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SoniiSSP
THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION. ATLANTA. GA., JLLoOAl APRIL 27, 1886.
not as a choice, we-have resorted to the remedy of
separation, and henceforth our energies must be
dim ted to the eonduct of our own affair* and the
perpetuity of the confederacy which wo hare
h.rnicJ. ir a just j-ererption of mutual interest
•hall permit us. peaceably to purine our separate
political career, my most earnest desire will hare
seen fulfilled. Hut If this be denied us. and the in*
Uprity of our territory nod Jurisdiction be assailed,
It wl|l remain for ns with a firm reaolve to appeal to
arms, and invoke the blessings of Providence on a
just cause. •••*••••
With a constitution differing only from that of onr
fathers In n> far as It Is explanatory of their well*
known Intent, freed from sectional
Conflicts, which hare Interfered with
the pursuit of the general welfare,
it Is not unreasonable to expect tnat states from
which we have recently parted may seek to unite
their fortunes to ours under the government which
Wo have;instituted For this your constitution
makes adequate provision, but beyond this, if I
mistake not the Judgment and will of tbo people,
a reunion with the states from which we have
separated Is neither practicable nor desirable. * *
Actuated solely by the desire to preserve our own
rights, and promote our own welfare, tbo separa
tion by the coofcdcratc states has been marked by
no eggrcFsion upon others, and followed by no do.
me mic convulsion. Our industrial pursuits
have received no check; the cultl-
vsiftn of our fields has progressed as
heretofore; and, even;should wo be involved in
war, iht re would be no considerable diminution
In lhe | reduction of the Maples hlch have) con*
sttiuti d «<ur exports, and in which the commercial
veil.I Lra an Interest scarcely less than our
C Vx|crWrre .in juMIc stations of subordinate
grr«’c fo (hi* which jmr kind css has conferred,
fa» is* i M it-c Ibst toll and care and dlsapf^iint*
Til* CONFEDERATE "WHITE HOUSE."
torntMv Ihu prlMofolllclal clctlou. Yon *111 uo
■<r.y rrron to ft>r,l»e, m»n, doDolonelM to tolar-
*!<■: but you aholl not And In mo ■ llher want of
* •10, Adtlltf lo tlM win Ibnt J,loom thehlgheri
hi lioff, «nd of moat enduring .tr.tloi. Your
(rnrrutt, hMhotowad upon me u undoamed
distinction, one which I neither mu(ht nor do-
•hid. Upon tho eontlnnanoe of that aentlment,
and upon jmn wtadomnad pairtntlm, 1 rel, to
direct and rapport mo In tbu parformaneo of tho
dntle, reunited atmjr hand'
“At th. cine of lh...ddrcM,an ey,
wltneia, "Ur. Daria turned to Hr. Cobb and
annonnoed hit nadiama, to take the oath of
•Ore which waa admlniatered by Hr. Cobb.
)■ ottering tho worda, 'to help mo Gud,‘ Hr
Darli turning hie eye. to heaven, In a moat
imprmalre manner, repeated -ao help
Oa God’ In a ton* ao loud
and clearthat ho could hare boon hoard
by arary one present'” Tkla eoneludod tho
ceremonies At night there waa n reception,
followed by a hall at Kstcll hall.
Vhe government of the Confederate States
wts organlaed. IU code of laws had been
adopted. Ill leader selected and qualified.
Its saldlera won already armed. Its uneaam-
yled carver waa begun.
The Confederate Treasury at Ward..
The confederate treaaury began ba,loess on
the morning of February SOth, In a two-story
building, on the corner of Commerce and Mar-
hat atreota. The etory of tho opening of tho
taken from a aharmiug little hook by Colonel
ll. D. Oapara, to which wo are Indebted for
many ether polnta of Interact. Tho atory of
the treasury Is tho atory of the other depart-
mints, and shows tho anuulng nakodnoso and
cruder tea of tbo beginning of a goyarnmoot
Mat ehallrnged the powerful government of
the United States, and for four long years mado
Itaclallr n,o good.
Du the morning of February SOth tho fol-
lm, in, notice appeared in the Hontgomory pa-
y.n:
MoKTconaav, Ala.,February noth, ItWl.—Thoof-
ite el the trea»ury or the con Morale etaleo can no
found In ihe .'omrarrelsl Imlbllug. corner of Cout-
merroaad Market streets, Moniiromerr, whore he
£ I bo undw.lgned can ho (uuinl lwtwoou I no
un of » a. in. and I p, m. _ , „
If. II. OM-sas, fieri."
When young Ur. Capon, chief clerk of tho
trtuury, sought tho treaaury building neat
morel.],, he preen,od tho ksys of D,. Clanton.
