Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-09-12
Flag Presentation.

| At regular meeting of the Liberty Cor
ners Guards. on Saturday August 3, 1851,
| large number of ladies of the vicinity appeared
on the parade grounds, for the purpose of pre-
senting to the company beautiful flag which
they had prepared for that purpose. The Com
pany was drawn up in the proper position, and
/ the Rev. D. CLARK, in behalf of the ladies,
presented the flag, and delivered the following
extemporaneoGs
ADDRESS.
Ladies and Gentlemen: We appear before
you at this time, for the purpose of presenting
to this Company, in behalf of the ladies OF this
place, these Stars and Stripes Our National
Ensign has history. On the I4th day of
June, l777, Congress resolved that The flag of
the thirteen United States, should consist Of
thirteen alternate red and white stripes, and
thirteen white stars placed in blue field
The FIRST Gag made and used, pursuant to that
resolution, was the one which led the A mer.
can forces to victory at Saratc ga. In 1894
two new States having been added to the Un-
ion, it was voted that the flag should be made
up of fifteen stripes, and fifteen stars in an
azure field as before Our co!ors thus chang
ed and enlarged beautifully and vctoriousy
foated out upon the breeze of heaven during
the campaign of 1872 But it was evident
that the banner would at length become too
large, in case a new stripe should be added
with each successive accession to the Republic
1t was enacted therefore, 1918, that hence
forth there should be but thirteen stripes, and
that the number OF stars should correspond to
the growing number of States. Hence we
now have thirteen stripes, representing the
thirteen original States, and thirty-f0ur stars,
emhlematical Of the thirty-f four States now con-
stituting this Union. BY the white we say
that We mean to be innocent end pure by the
red we declare our determination to brave and
sabdue ell opposition, and by the blue we pro-
mise to be true, vigilaut and perSevering The
flag of this great Confederacy has sailed upon
almost every sea, and anchored in almost eV-
cry harbor 1t has waved not ONLY over our
National Capitolin the South, but it has been
planted upon the Rocky Mountains in the
West, ana among the icebergs of the Arctic
regions. In battle it has been borne triumph
anty from Montreal, in the Northeast, to the
city of Mexico, in the South west. 1t has com
manded the respect OF every civilized nation
upon the globe Mexico, after treating it with
disregard was glad to purchase peace at a
great price. Even old England, that brave
aud warllke nation, the Queen of the sea, hav.
ing made two unsuccessful assaults, at great
expense of money and life, for nearly half q
century has not had the courage 10 violate its
sanctty, and the traitors who within few
mouths past have tramped it beneath their
feet, WILL ere long, we trust, learn that they
have not done it with impunitv Under this
emblem thousands aud millions for over eighty
years have been blessed with liberty. protec.
ton, and prosperity. These United States,
which few years since were a bowling will
derness, by it have been made to bud and bios
som like the rose. This Government the best
the sun ever shoue upon, is emphatically the
Government of the people. 1t does not ele-
vate and make arstOcrats of few and de-
grade the rest, but it guarantees to the poor
as well as to the rich, to the common people
as wei! as to the nobility, the enjoyment of the
inaIlenable rights of life, liberty, and the pur.
suit of happiness. Then let US rally around
our National Standard, and shout :" long live
the Stars and Stripes" Let Us give cheerful
ly OF our means, aud, if need be, our services
to enforce the laws and maintain the Constitu-
ton for the Independence which cost the
sweat and blood of our forefatherS is richly
worth the toll and lives of their sons.
This banner, which we now hold in our
hands, has also history. These ladies whom
we have the honor to represent, are all loyal.
Here is an embodiment of beauty, virtue and
union. And as they are not permitted to show
their loyalty by using the musket or the gliS
tening steel, they have resolved to do it by
constructing and presenting this beautiful Ma
tioDal Ensign. Their generous munifcence
has purchased this material, and their diligent
hands have made these Stripes and planted
these Stars, aud now in their behalf we pre-
sent it with their sympashies and prayers, to
you, Capt. HoILoN, the representative of this
Company, trusting that you will set it up in
name of our GoD, that under it you will tho
roughly prepare for active service, that il need
be you will follow it into the field of battle, and
that beneath its ample folds we all shall still
enjoy the boon of freedom and the protection
of our lives, our property asd our character.
Capt. HoLLoN, upon receiving tho flag,
briefly replied, rendering, in behalf of the Com
pany, bis thanks to the ladies, and the Com.
pany united in giving three hearty cheers for
the ladies and also three rousing cheers for
Rev. Mr.. CLARK.
INTELLIGENCE OF THE LARK "A pair of