Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-05-06
UnfurliDg the Old Flag over Fl. Sumter
MIRACE FROM HENRY WARD BRECnKES ADDRESS.

of civilization, liberty, and religion. Ter
rible in battle, may it De beneficial in peace
Happily, no bird or beast of prey has been in-
scrlDed upon 1t. The stars that redeem she
night from darkness, and the beams of .ed
light that beautify the morning, have been
united upon its folds. As long as the sun
endures, or the stars, may 1t wave over a ma
ton neither enslayed nor enslavIng. Great
applause. Once, and but once, has treason
dlshOnOred IL. In that insane hour when the
guIIIiest and blOOdiest rebellion of time hurl-
ed their fires upon this fort, you, sir, turning
TO General AndersOn,) and a small, heroic
band, stood within these now crumbled walls,
and did gallant and just battle TOR the honor
and defence of the nations banner. APP
plause.
la Lnat cope of fire this glorious flag still
peacefully waved to the breeze above your
head, unconscious of the harm as the stars
and skies above it. Once it was shot down.
A gallant hand, in whose care this day it has
been, plucked It from the ground, and reared
il again" cast down, but not destroy ed"
After a vain resistance, with trembling hand
and sad heart, you withdrew it from its
height, closed Its wings, and bore it far away,
sterniy TO sleep amid the tumults of rebellion
and the thunder of battle. The first act OF
the war had begun. The long night of four
years had set in. While the giddy traitors
were already advancing, that we're ere long
to fill the land with blood.
To-day you are returned again. We de-
yOutly join with you in thanksgiving to Al
mighty God, that He has spared your honored
life and vOuchsafed you the hOnOrs of this
day. The heavens over you are the same
the same shores; morning comes and eve
ming, as they did. Ali else, how changed
What grim batteries crowd the burdened
shores What scenes have filed this air ard
disturbed these waters These shattered
heaps of shapeless stone are all that is left
of Fort SumpJer. Desolation broods in yon-
der sad city-sOlemn retTibution hath avenged
our dishOnored banner! You have come
back with honor, who departed hence, four
years ago, leaving the air sultry with fanati-
cism. The surglng crowds that rolled up
their frenzied shouts, as the flag came down,
are dead, or scattered, or silent, and their
habitatiOns are desolate. Ruin sits in the
cradle of treason. Rebellion has persisted.
But there flies the same flag that was insult
ed. Great and prolonged applause. With
starry eyes, IL looks all over tnis bay for that
banner that supplanted it, and sees il not.
lApplause. You that then for the day, were
BUNDLED, are here again, 10 triumph once and
forever. Applause. In the storm of that
assault this glorious ensign was often struck
but, memorable fact, not one of its stars was
torn out by shot or she'll Applause. Ii
was a prophecy.
Il said: mot one State shall be struck
from this nation by treason!" Applause
The fulflment is at hand. Lifted 10 the AR
to-day, it prOclaims, alter four years of war,
"NOL State is blotted out" Applause
Hail to the old flag of our fathers, and our
flag Glory TO the banner that has gone
through four years black with tempests of
MI of ha ms fiOra hack IN nit
out dismemberment! Aud glory to God,
who, above all hosts and banners, hath or
dained victory, and shall Ordain peace APP
plause.
Wherefore have we come hither pilgrims
from distant places? Are We come to exult
that Northern hands are stronger than South
ern? No; but TO rejoice that the hands of
those who defend just and benefcent Gov
eminent are mightier than the hands that as
sault it Applause. Do We exult over fail
en- cities We exulJ that a naIon has not
fallen. Applause. We sorrow with tie sor-
rOWful. We sympathize with the desolate-
We look upon this shattered fort, and yon-
der dilapidated city, with sad eyes, grieved
that men should have committed such trea-
son, and glad that God hath set such mark
upon treason that all ages shallidread and alb
hor it. Applause.
We exult, not for passion gratifed, but
for a sentiment victorious no. for temper
but for conscience; not as we deyOutly be-
heve that oar will is done, but that Gods will
hath been done.
Let no man misread the meaning of this
unfolding flag. Ii says, Government hath
returned hither." Ii 1rOclaims in the name
of indicated Government, peace and pro-
lection TO loyalty, humiliation and pains to
traitors. This is the flag of sovereignty. The
nation, not the States, Is sovereign. Restor-
ed to authority, this flag commands, not sup
plicates.
There may be pardon, but no concession
[Great applause. There may be amnesty
and oblivion, but no honeyed compromises
IAppl4use.1 The nation to-day has peace for
the peaceful and war for the turbulent. Ap
plause. The only coDditiOn of submission
is to submit Laughter and applause /
There is the Constitution there are the laws,
there is the Government. They rise up like
mountains of strength thai shall not be NOV
ed. They are the cOnditi, - of peace.
-- One nation, under one Government, with
out slavery, has been Oh iained and shall
stand. There can be peace on no other bas-
is. On this basis rceOnstruc ION is easy, and
needs neither architect nor gineer. With
cut this basis no engineer OF architect shall
: ever reconstruct these rebellios States.
We do not want your cities L your fields
heavens full of perpetual summe Let agri-
culture revel here let manufa, lures make
every stream twice musical: build fleets In
every port, inspire the arts of peace with gen.
Jus second only to that of Athens, and we
shall be glad IN your gladness and rich in
your wealth.
All that we ask is answering loyalty, and
universal liberty. Applause And that, in
the name of this high sovereignty of the Uni
ted States, we demand, and that with the
blessing of Almighty God, we will have.
IGIeat applause.
81 We raise our fathers banner that it NAV
3 bring back better blessings than those of old
that it may cast out the devil of discord: that
IL may restore lawful governments, and a.
prosperity purer and more enduring than that
which il protected before that it may win
parted friends from their alienation that il
may inspire hope, and inaugurate universal
liberty; that it may say to the sword, Gre
turn to thy sheath" and to the plow and
sickle, :" Go forth :" that il may heal all zeal
ousy, unite all politics, inspire a new ma
uonal hfe, compact our strength, purify our
principles, ennoble our national ambitions and
make this people great ana strong, not for
aggression and quarrelsomeness, but for the
peace OF the world, giving to us the glorious
Prerogative OF leading all nations to ulster
laws to more humane politics, to sincerer