Xaamtnlng tha eloaad doom as ha passed down
Ike hallway, ha found one labelled “Confeder
ate treasury.” Unlocking tho door, ho fbund
a dusty and empty ream. Not oven a chair
•bowed that It had aver been occupied. Cat-
trsrla In tho dust on the floor wore tho only
signs of life. As the treasury waa to be oponed
In an hour, Mr, Oapen hnrrled to a furniture
•tore. Just opened for the day's business, and
Soon he and n young clerk, In tho .ton, were
on. their any hack with a neat table, a dash
and ala chairs. Arrived at the treaeory, they
•wept the room, dnstcl out the cobwebs, and
by nine o'clock had aa nice
a treaanry room as one could wish
to see. Pens and Ink-stands were s-cured,
nd stationery provided. An hour waa apant
in leslrurilng tho green offleo boy aa to how
ho tkonld announce visitors. Still, no ono
railed. Tho pens were theu carefully
trimmed, and tha stationery disposed sons to
look huriurss-like. Still no ono had railed on
tha secretary, Mr. Hamlnger, and the secretary
bed not relied ou hia clerk. At about II
o’clock a messenger announced that tho secre
tary would ho detained ut congress for tho
whole day. Clark Capers took advantage
ol this promised seclusion by trying to put
down n piece of matting he had purchased.
Thu practical Improvement of tho treasury
was laterruptad by tha entrance of aa aldorly
soldierly man who, In tho vole* of ono aecua-
tomrd lo command, said:
'T am looking fo, tha confederate treasury!”
"This la It,” replied tha young derk.
The visitor cast • Otapticul look about tha
room. Mr. Cape;, relied sufficiently to repeat
the infe-aatioa. Tbu visitor, atill iocreduloua
aid unbending, said: “I am Oaptaln Dees,
late of the United State# army, and I desire
ta see the secretary on bualnem of lmpor-
tance!”
The chief clerk, abashed by the evident
skepticism of his visitor, replied thst the sec*
rttaiy «ss engaged, bat thst he might b# able
to attend to the business. Theu cam# the
ciosbtr.
' 1 have been instructed, ilr,by the president,
whose letter o( introduction I hsnd you.! bear,
to provido blankets snd rations for 100 moo,
who have reported for duty in tho army. I
want tho money, sir, to corns out Ihe ecdsr of
th* (resident!"
The chief dork of tho treasury returned to
Captain Dra< the president's letter and santr*
cd him that nothing would give him more
pleasure than to comply with his wishes, "but,’’
•aid he, drawing a lean purse from his pocket,
•ad counting out four dollars, “1 kave
fcrtn on a considerable frolic for tw«>
we* ks, snd this, captain, is all the money at
ihe disposal of the Confederate treasury at
fihis moment."
Gsptato Dras insisted that the money must
he procured at once, as the troops were wait
ing. Bat the treasury had not begun printing
Burney, and there was not enough of the old
issue oa hand to prevision a platoon, much
less a company. Finally, Clerk Cxperi agreed
to lockup the treaaury department, uul go
with Captain Dess to lo»k
for tbo secretary. When found, that gentle*
man gave his personal draft on the Central
bank of Alabama for the necessary amount,
•nd Mr. Capers snd Captain D.*as went to
the bank together, drew the money,
snd supplied the soldiers. This company,
by the way, tbo first enrolled in the
Confederate service, was from DaKalbconn*
ty, Georgia, and commanded by Captain
O. W. Lee, and, as will bo seen, the first com*
pany that unfurled the Confederate flag. It is
notable, too, that this company did not enlist
for a specified time or "for the war," hat do-
sired to become part of the "regular standing
army" of the confederate government for aJi
time. .
MAKING THE FIRST SEAL OF TIIK CONFED
ERATE STATES,
Bluff Commodore Sernmes was one of the
first volunteers for confederate service. He
was anxious to be afloat under the stars and
bars. There b ing no navy he was assigned to
the light-house bureau. At length he hesrd
of a merchant steamer that could be bought at
New Orleans, snd was sent to examine her*
lie brought back a picture of the vessel, which
he exhibited with great enthusiasm, saying;
"Khe Is a good craft, sir; a good craft. When
■he Is cut down to fighting trim she’li do brave
work, sir.”
This was the famous " Jfomptcr ” whose ca
rear on the seas is history. Jt was necemry
to commission her. A form of commission was
furnished by Commander Hemmes, which was
carefully transcribed. It was necemry to
affix to this the seal of the Confederate gov
ernment. There was no seal, and no engraver.
Commander Benmies and Mr. Capers procured
a block of boxwood, some typo from the Ad
vertiser office, and with their pocket knives
began digging out a seal. I)r. DeLeon brought
In a young surgeon, who assisted, and tho seal
was soon ready at the expense of several pocket
knives. When applied to the wafer it made a
very fine Impression. With this commission,
the first ever issued by the Confederate gov*
eminent, Commander Hemmes boarded his
Sumpter, and began a career not excelled In
bravery and chivalry by any seaman that ever
sailed the seas.
