The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-18
The Man who First ho'steo 'he
American Flag.

AFA bAN
time books; poor reading accoiu-nS ~
tho selCcomplacent theory which you
b.ar so often advocated now-a-days
that the Past is dead and played
ant and the PRESENT the only thing
worthy of consideration
Well it NAV be true that all virtue,
morality, progress, and patriotism be-
longs to this day and generation; ana
that nothing worth naming has ever
bean atop the earth until "some twenty
wears ago Dear Tom Nevertheless
If we look back for twice twenty gem
srations. and twice twenty centuries,
re shall find that those Nations flour
jsh.d best who studied the past, respec-
ted the work OF their predecessors. and
sought to repay the patriotism which
fn the past established the Liberties,
The virtues, the enlightenment, the pro-
sress Of the generation now on deck.
Therefore, the reading of old books
j. not always a waste Of time in the
money-making youth of To-day.
One of the old books we ran through
was the life of John cor JEAN PAUL
JONES, one among the first OF the list
Lieuteuants" IL the American Navy +;
aud who did rs much as, or more than,
any other man to make the American
rapr recognized among the shipping Of the
world. The fact that Jones, the son Of
a poor Scottish gardiner, could raise
.--lC.D tL> ra,I. of A ln,ira] and win
such fame as caused the American Con-
gress, and the French National Assem-
bly. to wear mourning (crape on each
members ARM for thirty days, shows
Fhat Notwithstanding all his faults his
vanity, and his venaiity, he was a remark
able man and that his career Is worthy
the study OF any young man.
The fact that jones' owed his start in
America mainIy to the patronage of VIM.
Heues, of North Carolina who pushed
his fortunes until the young Sea-Dog
found other friends, gives an Interest for
North Carolina readers, which i. height
ened by the further fact that several Of
his bravest men were North CaroIlnlang
among whom was JOHN kILBEY, who
was the grandfather of Capt. James A.
Turrentine, or Mrs. Turrentine, of Ala
WsDcG, We IOGRGL "IllCH. Oiu oOuICuCI =
ate soldiers recall the kiIbey mansion
which stood midway between our line and
the Yankee Notifications when Gen.
Long.treet be,ieged Suffolk, Va, during
the late war. Judge Kilbey, who was
che son of ChevaIier Jean Paurs bold
oomrade, owned the house referred to,
and was killed by the Yankees (-"Up-
holders of the same old stars and
-.DA II L.. :..io .I,ll-1n ,-,ro
sent scattering through the woods like a
flock Of frightened cartridges, tor several
days.
That Paul Jones was the first man to
hoist the American flag is proven by the
fact that with his commission went the
subjoined resolution of the Rebel Con-
gress" of that day.
In CONGRESS, June IA, l777.
Resolved that the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alter
nate red and white: that the Union be
thirteen stars white in a blue field,
representing a new constellation.
Resolved that Captain John Paul
Jones be appointed to command the
new ship Ranger"
The Ranger put to sea Dec. 2. 1777,
and on arriving at Brest, France, sent
word ~(privately) to Admiral, Count
D'Orvllliers, commanding the French
fleet to ascertain ifthe new American flag
would be recognized. D'Orvilliers fired
salute Of nine guns: and Jones return
ed the compliment with thirteen. So
the Star ~Spangled Banner" took its
place amid the coloIs OF Christendom.
Right here, we might deduce an AZ
gumcnt to show that our f0retathers-
the founders of the Republic-did not
spell nation with a big n. Their very
resolution sending forth their, flag the
emblem of their united sovereignty DER
face of land and The sea, describes the
Union not as a Nation" but as a
"Con,tellation'-a galaxy of co-equal
stars. Reflect upon the language of
COngress:-"Resolved that the flag of
the thirteen United States shall be thir-
teen States,-representins a new con-
stellation."
Now when you speak of twelve Jurors
as the Jury, you mean that the dozen
men have merged their opinion for mu-
tual good But if the Jury cannot agree,
then the twelve jurors Gisband, and each
holds to his w view. Commodore
Jones (no, sir, We do not allude to any oil
you Wake county Jones though num-
bers of YOU take the Farmer anil Ne.
chantc, which is a mighty good sign o
sense in the family is entitled to dis
tiuction also as the only American com
mander who ever sat hostile foot upon
British soil. His descent upon White
haven was one of IT, most notable ex-
ploitB of that war. He sailed up the
British misunderstanding and sinking
dozens OF vessels right under the nose
of the British Lion" which in that day
was regarded as master or land, and a
terror OF the seas. The English trigate
Drake, with various small vessels, cam
out to meet Jones: but were "knocket
into a c~ocked-hat' in short order. Their
the Americans landed at Whitehaysn
spiked he guus of the forts, and burnst
above 200 merchant ships which wer,
lying at he harves in supposed safety
H PARsON PRAYED: JONES CUssED
AND H WIND CHANGEe.
Jones expected to play havoc all alon!
the North. Britain coast: but a chang,
Of wind forced him to seek the opel
sea shortly after his descent upon Lore
Selkirk's castle where Jones won s.
much notoriety by taking Lady Selkirk',
silver ware, and then sending it bacl
to her.
An old account of that cruise relate
the following anecdote =
No other enemy, however formidable
could have created in the minds OF th
inhabitants, such CONSERVATION an
alarm as that which then approached
Paul Jones was the dread ofall, old an
young, land pamphlets of his depreda
lions were as common in every hous
as almanacs.) He was looked upon a
a s~ea-monster that swallowed up a
that came in his power. The people a
focked to the shore to watch his move
mentS. eXnectinu The worst cnnsennen