The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-07-12
The Flag.

lo
The army of bandits and plundercrs affect
great surprise that the party whose recent
triumph has spread JOY over the whole
Union should cast the flag of the Union TO
the breeze as the fitting emblem to grace
the line Of their procession. These plum
tlerers are given to af1ectation, seeming, and
hypocrisy, about as much as they arc gwen
to living, and their active employment OF all
these articles has ever the same ohject-to
impose disabilities upon us and to secure to
themselves the offices and the plumber OF the
public treasury.
There is great deal Of ignorance abroad
rs to the true character of the miserable
rif-raff who have set themselves mp i'll this
State, Us we'll as in the whole South, rs
"trlIy loil" persons, and made the qlleS-
ton of voting for or against themselves
test of LOYALTY. Had it been determined to
send us the meanest members Of northern
society, that determination could not have
been more cffectually carried out than it
has been by the voluntary movement OF the
birds of passage and of prey who have set
tied amongst us. 1t was impossible for Nir-
oinians to accept the test of voting for these
rcpulsive creatures as a test Of loyalty.
They could not-they would not. Yetmorc
faithful people than they to the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States could not
be found in the Union. Their fidelity could
not, without odium, be even compared to
that of the strangers who aspircd torule over
them. These strangers had no high motive OF
nn1nN fn1 il
10 constitution and laws. They were but
devoted to their own selfish interests. And
the flag of the Union they disgraced by
compelling it to wave over their corruptions
and frauds and seem to lend its counte-
nance and encouragement to hypocrisy,
dishonesty, outrage, and oppression. That
nag, the emblem of n country where the
Government derived its just powers from
the consent of the governed, was Wiley and
violently perverted by these people to the
sanctitication of prescription, robbery, and
rapine. The poor flag could not help itself,
it could not resist the outrage. But the
people of Virginia could not and would not
follow it in the hands of these intruders.
Theywould not, by their cquiescence, sane
lion this abuse Of the emblem they knew
how to value. Were they to follow WELLS
and bow to the flag in his hands. They
would sooner have humblcd themselves to
General GRANTS hat-or covered them
selves with dust before his boots.
No! that humiliation they have never
come to in the trying vicissitudes of the last
few years.
But that flag which in days past has been
borne to victories that illustrated the ma
tional history by Virginia hands is differ
cnt sign when held aloft by the voluntary
impulse Of our own people, who never did
resign their respect for it. So that as soon
Us we had something of republican principle
to celebrate, the gallant sons Of Virginia
seized the flag with ayidity and unfolded it
bright hues to the sun and air of Vir-
ginis. 1t was hailed with delight by those
who had seen it detiled. 1t was regarded
with mixed joy and sorrow. The tear that
brimmed the eye Of the true patriot re-
fiected the bright rays of the bcneficent
light which had dawned upon Virginia,
and the hearts Of the people pulsated
with q delight that was inspired by the re-
collection of the happier days of the repub-
lie and the wly-engendered hope that they
were about to return. The flag now conSe-
Grated great republican principle, which
lent in return its hallowing influence. The
man who charges upon this people insin-
cerity and affectation of devotion 10 the ma
tional ensign on that occasion utters great
SANDER against whole community. He
utters great falsehood, to which is added
the deeper damnation of Il sordid motive.
Now, the flag was never forgotten by
Virginia. The people Of the South, as well
as those OF Virginia, gave it up with heart
telt regret, and never would have surren-
dered it but that it was decided by the
army that practically it was attended with
endless disadvantages to fight against an
army bearing the same flag.
AS, when the whole South surrendered
ut AppomattoX Courthouse, the instant de-
termination Of all was to return to ODE
dience to the laws and Constitution
of the United States-to reinState them
selves III fidelity in all the relations
:. of citizens to their Goyernment--so they
1 restored the national flag, in their con-
#yslderation, as the flag of their coun-
' try. This flag is ours, and we will defend it
as faithfully as it cum be defended in Massa-
chuSetts or in any other State in this Union.
In the recent grand victory which we have
won, and in which we rindicated the prir-
ciples of true republicanism, we have wrest-
ed the flag from the hands Of the traitors to
Notwithstanding impostors who have
tiled this State with maleyolence and dis
cord. 1t will soon be authoritatively under
the guardianship Of the true people of the
Statc-of the true defenders Of the princi-
pies which consecrated it in other days.
And then we shall always hail it as we did
ON Thursday last-With unfeigned and ull-