Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-04-28
aMiseellantoms.
The Old Flag on Sumter.

The Old Flag on Sumter.
Extracts from the Oraiion of Henrs
Ward Beecher, at Fort Sumter, Apri
18th, 1865.
Mr.. Beecher said On this solemn
and joyful day We again lift TO the breeze
our fathers flag, now again the banner o.
the United States. with the fervent pray.
CT that God would crown it with honor
protect it from treason, and send it dowr
to our children with all the blessings ol
civilization, liberty and religion. Happi
ly no bird or beast of prey has been in
scribcd upon it. The stars that redeem
the night from darkness, and the beams
Of red light that beautfy the morning
have. been united upon its folds. A.
long as the sun endures, or the stars, ma,
it wave over nation neither cnslaveC
nor ensaving: Great applause.) Once
and but once, has treason dshonorcd it.
In that insane hour, when The guilties,
and bloodiest rebels Of time hurled thcil
fires upon the fort, you sir. (turning tc
Gen. Anderson) and small heroic band
stood within these now crumpled walls
and did gallant and just battle for the
honor and defence Of the nations banner
(Applausc.) In that cope of fire this
glorious flag still peacefully waved to the
breeze above your head, unconscious Of
harm as the stars and skies above it,
Once it was shot down. A gallant hand
in whose care this day it has been, pluck
ed it from the ground and reared ii
again, cast down but not destroyed. Af-
ter vain resistance, with trembling hand
and sad heart, you withdrew it from the
hight, closed its wings, and bore it far
away, stcrnly, to sleep amid the tumult
of rebellion and the thunder of battle
The first act Of war had begun-thc long
night of four years had set in, while the
giIdy traitors whired in maze of cx-
alteration. Dim horrors were already
advancing that were ere long to fill the
land with blood. To-day you are re.
turned. Again we devoutly Join with
you in thanksgiving to Almighty God
that He has spared Your honorcd life and
vouchsafe to you the honors Of this day.
The heavens over you are the same !; the
same shores are seen morning comes
and evening as they did. All else how
changed. What grim batteries crowd
the burdened shores. What scenes have
filled this air and disturbed these waters .
These shattered heaps Of shapcless stone
are all that is left Of Fort Sumter. Desc.
lation broods in yondcr sad city. Solemn
retribution hath avenged our dshonored
banner. You have come back with honor
who departed once, four years ago, lcav-
ing the air sultry with ianaticsm. The
surging crowds that rolled up their fren.
zled shouts as the flag come down, are
dead, or scattered, or silent, and their
habitations are desoatc. Ruin sits in
the cradle of treason. Rebellion has
persisted. But there floats the same Rag
that was iusulted. (Grcat and prolonged
applause) With starry eyes it looks all
over this bay for that banner that sup
planted it and sees it not. You that then
for the day were humbled are here again
to triumph once and forever. In the
storm of that assault this glorious en-
sign was often struck, but, memorable
fact) not one of its stars was torn out by
shot or shell. 1t was prophecy. 1t
said: "Not one State shall be struck
from this nation by treason" (Applause).
The ful6liment is at hand. Lifted to the
air to-day, it proclaims. after four years
of war. not State is botted out.
let no nah misrcad the meaning OF
this unfolding flag. 1t says "Govern.
mcut hath returned hither." 1t proclaips
in the name Of yindicatcd government,
peace, and protection to loyalty; humil-
alton and pains to traitors. This is the
flag Of sovereignty. The Nation, not
the States, is sovereign, restored to au-
thority. This flag commands, not suppli-
Gates. There may be pardon, but no
concession. (Great applause,) There
may be amnesty and oblivion, but no
hcniel compromises. When our ees came