The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-04-24
The Flags.

the FlagS.
Banners are emblems. All. nations have
used them, and all nations have abused
them. They have been, and are still, the
ralying points OF battle, and the significant
beacons in peace. That which we call the
g Star Srangled Banner" is, when fully
blown upon the breeze, glorious thing OF
beauty, and well does the poet describe it ::
When Freedom from her mountain height,
Unfurls her standard 10 the air,
She tore the azure robes OF night,
And set the stars OF glory there.
She ming led with its gorgeous dyes
The milky baldric of the skies,
And striped lis pure celestial white,
With streaking OF the mornings light.
Then from his mansion in the sun,
She called her eagle bearer down,
And gave into his mighty hand,
The symbol OF her chosen land.
That flag, upon whose folds Josep Rod.
man Drake, the poet just quoted, has in
scribed his mperish able fame, was, on the
first day of January, 1776, raised over the
Continental Army al Cambridge, in Massa-
chuseus. Ii was marked with thirteen
stripes, emblematic OF the thirteen colonies
and of their Union, and afterwards blue
field, with thirteen stars, was added TO it,
and thus perfected, il was adopted as the
banner of the Nation by an act passed OH
the l4th OF June, 1777, by the Continental
Congress.
The flag of South Carolina was adopted
when Charleston was attacked in Sepien-
Der, 1775. Having no banner under whose
folds to fight, there being no national stand
ard al the time, and the British having fed
from Fort Johnson, Lieutenant Colonel
Note, accompanied by Captain Charles
Colesworth Pinckney, Bernard Elliot, and
The famous Francis Marion, went over TO
the Fort and hoisted ever the main bastion
the first Republican flag ever displayed at
the South.
This flag was designed by Moulirie him.
self at the reques, of the Council of Safety,
and as the State troops were clothed in blue,
and the fort was garrisoned by the first and
second regiments, who wore silver cres-
cent in front OF their caps, he had large
blue flag made with crescent in the dex-
ter corner, to be in uniform with the troops
Since The Palmetto tree has been insertes
on the field of the flag aRd as much, it
now waves again over the walls oil Moul-
irie, and casts now It's shadow on the
battlements of Sumpier.
The American Ensign Of the Stars and
Stripes is still the formal and official sym
l. 4 fhoro
is a harbor 10 enler, or river TO ascend
1t is honored by all nations, for it has
proudly won its place among the archives
OF glory and so long as it was used by pa
triotic hands, and loved by patriotic hearts,
it was cherished as the gallant beacon of
every section of country. Under jackson,
who threatened South Carolina during his
administration, it was held in the iondesl
reverence because it was not the symbol Of
faction, but of the Fenera Government !;
but now that it has been usurped by enc
mics 10 the public peace, and abetiors OF
civil war, and breakers of the Constitution,
It's stars are dimmed, and its broad stripes
no longer represent the baIdric of The skies.
great emblem should never be ProsIitu-
ted 10 bad cause, and it is with profound
regret that we are forced, by any combina-
ton OF circumstances, 10 LOOK upon the
great 5utiug without feelings of the most
enthusiastic character but when we know
that il is 10 be used to lead on the forces of
a iauatical party, we can but eel that IT
is desecra,ei, and il should not be allowed
10 pass through such an ordeal OF mfamy.