The Shasta courier., 1861-09-28

you with our glorious Union.
Capt. West received the fag-a truly
beautiful gift, and manufactured expressly
for the company-in a manner worthy the
character of citizen, soldier and true
gentleman. He said, among other things:
''I..receive this.fag, the.emblem of nationality,
with pride and pleasure. Where L lead, fol-
low; if fall, avenge me; if run, shoot
me,,'
Sergeant High, who had, previous to the
organization of the company, been selected
to reply on their behalf, did SO in an appro-
pirate manner, but has failed to furnish US
with the text.
The ceremonies were closed by three
cheers for the ladies of Shasta, three for the
Union, and three for the Shasta Guards.
Retiring from the platform, the ladies
then formed, and taking the lead, marched
to Charter Oak Hall, followed by the Guards
and citizens, to participate in the mystic
mazes Of Terpsichore.
THE PARTING.
The excitement of the previous few days
eliminated on Wednesday morning, as the
Guards formed in line in front of the Empire
Hotel, under command of their officers The
roll being called, the company then marched
down street and took position In front
of the platform, where Professor Godfrey
addressed them in the following eloquent and
patriotic manner:
BRETHREN SOLDIERS 1t is with feelings of
pride and pleasure and fearful responsible
ity, that l now address parting word to
you. We are ALL or at least we all hope TO
| be considered soldiers-soldiers on daily and
hourly duty-soldiers in the spiritual con-
flict with the powers of darkness soldiers in
the camp of the living God-soldiers press
| ing forward to the Celestial City, the new
Jerusalem, the home of the soldier of Jesus
Christ
Brethren, we are here for purpose. We
have not left the daily duties Of life merely
for the vanity of display, or for the pleasures
of excitement and novelty but we have come
here in obedience to the call and laws of a
Christian Government and the promptings of
loyal and Christian hearts. We are here
because of our homes, our institutions and
our country. We are here because we be-
lleve the laws which govern our country have
their origin in the bosom of the God We serve.
We are here because we are willing to sub
NIT to its laws and discipline, and if need be,
lay down our lives in its defense. We are
here because our once happy country has
been assailed by traitors.
The Government has called for volunteers
to put down this rebellion and you have no.
| bly, responded. Remember, as YOU CO. the
prayers and the wishes of the citizens of
| Shasta county will be with you, to urge you
on to victory in the defense of our Govern
ment. Behold this cherished emblem of
your country's liberty which the ladies of
Shasta presented to you. How beautiful its
stripes and stars will radiate. Bear this flag
with you, and by it conquer. Wherever the
American Banner has been torn down and
trampled in the dust by traitors, see that they
are punished by just retribution, and re-
plant again the standard of your native land
where liberty and civilization has carried it.
until every valley, and plain, and mountain
is decorated with your country's sign and
gladdening emblem. Glourious emblem of
a free people the land of civil liberty and
religious institutions.
Full in the presence Of all nations that flag
now waves. Its trembling shadow is on ev-
| cry sea. 1t has had strange adventures It
| has been borne near the mysterious sources
of the Nile with but one freeman to protect
it; and in the cloudy solitude of highest
mountains, its sacred threads have been ap-
| portioned by resistles storms. 1t was left
alone on one of natures towers reared in the
new Arctic Continent, and within its folds
have been gathered the glittering frosts
| where eternal winter builds huge icebergs
| around the Northern Pole.
Go, then, in the name of God and human
ity, and give good account of yourselves,
and never hishonor this flag, and if your
lives are spared to return, bring it back with
you-even ftorn and bloody it will prove
that you arc loyal citizens and have been de-
voted to your country, and actuated by
patriotic inspiration.
Portentious times have come upon us. We
are assailed by an internal foe, which bids
defiance to our laws and the Constitution.
Shall we remain neutral and inactive, and let
our institutions be overthrown by blood
thirsty rebels, who would subvert our Gov
srnment? And shall the time ever arrive
when you must travel through the world and
meet no more that flag; and when neither
on sea nor land shall its glories fall upon the
wanderers eye, when the American shall
pass through the world worse than an orphan
"A man without a country? Must | ever be
condemned to feel that the national structure
in which / dwell is not the one which was
built by the Apostles of American freedom
and eenented by the blood of its .nartyrs |
Not the one of which Washington laid the
corner stone, of which Jefferson and Madison |
were among the chief architects? Not the |
first temple which stood upon the Mount Zion
of our American Isreal, its magnificent altar
cleaning through clouds of patriotic incense
and the heaven-enkindled fire of freedom
forever burning upon its shrine? No, not
this temple, but some humble edifce with
| out an altar or a priest, like that in which
the disconsolate jew mourns his lost Jerusa-
lem, and hanging his harp upon the willows,
exclaims, How can l sing the song of the
Lord in strange land?''
And must not only give up my portion
in the flag and history of my country, but
must yield my interest in any of the conse-
Grated spots of this loved republic? Must
stand on Bunker Hill and on Lexington, and
be known as foreigner? Must the man of
the North press the sod of Mount Vernon
and mournfully exclaim, g this is no longer
nv country - Must the world relinquish
its only rallying ground of free principles? ?
A voice rises from the oppressed millions of
Europe, '.take not away from US our only
country of refuge From the the dungeon
vaults, and from the ashes of holy martyrs
comes a cry, .'destroy not the only home of