Them was much gossip about the working
of the confederate treasury—induced doubt-
levs by the Inflation of tho enrrenry and its
shrinking value. General Toombs said: "The
preasca In the treasury worn used in tho dty
time to print money for the government, and
the niggers thst tamed them were allowed to
run them at night to print their wages with."
The fact is, Mr. Motnminger was able, con
scientious, devoted. Ho did all that could
have been done with the means at hand. Mr.
Memminger's bonds were npheld by the peo
ple. Mr. 8. Hart, of El Paso, Texas, offered
the government $100,000 without interest, as
long as it was needed. A convention of brok
ers held in Atlanta pledged themselvee to the
maintenance of confederate credit. Acouven
valor, bathed in priceless blood, they were
acattered in the whirlwind of war, and bectmo
the sport of the world. Fitly did the soldier
poet, reflecting on the storm through whieh it
had passed, write on the back of one of these
bills:
Keprescntfug nothing on God's earth now.
And naught in the waters below it,
As the pledge of a nation that’s dead and gooo
Keep It, dear friends, and show It;
Show it to those who will lend an ear
To the tale that this trifle can tell,
Of a liberty born of the patriot’* dream.
Of a Korm-cradled nation that fell.
Too joor to possess the precious ores,
And too much of a stranger to borrow,
We Issued today our promise to pay,
And hoped to redeem on the morrow.
The days rolled by and the weeks became years.
But our coffers were empty still:
Coin was no run that the treasury’d quake,
If a dollar should drop In the till.
But the faith that was In us was strong Indeed,
And onr poverty well we dirccrncd,
And this little ebeck represented the pay
That our suffering veterans earned.
Wc knew It bad hardly a value in gold.
Yet as gold each soldier received It:
It gazed In our eyes with a promise to pay,
And each southern patriot believed It,
But our boys thought little of price or ol pay.
Or or bill* that were overdue;
We knew If It bought us our oread today,
’Twas the best our poor country could do.*
Keep It; It tells all our history over,
From the birth of the dream to Its last;
Modest, and bora of the angel, Hope,
Like our hope of success, it passed,
Tha II (story of the Confederate Flag.
The fint confederate flag was unfurled at
.*1:45 p. m., on March 4th, 1861, from tho capi<
tol building in Montgomery.
Tho confederate congress had adopted tho
design agreed on by the committee (Mr, Miles
chairman), at about eleven o’clock. Tho sec
retary of tho congress was instructed to pro*
cure a flag at once, and if possible float it on
the afternoon of tho same day. The secretary
commissioned Lieutenant Cal '.flayro (a
gallant officer in the United States marine who
had resigned and offered his sword to his na
tive state) to do this work. Lieutenant Hay re
hurried to the «toro of Messrs. Cowles A Co,
and purchased tho material. The
ladies of Montgomery, who had been
apprised of the fact, wero evidently anxious to
assist in making it up. Tho work was confid
ed to Mrs. Winston Hunter, Mrs. Ozburne,
Mrs, Du Bose, Bibb And other*. Liea tenant
Sayre meanwhile secured tho halyard^, staff,
etc. The staff was placed on tho front of tho
capital roof, in clear view of tho surrounding
country.
It was announced that tho flag would bo
raised at four o'clock. Tho publio Impatience
was so great that, although the flag waa still
unfinished, it was thought best to delay no
longer. A band of music waste waiting. Lieu
tenant Hayre, taking tho incomplete banner in
his arms, marched towards the cepitol. The-
streets were lined with people who had flock
ed from all quarters to catch the first glimpse
of the new-born banner, . and
they made the welkin ring
of cuccers in the Mexican wax,
where, baptiz'd in f-outberu blood, it waved in
gloriou* consecrated triumph throughout that cam
paign. filr, there la no reason why tho north
ebould appropriate that flag. It lx emtncutlya
foul hern flag. It la conneutud with oue of the best
cf onr national aim. That air Is of IrUb extraction,
but the worda were written by a southern mau on
board of a Brftbh man of* war. which was em
ployed in bombarding* southern fort. And, sir.
wc can and will appreciate the sentiments which
animated him. when, “in the dawn’s early light,”
he witnessed that Hog wnlch he la*t favr in “twi
light’* last gleam.” Hlr, let ns preserve it as far as
we can—let us continue to hallow it In our mem
ory and still pray that “long may It wave o’er the
land ol tho free and the homo of the brave.
