The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-11-09
Speeches at the Flag aud Sword Pre-
scnta(iOn. 4.a


90 scntatiOn.
The following are the speeches (referre'
to in our las) on the occasion OF the pre-
, sentation of sword to Col. DICKEY and
flag to his regiment, at Washington
square in Ottawa, on the 2Sth ult Tht
sword was presented by the Hon. B.
I Cook, who addressed Col Dickey as fol
lows: g.
iH COLONEL DIcKEY :--T our old friends ane
! neigh bors have desired me to tender to yoI
a pan ting gift and say to you parting
word before you 20 from among us to dis
charge the grave duties and responsible
ties which are before you. In the hour Of
our peril and calamity, our country has
called upon her sons to rally III her de
fence. Traitors have assailed her life and
are even now endeavoring with armed
hands to blot out her name from the list
of the nations of the earth, and to over
throw those beniti cent institutions which
have secured to us so much Of blessing
and whose foundations were laid in the
blood and tears of our fathers
Hundreds of thousands of loyal hearts
have heard the call and obeyed it as the
call of God From the shores of the At
lantIc, and from the great prairies of the
West, from farms and shops and offices,
from all the ayocatlons, rom all condi-
tIons OF life, hosts are gathering; and the
universal feeling OF every heart, finding
uttciance upon every lip, IS, Come what
may 10 us, our country must not perish."
I he call IL imperative and must be obeyed !;
and obedience 10 1t involves many sad
partiugs, the suspension OF many pleasant
associations where so large Il part of your
active lite has been passed; from friends
long known, proved and loved, from the
endearments of home and as you &c, or
warme>t svmpathIeS attend you, our
deepest sOllcIiuae for your welfare and
prosperity; a"d we would have YOU bear
with you some gift which shall be Il testi
monEil Of our respect and esteem for you,
and our confidence in you "a token of the
sacred duties which you have a, sumed,
and a momcnto OF friend, vino will not
cease TO follow YOU with their earnest sym
pathIes and good wishes; and as such
token and mumeuto, We ask your accept
ance OF this sword May II remind YOU.
first and most i!n;ressively, of the sacred
ness OF the cause Ia which 1t becomes your
duty TO WELD it, Our Government i, in
peIll OF destructon-that Government
but as a source OF safety and blessings.
Our Institutions are IN danger OF being
MISREPRESENTATION purtha-ed at 80
much cost. and around which cluster 80
many sacred memories Ia this -ad strife,
ioyai men are not the as>ailants. but the
aSsaI..d ou and the brave men VINO
stand beside YOU. stand only in defence OF
our country. oil those institutions which
axe or heritage, and which Ne hope and
intend 10 transmit to our children. Not
10 yOt. and your companions Ia arms, tut
To tnuse who have pIOiaH'tS euicItd the
ieunIIr ul HtvIGy Ia overthrow its aittIs
af.u destroy iis "oiriIip, - the warnIug
given. iuel VINO ,ake the sword shall
perish by tHe sword. Ne would have
YOU IhUs constantly reminded OF the dig
EIiy ana -acTeducss VI the cause IN which
the sword Is to be drawn; that 1t IL the
cause OF loyalty patriotism and truth, be
cause tom this consideration alone may
Ee drawn the strength 10 endure with
the hardness anu prIration
.. a older Nte. From IL can he derived
tue strea2th with which gece->ay perl
cAn be braseiy encountered. The ubcon-
quesable power which fills a ireslian bal
tIlng on hls hills, the power whereof the
patriot glrdo himself To die tor cou3lry,
demands the saci lice Ne would have this
giil remind YOU also of your friends ~ ho
will watch with earnest desire ior your
safety and success, who will relolfe In
every triumph you may win as III some
sort their own; who viii sorrow fof any
r.!. fortune that may beiau you, a. ior a
personal calamity. ana who, while ihey
pray 10 Him who holds the nations in HIS
naud, that he would deliver our country
IN tins her hour of peril, Will not forget to
beseech HIM that He viii cover you with
HIS protection III the day OF bate, and
bIIng you to your home again IN honor
amd safety, to enjoy the Ietlectiou that
YOU had acted no unimportant part i'll
AIDING the triumph OF molly cause, and
IN securing the countless blessings which
that triumph viii insure. .t. ..
TO this token and expression of high
regard, Col. Dicl>ey feelingly responded as
follows;
With gratitude, sir, ! accept this beau
t:tui git The service IN which | embark
L. new to me 1t is therefore, with diff
uencc, with painful misglvings, lest may
not be able 10 meet your too tiatteLing ex-
pectat.on-, that | accept this token OF
kiuduess and confidence The CONSCIOUS
dearer than hie When | view my own
want OF skill, and see the power of the
Plees, and that every officer is at its mercy,
and Is standing daily liable 10 ruin by a
single dash OF an irresponsible pen, and
the thought that | NAV not be able to
retain The favorable regard of old friends
aud neIs III bois presents To my mind a PIC
ture niole terrible than the attefie!d.-
Trusting, however, that they at least will
not lend 10 calummy willing ea; | ven
turc to accept this gift, and eird this sword
upon me here the speaker put on the
sword with the hope to wear it worthily,
ana that ut some day-not far distant-the
true authority of our benign Government
being everyw here established and recog-
nIzed, the honor Of our flag vindicated,
and our land at peace, l may be allowed
10 return TO their midst with the same
degree OF their confidence and affection
now here manifest. | thank YOU and
them for this sword. ! am exceedingly
proud of this gift, and my highest hope is
TO so wear 1t that when | am gone my
children may be pioud OF it.
The flag was presented by the Hon. J.
D. CAroN, who addressed Col DIcEEy as
follows:
COLONEL DICKEY In the convulSions of
civil dlscord, brought on by desperate
hands who have staked their very exist
ence upon the destruction of so mild, so
Uenliict ut and 80 happy n Government as
this, our common country has called upon
You, IN common with her other patriotic
sons, to come TO her rescue, and Id assist
ia the vlndication of her Constitution and
the Enforcement OF her laws You have
responded to this cause with promptness
and an energy which testihes to ypur ap
probation OF the emergency, and your
patriotic devotion to your country vel
+ fare, and have called about those who
like yourself, comprehend the emergency
! and are willing to devote their lives TO then