Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-03-18
EDITION
FOUR o'OLoC x. p, M.

FOUR o'OLoOR. p. M.
- -----------
A REBEL FLAG PREsENTED TO
GovERaoR MORTON, OF INDI-
"-ANA-sPEECH OF PREsIDENT
LINCOLN. z.as---.---,--.
Yesterday afternoon pleasing affair
occurred ss the National Hotel, It being
tho presentation Of rebel garrison ang
captured at Fort Anderson. President
LrHooLS was present BY Invitation, and
music was furnished by the marine bsnd.
When the President reached the hotel he
was escorted TO the balcony In company
with Governor MoRFoS, Col. DHNSIs, and
the following officers Of the lo,h regiment
Indiana volunteers, who we're captured in
tho frat dsy'S nght at Gettysburg, and
were In rebel prisons for twenty months,
namely; Capt. MAKsrnAcB, Cspt. ehHHS,
Capt. HART, and AdJutsnt FIExHI. .-r
Tho crowd below, numbering some two
thousand people, cheered loudly, and Col.
W. T. DHuSIs read the following letter.
His Enedlsasv o. p. Morton, cov0Hor OF ne
Sole OF IAasanas . # ....a. .. go
BlRi have the honor, on behalf OF Col.
Tom. }. Brady and his commsnd, OF pre-
sentipg TO your ExceIlency rebel garrilon
Sag, captured at Fort Anderson. Please
| accept, aud give II such place on the re-
cords Of Indiana a. It may deserve.
Ihaye the honor 70 be, very resp'y,
GEO. ". GRHnE,
Late Captain 10th Indiana.
The nag wAs then presented TO Governor
MoRroN, and upfurled from the balcony,
| when the Governor addressed the assem-
blsge In warm and patriotic speech, In
Producing the President 20 the auditory.
Mr.. LINCOLN then responded 90 follows,
THs PRusDsxT's sPHBcH.
FnLow-oITlsHrs: II will be but very
i few words that shall undertake 70 say.
was born In Keutuekyi raised In Indians,
and live In Illinois, Laughter, and I now
care equally for the good people of all the
ststos. lam glad To see an Indiana regiment
on this day able 70 present this captured
Gag 10 the Governor OF the State OF In
diana. tAppIause.l ! am not disposed,
/ in saving this, TO make a distinction be-
tween tho States, for all have done equally
well. [Applause.l
There are but few visNs or aspects OF
/ this great war upon which hAVo not said
or written something whereby my own
views might be made known. There Il
one: tho recent attempt OF our erring
brethren, as they are sometimes called,
| daughter, to employ the negro TO nghi
for them. have neither written or made
. speech upon that subject, because that
was their business and not mine; and II
had wish upon the subject, ! had not the
power 10 introduce II or make II effective.
Tho great question with them was
whether the negro, being put Into the army
will fight for them. do not know, and
Therefore, cahnot decide. Laughter.
They ought TO know better than we, and Dc
know. have In my lifetime heard mani
arguments why the negro ought TO be {
slave; but II they fight for those Whc
would keep them In slavery II viii be bet
ter argument than any l have yet heard
Laughter and applause.l He who viii
nght for that ought TO be q slsve. Zap
pIause.l They have concluded, At last, tc
take one out OF four Of the slaves and pui
him In the army; and that one out OF four
who will light To keep the othefs in ala
very, ought 70 be AlsSe himself, unless b,
is killed in . hghi. IApplause. While
have often said that all men obght TO b
/ IFons yoh a NOulu aiiOW Nhbno NoiOtOd HSi
! soma to be slaves who want 10 be; and ne I
to them these white men who argue IN fs
Vor OF making other people slaves. Ap
plause. / am In favor OF giving an op
poTtunity 10 such white men 10 try Il o.
FOR themselves. (Applause.
Il will say one thing with regard TO tn
negro being employed To- tight for then
that do know. / know he cannot figh
aud stay at home and make bread too
Laughter and apPlAuse.l Aud IS one
about ag Important as the other 10 them,
don't care which they do. Ronewed ap
plause. am rather In favor OF hAvinj
them try them 40 soldiers. [ApplAuss.
They lack one vote OF doing that, and
wish could send my vote over the river
90 that might cast It In favor OF allo win
the negro 10 fight. tApplsuse.l Bot the
cannot fight and work 10th. We mus
now see the bottom OF the enemy'S re
sources. They will stand out a. long q
them, they must allow him 20 aght. The,
: have drawn upon their last branch Of re
sources, (appiause, ] and We eau now se
the bottom. [Applause. I am glad 10 sc,
the end so near at hand. Applause
have said now more than Intended to
and will therefore bid you goodbye.
The President then retired, while IN
. crowd below sAluLed him with loud AM
hearty cheers, the band Of the sAmo tim
J playing lively tune.
Governor Morton then stepped forward
and remarked that they had now seen th
j rebel nag, and he proposed that each ma
! 10 fayOr OF the perPctuity OF this grea
4 Union take of his hat and give three cheer
for the Union flag. The request was re
sponded to with q hearty good will.
Three rousing cheers were then given 70
President Lincoln, and three moro for Gov
, Mortoni after which the band struck u
"Yankee Doodle" .-
The President remained In tho pArlor 0
the hotel for q few moments, and wa
greeted BY large number OF Distinguish.
ladies and gentlsmen who were present
Upon hls appearance St the door TO entl
a bis carriage he received the plSudIts {
the throng outside who awaited him, an
as his carriage was driven on toward u
3 White House cheer after cheer followed.