Now, Mr. President, the Idea of a cross no doubt
was Eupgeated to Ihe Imagination of the young
ladles by the beauteous constellation of the cont
ent crow, which the great Creator has placed In
the houthern heavens by way of compensation for
the glorious constellation at the north
yole. Tho imaglna-tlon of the young
ladies was doubtless _ inspired by tho
genius of IDanto and the scientific skill of Hum-
bolt. But, air, 1 have no doubt that there was an
other idea associated with it in the minds of the
young ladies—a religious one—and; although we
have notieen, in the heavens, the “In hoc §i*no
vlnces” written upon the lebanan of Constantino,
yet the fame sign has been manifested to us upon
the tablets of the earth; for we all know that it
has been oy the aid of revealed religion that w©
have achieved over fanaticism the victory which
we this day witness, and it is becoming on this oc
casion Hi at the debt of the south to the cross should
be thus recognized.
Mr. Miles spoke hotly against this amend-
It rarorfluotui to dwell upon tho practical dl«cal- htotolf m hU in.uenral, ••'quoted .boro, onfl.
tie, which would flow from the fl*}, 1 "! grated that many of tbo atats. (torn which tho
M *«*«>• appreciating tho hotter con.
stitution she had framed, would desiro to join
her. Running through the early debates in
congress was the constant suspicion that this
member or that favored admitting the north*
cm states to the confederacy, or • reconstruct
tion of the union on the basis proposed by tho
south.
There was feverish haste among tbc volun
teer troops—shared it is said hy similar troops
in the north—to get into the
field before the war was over,
new companies organized today left for the
front tonight, rushing on hy moonlight, reach
the field before the pageant Med. The
Wrlghtsville Infantry, ordered to Savannah,
of’the oia fl»g,' r ’ we must bear in mind that the
battles of the revolution about which our fondest
and proudest memories truster, were not f®o*ht
beneath its frlds, and although In more recent
tiroes, in the war of 1*12 and In the war with Mex
ico, the »outb did win her fair share of glory, aud
*h«d her full weaswe of Mood under Its guidance
and In its defense, we think the impartial paw of
bhtory will preferve and commemorate the fact
more ImperhhHbly than In a mere piece of striped
bur.tlug. When the colonies achieved their inde
pendence of the ‘ mother country” (which up to
the lest they fondly called her), they did not de-
tire to retain the British flag, or anything at all
eimilar to it, They were proud of tbclr race and
lineage, proud of their heritage lo the glories, and
genius, and language of old England; but they
were Influenced by the spirit of the —**■ ***~
Hon of cotton planters was hold lu | a. Ucutcnant Sayre carried It aloft. Tho
Macon pledging their rapport,
luuo of $111,000,000 hondo waa inado. a tag of
an eighth of a rent a pound haing laid on the
THE FI RUT CONFEDERATE FLAG,
(Made In Montgomery Match 4th,aud Afterwards
Floated Over Fort Hum ter.)
cotton crop to provido for their payment. Tho
bonds wero freely taken. Tho currency ol the
government went at par with gold and foreign
exchanges for at least a month, and even lu
Aogust, 1MI1, six months after tho war had
started, bills of exchange on Liverpool wore
bought for only 8 per cent discount in Now Or
leans, Mobile and Charleston. Many hills of
rxohsngs wero bought on London and Paris
at par for home made money and by baying
tobacco, which could bo had for confederate
money aa well as gold, and exchanging it, the
good credit of the government with the Messrs.
Krlonger of Paris, waa very much strengthened
It was on August 7, IHrtl, when the sub-
treasurer st New Orlcau* announced that b<>
must suspend specie payment* This announce
ment resulted in a rapid depredation of tho
currency, snd there was no halt in lu down
ward plunge until $200 wan paid for a plug of
tobacco, $600 for a common wool hat, and a
soldier's psy tor tho four years of tho war
would not buy him a pair of shoes.
MAKINO TUK FIRST CONFEDERATE MONEY.
The making of Confederate bouds aud notes
was a great trial with the young treasury.
There was no engraver* In tho south, and no-
lunk note paper. Tho first bonds worn printed
by tho American lUuk Note company, but
seized by tho federal authorities be
fore they left New York. Tho first
confederate money issued wax eight $100 bills
made in Richmond. A Herman namml llnyer
was found there, engaged in engraving cards
aud pasters. Home pvpor was smuggled
through for him, aud upon old aud iuferior
stones previously unod for placards, ho on*
halyards wore rigged so as to reach the ground
The flag was attached by Lieutenant Sayre
and Commodore Ingraham. At a given signal
the rope was placed In the hands of Miss Letitia
Tyler jt grand-daughter ef ex-President Tyler,
She pulled tbo ropo with steady hands, the
halyards rattled eherrily, tho flag left the
hands of those who held It, rose smoothly into
the air, the vast and expectant crowd, catch
ing sight of Its fluttering folda, burst into un
controllable cheers, and tho flag of the confed
erate states was for the first time afloat in 4ho
welcoming breeze. ' :
Congress was In session when tho flof#jstf
unfurled from tha capital.; Tlio salute fired by
the Montgomery Blues and tho tumultuous
shouts of ths populace, broke In noon their
deliberations. Judge Clitherall, of tho treas
ury department, standing on the roof against
the flag-staff, a picture of patriotic animation,
called for "Three cheer* for tho confederate
flag"—aad th* spirit that flamed behind the
answering cheers, if not the
cheers themselves, mad* itself heard
around the world, and down the echoing
COLONEL FRANCIS S. BARTOW,
Utorgla.”]
