The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-05-31
FLAG PREsKSrArIos.-Just after Com

FLAG PREsKNrATIoN.-Jus t after Com
pany C, Capt. Geo. G. Trimble, took its
place in the line formed in front Of the
Court House, yesterday, Thomas OAR
rab, Esq. accompanied by Hon. j. Z.
McKennon, and bearing in his hand Q
very beautiful silk flag, stepped in front
of Captain Trimble. Mr.. McKennon
In a very forcible and neat address,
presented the flag on behalf of Mr..
Darrah to the company. Mr.. McKen-
non said:
CAPTAIN TRlMBLE: In the name and
on behalf of Thomas N. Darrah, OF
this city, I present you with flag OF
our Union, the emblem Of our national
liberties. Mr.. Darrah asks you to
accept it, not only as testimonial of
his regard and friendship for yourself
and the officers and members OF your
company, but as an evidence Of
his recognition Of, and his adherence to,
that fundamental principle that "a well
regulated militia, composed of the body
of the people, is the proper, natural
and safe defence Of q free State, and Of
his desire to aid in this effort to organ
ize and put upon firm basis the
militia of this State. He asks you to
receive this flag not for its in
tripsic worth, but for the prin-
ciple which it represents. 1t is
the representative Of the rights and
liberties OF US as American freemen.
1t is the same flag that was unfurled by
our forefathers in l776, when they
enunciated that fundamental principle
of our Government, that all men are
created free and equal, and are endowed
with certain inalienable rights" 1t
represents those "inalienable rights"
1t represents the right of the people to
self government. 1t represents the
principle Of democracy, the right of the
people to rule. 1t is the flag of the
people. 1t the flag of the soldier and
of the citizen. tits your flag and mine.
1t is the same flag that was carried at
Concord and Lexington and Bunker
Hill, and over all the bloody
fields of the Revolution, and that
finally waved in triumphant
victory over the walls OF Yorktown.
1t is the same flag Of which Washing.
ton spoke, when, in the dark hours Of
the Revolution, deserted by his friends,
he exclaimed in an outburst Of patriotic
eloouence, Strip me of the remnant Of
nv dispirited and detected army; take
away from me all that / have; leave
me but a banner and the means to
plant it on the mountains of West
Augusta, and ! will yet gather
around me the men who will
raised their bleeding country from the
dust and set her Free" 1t has the
same inspiration yet, and wherever il
floats, over land or sea, it will find
those who will protect and defend it,
besause it represents the rights, the lib
critics and the sovereignty OF the Ameri'
can people. Permit me to say
that | believe in the hands OF
your company it will never
be dishorored or trailed in the dust
But that wherever in the vicisitudes OIL
life, and in the future history of your
organization, you may be called upon
to carry it, it will be borne with honor
and if assailed it will be defended with
bravery and courage.
1t was received by Captain Trimble
in few well-timed and most appropri-
ate remarks and delivered to the
Color Sergeant, John T. Cowl. 1t is q
very beautiful present and the members
OF the company feel that Mr.. Dsrrah
deserves their heartfelt thanks.