The Shasta courier., 1864-11-26
An Eloquent speech.

We MAJ the IoiIoWius 0AeioSs iAoAn ene
speech Of Captain VT. Swasey, published
in the Los Angeles Star of November IL.
The speech was delivered at a Union Barba-
cne on the 5th inst For intensity of patrio-
t;sm we have not seen anything to eqaal il;
besides. the question is put in style quite
different from that generally adopted by pro-
fessional speakers. Especially do We COM
mend it TO our Democratic readers:
Now, fellow citizens, as | have held ii at
in this contest, every citizen Is soldier and
everv soldier citizen, What would you do
(I quote from an able statesman and most
gallant soldier. What would youdo! When
a soldier is marching toward the enemy, or
holding his place in line OF battle, ready to
meet the onset or to make the charge, if that
soldier instead of attending TO hIs stern and
grim nurpose. to the consideration OF how he
Shall hest acouit himself in the deadly strug-
ole before him, and to the duty which hes
present for him to do, should tusn to his COM
rades about him, saying to one, we cannot
beat the enemy, to another, We had better
iay. down our arms, to another, our cause is
wrong, we cannot conquer, and to another, let
us demand of our commander to stor she'd
ding blood and have truce between the two.
armies. If a soldier at such time should
talk thus in the ranks, what wonld You do
with him?
! You would shoot him. Aud is citizen in
front of the foe, in presence OF the enemy
who undertakes to breed distraction in the
country, who claims we cannot put down the
rebellion, who insists that the rebellion an his
view is altogether right and justifable. who
would temporize. who would compromise,
who would have his Government debased to
the condition of begging peace from. armed
and insplent insurgents, is he less deserving
of execration and punishment? Though we
may not execute such man on the appropri-
ate gallows erected for criminals, yet, thank
God, there is gibbet public opinion where
we can hang him high as Haman, and hold
Linn there, the scorn of all nations, and Of the
whole wvrld.'
Oh Sfor some mighty hand, some mi d
whose genius shall frame a mode to reach the
william, the wretch who
Boldly or with treacherous art
Would strike the blood-wrought chain apart,
Would break the Unions mighty heart
" Would make our Union bond chain
As weak as tow in freedoms strain
And link, by link, would snap in twain
Who seeks in the precious garb of peace
and Union, to instil the venom of his treason
into the very vitals of our beloved country,
whose poison would sap the very foundations
of our Institutions; Be assured, my friends,
that't the day is fast approaching. when the
concentrated contempt of all that is noble in
maA or lovely in woman, all that is pleading
in the youth. the aged, the infrm, .he blind,
and decrepit. will be indicated by the finger
IF ta1 bar
utter loathng and detestation, at that despis-
ed, ridicaled, buffetted and abandoned out
cast who shall be forever haunted by that
specter of hopeless desolation he is now seek
ing to entail upon the destinies of our country.
(Cheers.)
Oh, thou beautiful Flag of my country !
| (pointing to beautiful silk banner,) en-
bem of refuge and protection to the whole
worlds down trodden,, humanity, beacon-li sht
of hope, of succur and Of safety to all of Gods
liberty wrecked creatures! The eyes of the
oppressed and wretched in all earih's reno
test regions, brighten and sparkle with jey
as they gaze upon thy rainbow hued layeli
ness. born amid the storms and strife of all
the elements that war against liberty, con-
secrated in the blood Of patriots, the most
honored, and revered known to the worlds
history. What heart dare conceive, what
hand dare perform the infamv Of dmming the
brillianev of single stripe, or clouding the
lustre of single star. To me. that flag sym
boIizes SO much of liberty, of hope. of hap
piness, that my heart cleaves to it with a love
surprising that of women. with devotion
bordering upon idolatry; and upon him who
would daIe, with parrNidal heart, or sacri-
legioas hand to lessen the brightness of sim
gle ray, here invoke the maledictions ofthe
liberty struggling millions, and the dircst curse
of the thousands of victims whose blood is
crying from the ground for vengencc. curse
him, and he will be cursed (Great az plause.
Fellow citizens the time for talking has
ceased, and the time foE action is at hand in
a few short hours our booming cannon will
announce people redeemed-a nation saved.