HON. CAL L SAYRE,
(Who 1’nftoled the Fine Confederate Flag
the Capitol at Montgomery, Mareh 4|h, WU
graved the first confederate treasury nates.
They were so fruity, foil of errors, that they
would hive been thrown away as useleea, but
the demand for the money wae Imperative,
atonee were scarce, and the secretary ordered
them printed, endorsing ou tho proof:
“When the money changers become familiar
with there incoming bills, it will be as difficult
to peas * counterfet as if they had been engrav
ed on steel—perhaps more ao."
And so the first confederate notes were is
sued. They were pulled by hand from the
old press, tho proccre being very slow. Un
couth end homely bil!s,they undoubtedly ware.
Awkwardly issued and bot poorly maintained.
They found no buyers in tho outside world*
snd no credit save in tho hearts of onr people.
A1‘ the same, they were ths pledgee of a bravo
aid honorable people. A hundred aad fifty
thousand men died to fire them value, end
three Han • a hundred thousand died to nuke
item wsrtklcre. Never wa* more wealth be*
bind lille payable aad never fere wealth in
them* Issued in integrity, defended with
< Ottidors of history. The flag itself was re-
moved, when a better one had boon providod,
ami delivered to Mr. Milra of South Carolin i,
Mr. Milea carried it Charleston and gave it to
Mis. Pickens, with the request that It be float
ed over the walls of Fort Sumter, which re
quest was doubtless complied with,
HOW TUE FLAO WAS SBLKtTED-CURIOUS
DERATES.
The selection of the confederate flag makea
• curious chapter of history. White it was a
ronxtaat topic in debate, thirty days elapsed
after centresa met before a flag was chosen.
Several state flap had already been unfurled.
On January '27th South Carolina had floated a
blue flag, with a golden palmetto worked in. a
white oval in the centre, and a white creicont
overhead. Mgjor Lachlen McIntosh had
mounted over the custom house in Savanuaha
Georgia flag—a white flag bordered with red,
aud her coat of arms iu the center. Five red
tars represented the other seceded states,
while a blue star stood; for Georgia. A halo
arrhed tho temple, and au Ail Seeing eye
Mirmounted it. Other states had displayed the
improvised eusigus of the commouweelth, but
the confederate flag had notfet been conceived.
A motion in the provisional congress provided
e committee heeded by Mr. Porchrr Miles, of
Pouth Carolina* Mr. Brooks, of Mississippi,
who bad been a co-opcretiouist,moved to amend
the committee's instructions by urging that
the flag be made as nearly like tho United
Plates flag as was consistent with distinctive
character. He spoke in these words:
The object of thl« resolution is to make tho new
flat to it* p* rt at little a* poasthle from the old. In
revolutionary tint*** It 1* deniable to make as little
charge as possible In those things to which the
people have long been accustomed. Wo should
is spect even iholr prejudices. The flag of the
United States remains yet the emblem of the for
mer (lory, strength and power of our na'ton. We.
a r, a* well as the northern confederacy, have an
L teresi lo Its pa* history. True, rir. It Is bot a
arnthBeut, bot the feelings which hallow that em
blem are not (bore merely of custom or habit, but
they are the result of associaiion. That flog Is an
dol of the heart, around which cluster lbs memo
rtesef the nest, whieh time can neerr efface of
cans* to grow dim. That flag, sir, Is not only eotv-
nacted wMh onr vketone* on land and are in the
lmt war with Ureal Britain, but H Is
with our reooBecUoas
HOW. WM. L. YANCEY,
[Ftnatorof tho Confederate States, and Confed
erate Minister to England.]
ment, declaring that ho loved the flag of Cpro-
lina better than the flag of the union, because
the battles of Entaw, Cowpens and Moultrie
had been fought under it, end becauso it was
the symbol of independence fonght for and
won, while the stars and stripes symbolized the
revere*. The amendment wsa lost.
The fint design form confederate flag wsa
presented by Mr. T. B. B. Cobb, and oamefrom
Mr. E. V, Bharpe, of Augusta, Ga. It wag not
desirable, and was modestly adorned by Mr.
Cobb.
A few days later, Mr. Chilton submitted in
a fiery and eloquent speech the following de
sign from M ss Bebecca C. Ferguson and Miss
Mollle A, D. Sinclair, of the Tuskoegee female
school, and seven designs. Theso young ladies
said they bnrned with ardor to do something
for their country, and had employed their pons
in sketching flsgs. They added:
You will appreciate the difficulties of their task,
when you reflect that amldnt all their efforts at
originality, there have ever danced beforo them
virions or the star-gemmed flag, with lu parti-col
ored stipes that floated so proudly over the late
United tiiates.
