The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-18
eeEHE BONNIE BLUE FLAG.v
An Interesting Account Of Its Origin.

An Interesting Account OF Its Origin.
That the cir and words of this stirring
song were composed in an hour by its
brilliant young author, is known to but
few; the story of its origin has never
been written.
In January, 1861, vas in attendance
as q looker-on st the Mississippi State
Convention, which passed the ordinance
Of secession. In the latter days of the
preceding December, South Carolina had
initiated the revolution by "going out 'of
the Union." Mississippi was the next TO
follow suit. When her convention met
ct Jackson the first week in January,
F"n. w. s. Barry was chosen president
Oh that body, which nI, ,bered ouch men
as Hon. Walker Brooke, General J. u.
George, Hon. J. L. Alcorn, Wiley P.
Harris, and Others well-known to fame as
members. / recall the deep solemnity
which characterized the proceedings oi
that splendid body of gallant spirits.
They did not rush like madmen, as many
suppose, into the whirlpool of secession
ON the other hand, the deliberations
were calm, statesmanlike, manly ahd
djgnified, indicating that from their sis
ter States they parted company more in
sorrow than in anger. Quite o number
OF the members had been elected as
Union inen or co-operatists, instructed 10
counsel waiting for the sc=e. act :" the
southern states meantime, TO enter into a
defensive league with one another, ready
to resist the first open attack by the fed
eral government upon the peculiar in
atitution. The majority, however, looked
upon this scheme as utterly impractica-
ble-for, they argued, there viii be no
open trespass upon our rights; abolition
ism will work by slow, insidious agencies,
and, before we dream of such q result
we shall be bound hand and foot. A
moro dignified, able, patriotic delibera.
tive and earnest investigation of great
question was never, for q number of days.
more gravely debated. Il was q bitter
trial to men whose fathers, like them
selves, had followded the starry banner
under O new and untried standard; it
was hard to part company with .;iuse
splendid memories which had become
the best portion Of onr country's proud
history; and when, finally, just as twi.
light fell over the state house on the
evening Of January 9th, 1861, and the
| president of the Convention, the vote
having been announced, rose, and slowly
unfurled the little blue flag with its sim
gle. red Star in the centre, and proclaim
ed that Mississippi had "dissolved the
political bonds which had connected
herr with the Union of our fathers !:
strong men bowed their heads and wept.
shall never cease to recall this, the most
solemnly impressive scene have ever
| witnessed
But I have been led away by these
memories from the object CT my sketch,
the origin of the :
"BoNNIE BLUE FLAG"
During the last few days of the con.
vantiOn, Harry Mccarthy, supported by a
young lady, who accompanied him in
hia original and selected songs, was civ
ing variety of entertainments at An
gelo's Hall, in that. city, consisting of
| songs, serious and comic, dancing, in
| strumental music, etc. On the afternoon
of the 9th of January, Judge Wiley P.
Harris, late Chief Justice, and one of
the soundest lawyers living, met the
gifted young Irishman on the etreet, and
remarked:
'Mac, the convention will adopt the
ordinance OF secession sometime this af.
ternoon, and you will have large audi
ence this evening. Permit me to offer
suggeatinn: Why can yon net compose
song pertinent to ths occasion? Give
US o patriotic song-one which shall
perhaps, be universally received rs na-
tional air-something soul stirring and
patriotic, that may become as immortal
as the ordinance ITSELF"
Young Mccarthy caught the idea at
once, retired to his room, and in three or
four hours was singing, for the first time
IN public, the Bonnie Blue Flag" to u
house crowded TO its utmost capacity.
And not onces or twice, or thrice only,
did he sing the new song that night; but
ne was encored again and agair, twelve
or fifteen times at least, until he became
hoarse from singing and the audience
almost exhausted from applauding. The
scene was one, which literally, must
ted.
The "dollar of the daddies' was the
currency at that time, and the audience
absolutely showered gold and silver over
the stage. recall one gentleman who
was seated about the centre es the Sall.
lear supporting column, and who had
evidently taken on little extra patriot
ism Observation-Disclosures agility, under the
excitement of the hour, was equal to the
suprcmest test. Wrapping his arms and
legs about the pillar, he climbed up nn-
til his head struck the ceiling.
The accompaniment on the piano was
well executed, and whilst singing, Nc.
Carlhy promenadei the stage back and
forth waving his flag. One verse espe.
I'ciallys when frat delivered CANA near
bringing down the house" literally:
$50 long as the Union
Was faithful to her triI5t
Like friends and like brothers,
We were Iind--we were Just
But when northern treachery
Attempts our rights to mar,
Wen hoist on high the Bonnie Blue
alag,
That bears , single starp'
From that hoar there was nothing bnt
tho Bonnie 5iue Flag in Southern air.
AS tho yisit0fsSso jackson returned home.
north cas-. Houth aud west, they spread IL
every where. The rigid critic of the
words, in the light Of this hour, may NOT
feel their full force ave experienced IL,
then, but, surely, the "Marseilies Hymnn
could not have been originally more
- tiIau Ua6 CUR 5iIupio iIrtIe,
"Bonnie Blue Flag,' and Of which one of
the frat lawyers in the south was the
immediate inspiration.
The CaUrA FAILuRz.-The viii.
mington IN. C.) Rer;e.o says "Spanish
chufa Is failure. At least so it is rro-
nOuuced by mGay who has given II THAT