem of freedom and glory
the emblem OF popular government, so deep
| in the hearts of the nation. 1t IL for this, and
this only, the people are protecting it. Not as
| a party, because we have ceased to be a party.
| GCheers.l We are no longer Democrats,
| Wings and Republicans. We are Americans
| standing y for our free institutions, irene wed
cheers, and We mean to exhibit to the world
| that in pursuance of the great principle of
maintaining free institutions We are rs one
| people devoted to that end, be that end far or
! near. Applause. Do not mistake our South
| ern friends. l am a Southern man. They beg
| you TO come and rescue them from military
usurpation-trom the conspirators against
their freedom, A voice-"Hang every one OF
| them.'1
After further remarks he added
Disarm these conspirators and these South
ern men, like you, will echo your voices IN
en- Tn usiasm to the Stars and Stripes.
as Mr.. Blair concluded, he was warmly ap-
plauded by the multitude.
Secretary Seward responded to the impa.
tent and oft-repeated calls for him, saying
Fellow Citizens You here have known
well the statesmen and orators OF some of The
Southern States. We have known their cour
age, and the spirit and the resolution OF TIT
people of all the Son thern States; but, know
ing all these, we know two things which ever
they cannot do. One is 10 destroy "Eaii %
iumbia,' and the other is to destroy th'
.sStar -Spangled Banner" Repeated cheers
| YER"
They will fail to do il only because human
nature needs that the one shall con tinue TO b.
SO, and that the other shall continue TO foa
, over the sea and the land. And what human
, nature needs, God Almighty, the father o
human nature, DEGREES. [Cheers and repeates
, applause, and music from the band.
Secretary Smith, in response to calls 70
9 him, said 1T was scarcely within the power O
any human voice to reach SO vast q multi ude
but he knew their hearts were warmed by tn
same feelings of patriotism which prompte
those who exhibited To them to day the gtori
D Gus banner of our common country. No sigh
! has ever been presented TO the A nerican eye
1 whether or the shores of ourown country O
On distant soil, or on the wide extende
ocean, W hleh liz more calculated to warm on
/ hearts, and excite our patrio tism, and kinul
t anew the na,ne of love for country, than III
g sight of that glorious banner, the emblem c
: freedom and civil liberty. lApplause-
: But II there ever was day when the sigh
o of that flag should excite afresh our patriot
+ ism and love of country, that day is Now
= Treason has erected her hydra head an
9 threatens now to crumble into ruins the CLIO
. rious fabric of the Union cemented by III
: blood of our fathers, and TO trail in the du:
}. that flag which is looked to as the last hop
= of the oppressed throughout every part OF th
= world. (Cheers. and a voice That's true u
g Upon you, my friends, who live in this ag'
r is deyoived q higher duty than ever beior
! rested on the American people; for when Gee
Washington led our fathers through the fer
+ ordeal of the Revolutionary War, the dut
"a | and responsibility resting on those illustriou
!, patriots was small in comparison with tbs
n res ting on yon, their descendants. Applause
a More than seventy years have elapsed Pros
perity has crowned our country, and vi
h | their desct n6ants, owe to their labors all th
: veal and happiness as a nation We enjoy
a On u devolves the responsibility OF preserv
q ing the liberty they won.
r In the course of his remarks he expresse
a | the belief that the American people We!
a co ual to all emergencies; that treason will I
n repealed, rebellion crushed, and the POUNDS
tons of this glorious Republic becom
stronger and more enduring after these trou
bies shall have passed away than they eve
e yet have been, that our flag will again iloa
I over a prosperous and united nation" Owe
d the land OF the free, and the home OF III
i brave"