Let us snatch from the eagle of the cliff our Idea
ol Independence, and cull from the earth diamonds
and gems from tne heavens to deck the flag of the
southern confederacy. With sotton for king thero
i flhsln of sluterTy loyq
enward. they move
pcndcncc.
Tho designs wero seven eaglets in a nest—
seven rings hound together by golden links—
un eagle on lotto rock with seven stars rising
rent tempestuous sea—seven diamonds, mak
ing largo diamond, with cotton bate In center,
lu presenting their designs, Mr. Chilton allud
ed to tho "visions of tho stars aud stripes dan
cing boforo those ladies' eyes," and said it must
not lie understood from this, as from the speech
o£Mr. Brooke, a few days previous, that there
was any design for a reconstruction of the
anion. This brought Mr. Brooks to his feet
whossid:
I wish Ju.-t here, Mr. President, to ask permission
of this home to niuko somowhai of a personal ex
planation. I was pained ou yesterday to learn from
a reference which the di*tlngul»hcd gentloman
from Alat«ma(Mr. Chilton) waa pleased to make
desire for ihe reconstruction of thin government.
On my part here, or in tho state which 1 have tho
pat t to represent ou this floor, 1 repudiate
sentiment*. I had tho honor of belonging
to what wa* called the ro-o|tcrntion party In Missis
sippi—a parly large ami respectable in number* and
liitt lligeiitc—but. Mr. I can say, with truth and
confidence, that the only important difference bo-
|w«eu that party and Urn out which triumphed lu
the election, wa* the questtou of time and the
ding from many a hillock ami liouretop in my
native state. And while, sir, the tear* may glisten
In the eye* or many who witnesa the diminished
number of star* and stripes, yet, sir, they am tear*
of memories p# st. to be succeeded by tho smile* or
n ‘ liter and better future. However my former
ate* may have regarded the old government;
ever lingering feelings of regard and aflbctl m
jnay have or may have had for It, I bellevo
now, sir,with myself, they will say, a* with Othello:
Thus alt my fond love I blow to heaven. ’Tis
goue."
Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, presented a mod
el of a flag from Mr. Jacob Platt, of Augusta,
which he urged with warmth.
Mr. B. H. Hill proseuted a flag from a
lady in Darien, and stated that
central idea of her design was
that tho start on the flag should differ in
size—tho largest star standing for the first
state that seceded, aud graded as each other
state came out. lie did uot urg* this design,but
presented it as a ccurtesy to a most excellent
lady.
Mr. Monningcr, of South Carolina, in pre
senting a design of a bine cross on a red field,
id:
A striking design was presented by Mrs. But
ler. She began hy agreeing with Audubon in his
surprise that the grey eagle had never been
eh cud us tho Americau symbol. She pro
posed an eagle ou a cliff to represent our
prowe'ts—a field of gold to represent our
wealth—a knight in full armor forour valor—
a negro strangling the serpent of hypocrixy,
which was Jiving him to his ruin—a live oak
or strength—cotton, tobacco aud sugar cane
for our resources, and fifteen sura grouped as
a diamond for our confederacy.
Of the hundreds of designs that poured in
on congress, nine out of ten came from ladies.
In fervor and suggeetiveness they surprised the
men. At length Mr. Miles reported for the
ommittee. Extracts from his speech make
tnteiesting reeding now m then. He said:
nr commute bt « leave to report that they
....given thi* ftubjcct due consideration and
carefully Inspected ail the dreign* and models
•nt mined to tnctn. Tbo number of the** has been
irmenre, but they all may be divided Into two
great chore*. Firet, *ho*e which copy and pro*
rerve the prii cipal fiatureaof the United States
flag with ►light and unimportant modification;
tance. be readilv dftUnauDhrd from the one which
they imitate Whatever attachment may be felt,
from oaacetation for the Mare and stripe* (an aD
tschment which your committee may be permitted
to ray they all do not share), tt ta mantflwt that In
IrarsurailDg a new governm«at wo oannot retain
the flag ol tha goveruBtent from which wo hove
-''“IT” uSSE
torailTT^keeptat^JbSSSoftho nnifed Bmlg
when wo have voluntarily receded from them. It
. . motto of the
great Hampden: “Vestigia nulla retrovsum,”
They were determined to build up a new power
among the nations of the world. They, therefore,
did not gjfempt “fo keep up tlie old flag.” We
think it good to imitate them In this comparatively
little matter, a* well as to emulate them in greater
and more Important ones. The committee, In ex
amining the representations of the fla ~ ■* **
countries, found that Liberia and tho
Islands bad flags so similar to the Ubit
that It seemed to them an additional, L
itrelf a conclusive reason, why we should not
keep, copy or imitate it. They felt no inclination
to borrow at second hand what had been pilfered
and appropriated by e free negro community and
pable of being made up In bunting. It should be
readily distinguished at a distance. The colors
should bo well contrasted, and (durable, and laatin
and not the least Important point, it shculd be ei
Is very easy to make. It is entirely
any national flag. Tbo three colors of which it is
composed—red, white and blue—are true repub
lican colors, in heraldry they are emblematic of
three great virtues of valor, purity and truth.
