New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-18

pellng engine to take down the shells, with
an omnibus or two in tow for the transportation Of
the invited guests.
PRESENTATION OF a FLAG TO THE LOUISIANA
GUARD.
A decidedly interesting event, attended with re-
ligous ceremonials and many pleasing incidents,
transpired yesterday. That fine company, the
Louisiana Guards, Capt. Todd, assembled at their
armory in full uniform, about one hundred strong,
and marched down to the residence of Mr. F.
Zeigler, at the corner of Chartres and Esplanade
streets, where, in due form, they received rich
and beautiful flag, the Offering of the ladies Of the
Second and Third Districts. Many ladies were
there, and the crowd in the street was great.
The presentation, on behalf of the ladies, was
made by Miss Maria Boyle, who, upon handing over
the flag, made to the Guards the following address,
CaIt. Todd OFFERS and Members Of the Loiiarna GuarL'
Conference.-The ladies of the city of New Or
leans are deeply impressed with the sentiment
that your past Conduct has entitled you to come
distinguished mark Of their high appreciation.
The zeal and patriotism heretofore displayed by
you and which have so nobly prompted your or
ganizatiOn are worthy Of all praise, and deserves,
in their opinion, an eyincement of their sincere ad-
mration, IS well as an unqualified expression OF
their heartfelt sympathics for the glorious cause
you have so ardently embraced.
We have determined, in commemoration OF these
yicws to present to your gallant corps this beau
tilul flag which | now unfold. Having been Sc
lected on this interesting occasion as the medium,
through which this delicate, and to me, most
pleasing task, ia to be performed must add that it
would betaffectation in me indeed, should not ac-
knowledge degree OF embarrassment snly equal
led by the intensity of the feeling entertain for
the furtherance and perpetuity of those sacred
principles which the South the beloved South, is
about to battle for.
There is an alarm from our watchtower! The
his slow, yet steady tread, with aching heart, is
about to desert his post; and Liberty prepares to
flee her sanctuary, and
"spng npon the viewless winds 70 heaven again u
The great heart of our beloved country, moved
by the waves of agitation, is even now thrO bbing
like victim in the rack until its distended arteries
have severed their connections, while the winds
unCaved- disCOrd and strife borne on their wings,
hover over us, and threaten to uproot the super
structure Of the grandest fabric the world has
ever beheld.
What sound is that, rising in almost inaudble
tones, strs the deepest emotions of the soul, and
monrnfully swells with increased cadence, re-
verberatjng over the broad expanse of our coun-
try? 1t is, l fear, the requiem of our beloved
Union.
During the past thirty years our Northern bre-
thren have kept he1r compact with 'P't7!c JdNt,"
and by studied and systematic course Of aggres-
sion, having its origin in the widest faratCism
have persstent}y invaded the liberties, and heed
lessy traupeled upon the most sacred rights Of the
mitted and borne this persecution, until even
patience, that Spartan virtue, whose counsels
We have so long followed, now, with angry and
frowning glance, bid resistance.
And M ,s y n 4s' w2s RR5sPn o h III BE %5 hlsd
We cannot witness with unmoved emotion the
change that has thus come DER the spirit Of our
beloved country. The fraternal ties that have
heretofore linked US to our Northern brethren
have been severed. "The silver cord has been
loosened" and the q golden bowl forever broken.'
All feelings of love and affection are superseded
by those Of maignity and hatred; and fathers and
sons now about to be arrayed against each
other, stimulated by the deadiiest hostility; while
| war, having
| ''Yoked the red dragons of her iron car
with horrid front, looms up in the distance. Yet
with Archdamus, the heroic Lacedemopian, apos
trophiZing the breach of Athenian faith the South
| can truly say,
I've ell upon The 2ds to witness that are did not
Dark and ominous clouds have slowly and silently
lowered DER political horizon, and us slowly
and silently Obscured its brig Illness. Star after star
has gradually paled and has vanished before their
withering influence; butA CLEAN OF light nOlo reil-
lumcs the armament, tinged with mellOWed ra-
dance and star after star rGappears and grouping
themselves in their galaxy shine again with lesser,
but brighter ettusence, heralding the advent OF
| the United Confederacy of the Suuth.h
It is indeed difficult to realize that our beloved
Union dissolved and despite the business of our
cause, every heart is bowed with grief and pain
for there are many, very many, hallowed associa-
| tions which, unCurbed, 1CW rise in the soul as
| memory ever restive, CLEANS through the vista of
the past, mirE oring the gIories which as q nation
| we have achieved.
Now, in behalf of the ladies of the city of New
| Orleans, commit to your care this beautiful flag,
which, as | speak, floats in dalliance with the
| Southern breeze. Behold its motto: we DEFEND
OUR RrGuTs.'' need not add that glance at the
manly forms before me gives assurance that you
will not prove recreant to the trust while an
| arm remains to defend it. Let them the same
feeling of love for our glorious State which gave
birth to your organization, continue to unite you
into one sacred band among whom no contention
should ever exist but that noble contention, or
| rather enulation,' of WHO CAN BEST SERVE HIS
| STATE! and if an appeal to the god of battles can
alone decide the justness of our and the des-
TIMES of the South, then let the motto of this flag be
| deeply buried in your hearts, and as you proudly
gaze upon it, let the watchword be "Ht hoe signC
| UWceS-'
Lieut.. Fenner, deputed to receive the flag, did
so, and spoke handsomely in reply, as follows:
Ladies Of Ne,c Orleans With high, beating
| hearts, and pulses Quckened to the thrill of pride
and gratitude, wereceve, at your hands, this beau
| tiful flag.
Had it been woven by the fingers of " the pert
| fairies and the dapper elves,' or Of the " wood
nymphs, decked with dases trim,' that
| '.Iec in grove or green,
B. fountain clear or sp4ngel starlight shecn;'
"Thnse gay creatures Of the clement
That in lr coiors Of tle rRlnb W live,
And play i the pighled clouds"-
were its woof ''the milky baldrc of the skies'-anG
were it dight with tnt5 stolen from the sunset OF
the dawn-it could not, in our eyes, be more beau
tilu-it could not, to our hearts, be more precious
than it now is, coming as it does from the pure
and lovely women of our land-those, whose hand:
would weave the cypress wreath, should we fall
beneath its folds the garland of triumph, shoulG
| whose fears
would make greener the sod that may grow upoi
our graves, and whose smiles would elevate ant
brighten our victorious cre5ts.
On this sacred Sabbath-day we fling it to the
free air! Oh, sun of Heaven, let thy bright ray:
glitter kindly on its surtace, and kndIe there au
spicous CLEANS of glory! Oh, gentle winds
chant polian strains ye daily with its silken
suu.lit folds Oh, God of battles and of hoasta
encirclo it with the rosplendent aureole of Thy
blessing! Oh, tender hearts that gave it, sent
with it, as we bear il hence, Your precious sympa