The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-03-22
Flag PresfuIation-Speech by Presi.
dent Lincoln. --r

Ftag ffesPnIntiOu-Speec ny EEes
.. dent I,incOin. --r
A rebel flag captured at Anderson by
the l4Oth Indiana Volunteers, was pre-
sented last Friday to Gov, Morton, in
front of the National Hotel A large
crowd was in attendance Gov. Morton
made Il brief speech. in which he CON
graduated his auditors on the speedy end
of the rebellion. and concluded by INTRO
dueing President Lincoln, whose purity
and patriotism were confessed, he said
by all, even among the most violent agl-
tatOrs, [Applause. His admtnistra-
ton would be recognized rs the most I'M
portant epoch of history 1t had struck
the death blow to- slavery, applause, J
and built up the Republic with power
it never before possessed. If he had done
nothing more thau put his name to the
Emancipation Proclamation, that alone
would have made his name immortal.
[Applausel
The President addressed tlIe Assembly
substantially as follows:
FELLOW CITIZENS: Ii will be but -
few words that ] shall undertake to say.
| was born in Kentucky, raised in indi-
ana aud lived in Illinois, laughter and
now | am here where it is my business
to care equally for the good people of all
the States. | am glad to see an Indiana
regiment on this day able to present the
captured tiag TO the Governor OF Indiana.
Applause am not disposed III say
ing this 10 make a distinction betw cen
the States. for all have done equally well
Applause There are hut few views or
aspects of this great war upon which |
havenOt said OF written something where
by my own opinions might be known
But there is one--the recent attempt of
our erring brethren, a. they arc some
times called laughter,l TO employ the
negro to fight for them have neither
written nor made speech OH that sub
iect. because that was their business, not
mine and if had wish upon the sub
iect | had not the power to Introduce ii
or make il effective The great question
with them was whether the negro being
put into the army will fight for them. |
do not know and therefore cannot de
eide. daughter They ought oknow
better than me ! have, in my lifetime,
heard many arguments why the negroes
ought TO be slaves but if they fight for
those who wonld keep them il slavery, it
will be better argument than any
have vet heard Laughter and ap-
planse. He who Will fight for that
ought to be slave They have cOnclu-
ded at last to take one ont of four OF
the slaves and put them in the
army; and that one ont of the fouI
who will fight to keep the Others in slav-
erv ought to be slave himself, unless he
is,killed in fight Applause. While
have often said that all men ought to
he free. vet would J allow those c0lored
persons to he slaves who want 10 be- and
next to them those white people who ar
pne in favor of making other people
slaves. Applause. | am in favor OF
giving an appointment to such white
men to try it on for these slaves. Zap
plause.1 i viii say one thing i'll regard
to the negroes being employed TO night
for them. do know be cannot tight aud
STAY at home and make bread too
Laughter and applause And as oneis
about as important as the other u them,
don't care which they do. Renewed
appIause I am rather in favor Of hav-
inc them try them as soldiers. Zap
planse. They lack one vote OF dong
that. and wish l could send my vote
over the river, so that might cast it in
favor of allowing the negro TO fight
Applause We must now see the bot.
tom of the enemy resources. They will
/ stand ont rs long a. they cam and if the
negro will fight for them, they must al
low him to fight They have drawn up
on their last branch Of resources-lap'
plause land we can now see the bottom.
Applause. lam glad to see the end
so near at hand [Applanse. have
said now more than intended, and will
therefore bid you good bye
The President then retired Hwbile the
crowd below saluted him With loud ana
hearty cheers, and the band played
lively tune,