Naval men assure ns that ft can be recognized and
distinguished at a great distance. The colors con
trast admirably, and are lasting. In effect and
appearance It must speak for Itself.
“Your committee therefore recommend that the
flag of tho confederate states of America shall con
sist of a red field with white spaces extending
horizontally through tho *
width to one third the wldi
spaces above and below are to be of the same width
as the white, the union blue extending down
th 1 ongb the white space and Mopping at tho lower
red space. In the center of the union a circle of
white stars corresponding in number with the
states in the confederacy, ir adopted, long may
ft wave over* brave, a free, and virtuous people.
May the career of the confederacy, whoss duty It
will be to support and defend it, be such as to en
dear it to our children's children as the flag of a
loved, because a just and benign government; and
the cherished symbol of its valor, purity and
truth. Respectfully submlted."
The report of the committee was adopted
without debate. The flag was st once ordered
and within four hours waa floating over the
capital fn which it had been that day decreed
as tho ensign of th* new government.
Such Is the history of the confederate flag.
A bonnier flag never led a bravor people.
Wherever it flashed there were honest hearts
behind It, dauntless spirits around it.
wrote*piteous appeal to be transferred "where
there was a prospect of a fight." Governor
Biown quieted disaffection in the anion die*
tricts by giving their volunteers • piece in the
early regiments. There were 250 companies
actually tendered on the call for the first regi
ment. Companies were limited by law to 80
men. The moment a company had seeared
enlistment its ranks w#-.ro swelled beyond tho
limit. One captain insisted on taking 120 men
to the field, and it almost produced a riot when
40 were forced beck. Everything wag dona
with frantic hurry. Captain G.W,Lee,who took
from DeKalb county, Ga., the first company
that reached Montgomery, saw the fint con
federate flog raised at Montgomery. Retain*
ing home next day, he bought materials at»
way station snd summoned the, lady passen
gers on the train, and tho first confederate
flag seen in Georgia was soon ready. A com
pany secured early enlistment by its name—•
"Mrs. Joe Brown'e boys." Governor Col
quitt, then captain, brought oat
tho Baker Fire Eaters and was made
colonel of the first Georgia regiment that
organized. General Gordon, then captoim
brought down "The Coonskin Bangers." Cap
tain Kendrick came np with the "Miller Wild
Cats,” and the "Monroe Crowders" came from
Forsyth. A Milledgevillo company of thirty-
five men represented t wo and a half million on
the tax books. A Milledgevillo company of
forty men represented $730,000. Tho Bain-
bridge Volunteers, representing over a million
dollars, came up In coarse homespun uniforms
and flanntl shirts. Every distinction was lev*
el led in the fine spirit of chi velry thst swept
high and low. In just six months after the
first call Georgia had sent forty anpetb regt- ,
meats ta the field. (Beforo the war was over
she had enrolled 120,000 soldiers, theugh s^p
.. HON. ALEXANDER n. stephens, W but 100,000 Youra-so that if her courage
[Vice President of the Confederacy«V flamed bright!^ it certainly bnrnedly stub-
Wherever it waved, in bright folds or battle-
stained, it lent glory to the air. From tho
day it flamed before victorious legions on the
plains of Manassas until the day when Lee’s
starved and ragged veterans closed shout
it in despair, and lifting their grim and gaunt
faces to Where its tattered bravery still
streamed, sought death rather than snrrcndor,
it never saw a moment of dishonor, nor caught
a taint of shame. Whatever mistakes the con
federacy may have mado, all tho time on land
and tea Its flag was stainless. AU tho gross
ness and all the wrong that ambition might
have bred or conspiracy furthered, woro lost
in the sparkling inspiration that showered as
•nnshino from its opening folds. Under the
descending touch of this inspiration a purpose
and impulse wero clarified, and in the light of
this inspiration tho path of duty was mado
luminous. The flag ennobled all who followed
it. And tbo knighthood of the bars aud stars
shall endure and carry its heritage of glory aa
long as heroism has its wonhippon aud
martyrdom holds its menuing.
Furl that Bannor, fbr ’tis weary,
Bound its staff 'tlx drooping dreary:
Furl it, fold it,—it i* best;
For there’s not a mau to wave it,
And there's not a sword to *avo it.
And there’s not ono left to lave it
In the blood which hcroe* gave it.
