The Daily Dispatch: March 16, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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Excitement in New Orleans

--A Black Republican Flag in Port.--A decided excitement was created in New Orleans on the 8th inst., by the appearance at the mast-head of the ship Adelalde Bell, owned in New Hampshire, of a flag which the Captain of the ship proclaimed to be a "Black Republican flag," and defied anybody to pull down. Intelligence of the exhibition and its accompanying threat were soon spread abroad, and the Captain was waited upon by several parties, who induced him to lower the obnoxious bunting.--The flag which created so much attention is the old ‘"Stars and Stripes,"’ with this difference, that the stripes are reversed, there being a red stripe next below the union, whilst in the Government flag a white stripe comes next to the union. Much indignation is expressed at the conduct of the Captain, who denies, however, that the flag had any political significance, and asserts that the flag was presented to the ship when she was launched, seven years ago, by Mr. Isaac Bell, of Mobile, after whose wife, Mrs. Adelaide Bell, the ship was named. His statement is disbelieved, the ‘"Vigilant"’ Committee sticking to their assertion that the flag is known at sea among sea-captains as the flag of the Northern or Black Republican States, and has been so recognized for three or four years.