The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-04-12
The Insult to the American Flag.

The Insult to the American Flag.
We ment oned yesterday an indignity to the
American flag at the Grand Trunk depot on
Monday, by It's being taken down and thrown
into the mail car by Mr.. Latham, the tram as
patcher.
The affair created a good deal OF EXCITE
ment Monday afternoon and TUESDAY morn
inc. and it was contemplated that an indlgna-
tion o,eet;no should be held at the Exchange
and committee appointed to walt upon Mr.
Brydges. the Managing Director, and Mr..
Bailey. the superintendent for the Maine Dis
trict. who we're both in the city, and insist up
on the removal of Mr.. Latham. This meeting
was superseded by suggestion made that St.
John Smith, Esq, President of the Atlantic
and S.. Lawrence Railroad Company, should
see the Manager and Superintendent and state
to them what were the views and feelings of
Portland merchants.
But the feeling had spread widely that our
flag had been insulted, and that reparation
must be made by the person who was guilty
of it. Accordingly yesterday noon, squad Oh
about thirty of the Veteran Reserve Corps,
and Home Guards went to the depot, called
Mr.. Latham out, took large flag and fasten-
ened it to the blade of an oar and required
him to wave it several times over his head
They then gave three cheers for the old flag
and departed.
Soon after the trains had departed, another
sauad of about dozen soldiers made their ap-
pearanee at his house, accompanied by large
crowd of men and boys. Mr.. Latham was
called oat again, and small flag was fasten-
ed to a staff and placed 10 his hands. He was
placed between two soldiers, and was COM
peeled to march through the streets bearing
the flag. The procession stopped at City
Hall where Mr.. L. addressed the crowd and
ststad that in what he did on Monday, he was
only obeying a rule of the company, that no
flags should be carried on any train. The
procession also halted at several other points,
and compelled MIR. +. to wave the flag. At
the junction OF Exchange and Middle streets
ithalted and furnished Mr.. L. with soldiers
coat aud cap which he put on. Finally they
marched to bis residence, obliged him to nall
the flag to his house and then left him. No
violence whatever was offered him, and it was
only intended that he should publicly apollo
gize in this manner for the indignity which
had been offered the flag on Monday. Every
thing was conducted with good humor.
1t is only justice to Mr.. Latham to state
that in a conversation with Mr.. Bailey the
Superintendent, yesterday, we understood
him to say that the managers Of the Grand
Trunk Railway could not censure Mr.. Lstham
without censuring one OF their own regulations.
If this is the case the sooner such regula-
ton is repealed the better it will be for the
Grand Trunk Company.
In Justice to Mr.. Bailey, we would say that
he deeply regrets the occurrence OF Monday
and he has stated to us, that, nothwithstand-
ing it would have been against the regula-
tions of the company, he should on such an
occasion have allowed flags to be exhibited on
the train, and he is ready at all times 20 show
due honor and respect to the American flag.
p. S.-After the above was in type we Ie
ceived the following note from Mr.. Latham
which we most cheerfully publish:
PORTLAND, April 18th, 1865.
To The Editor Of the Press:
SIR:-aaving been charged with offering
disrespect to our National Flag, by having re
ploved a small one from one OF the cars on 1
train about to leave this city yesterday,
beg to say that in so doing, considered
was carrying out an old established rule that
no flag but those used for signals should BIZ
exhibited on any train, and had no intention
of Offering any slight to our Flag, or OF inter
fering in any way with manifestations OF JOY
i r. .fsofix
/ am Sir, your most obdt servant,
A. A. LATHAM.
We learn that representation Of the affAir
has been sent to Washington. As the flag
was on the post Office car, it is presumed that
Department will take some notice of the mat
ter.