And Its foes now scorn and brave It;
Furl it, hide U,- let It rest I
Take that Banner down ! ’tis tattered ;
Broken Is it* staff and shattered,
And the valient hoti* are scattered
Over whom it floated high
Oh, 'tis hard for us to fold it,
Hard to think there's none to hold it,
Bard that thoto who once unrolled it
Now must furl it with a sigh 1
Furl that Banner-furl it sadly;
Once ten thousands hailed it gladly,
And ten thousands wildl), madly,
Bwom it should forever wave—
Swore that focmen’s sword* could never
Hearts like theirs entwined dissever,
And that flog should float forever
O'er their freedom or their grave!
Furl it!—for the hands that grasped It,
And the hearts that fondly clapped it,
Cold and dead are lying low;
And the Banner—it is trailing,
While around it sounds the wailing
i f Us people in their woe ;
For though conquered, they adore it—
Love the cold dead hands that boro It,
Weep for these who fell before it,
Pardon those who trailed and tore it;
And oh, wildly they deplore it,
Now to furl aud fold it so!
Furl that Banner I True, ’tis gory.
Yet ’tis wreathed around with glory,
And ’twill live In sonx and story
Though its folds are in the dust!
Fcr its feme on brightest pages,
Penned by poets and by rages,
Shall go sounding down tho age*—
Furl iu folds though now we must!
Furl thst Banner, softly slowly,
Treat it gently-11* holy,
Fo-1 droop* abovu the dead;
Tench it not- un old it never:
Let H droop there, foiled foreve*-
For iu people’s hopes are fled.
ABuuc J. Ryan.
Memories of Early Confederate Days
The moot curious phase of the eager and
earnest and foolish day* of the young confeder
acy, was the universal belief that the yankees
woodn’tfight and couldn’t fight "We can
whip ? e» with pop guns." said Judge Sam
Bice in aeeceaiion speech in 1800. "But d—m
fem they wouldn't fight ns that way," said he
is an aaplanatory speech In 1808.
I don't think anyone said "he would drink
•II the blood thst was spilled." "Bets were
mad# in Montgomery." says tho Mail of that
day, "that In sis months Mr. Davis would be
laaagmted in Washington city. Mr. Devis
HON. HOWELL COBB,
[President of the First Confederate Congress and
Major O'cnersl^n tbo Confederate Service.]
bornly.) A battalion of Georgia troops, com
manded hy Colonel Tom Hardeman, retched
Noifoik, Va.. before the Virginia troops had
reached their own seaboard. The military ar
dor swept over union sentiment. Newton
county, an anii-scceasiou stronghold, raised
five companies iu two Tdays snd $10,000 in
money. The co^'npcra-lvnists left no gronod
to impugn th«ir motives after the Rk
sue bad been cast. The enthusiasm was
irresistible. A buiv worn a bonnet made of
black snd white cotton, the streamers deco-
rated with palmetto tree* and stars in gold
thread, snd feather* of blaok and whits
worsted. Iu LaGrangc the ladies formed them-
srlvis Into a military company called "The
Nancy Harts." Many ladies formally tendered
their family plate to he melted for tho use of
the government. Iu Charleston a body of
yonng men went to the cemetery, and finding
the tomb of Calhoun, clasped hands around ifc
snd swore to devote their lives and honor to
the cause of southern independence. A com
pany that protested against being enlisted for
one year as an iurauely Img period did not get
home for four years, and nine in ten of tha
bravo fellows are still eleepiog in the valley of
Virginia. Tho first company that "enlisted
for tho war" was the Oglethorpe Light In
fantry, which telegraphed its captain, tho
Immortal Bartow, then in Montgomery, ta en
roll its name. '
The saving power of salt was lacking in tho
confederacy. With the ocean beading its
shores from Baltimore to Galveston, it could
not make enough salt to save its meet. Salt
became worth its weight in silver. Salt
speculators, by hoarding the precious stuff, tc-
ORJtRRAL THOMAS R. R. COBB,
[Killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg. —“Ood
grant that this Army aud Our Country may never
be call*'O again to mourn so great a sacrifice.’'—R.
K. Lce’e Report.]
tually impt-i iltid the iita of the government.
Governor Bruwu. of Georgia, under authority
of war, seized all the salt he could find. The
legislature after a tremendous fight passed salt
laws sustaining the governor A salt barest!
was organized for the proper distribution of
wbat nit was left. A half million dollars wag
appropriated for tho manufacture of salt. A.
reward of $50,000 wa* offered for the discovery
of a salt spring that would produce a gives
quantity. Driven from the oeeen beaches by
blockading vessel#, tho confederacy was terror
ized by the salt famine from Ihe openiog
tothe close of the war. and more than $2,000,-
000 was appropriated Georgia'alone to avert
The temper ef the time* is frintly indicated
in the following extract from a speech made
by Governor Brown in 1861.
>1 would cheerfully expend in the esnae the Last
dollar I could raise, and would fervently pray Uxe
Samson, of old. that <ted would give Rt««ttcagta to