Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1844-03-16
NATIONAL EAGLE g. RATTLEsNAKE.

Franklin's sententious and not ever-re-
fined remarks uttered 10 Convention,
when it was proposed to make the Ea-
Gle the emblem Of nationality for the
Union. We have always considered
the opinion ofthe statesman and philos-
opher, on this, and on every other
point almost, TO which he directed his
great mind, as corrected. There were
objections to making the Eagle the ma
tional device, besides those brought
forward by Franklin in his compendi-
um ofits pathological sins.
These objections are that the Eagle
is o stale transatlantic device. 1t was
used by the ancient Romans--and by
the reflex Of antiquity the French Re-
public and Imperial Government. The
Prussian Black Eagle, too, is yet an
other instance of the adoption OF the
bird as a national emblem. And there
are still other examples to the same
effect.
We are led to these remarks by
seeing in The North American news
paper, an enquiry what the original
Revolutionary flag was, and satisfac
tory reply to it:-both Of these articles
are transferred to Our columns. Tho
original national emblem was the
RATrLEsNAxE--an appropriate Ame.
rican device at the time.
We trust, however. The day is not far
distant when these fooleries Gf national
hcraldry like the trumpery Of individ-
ual heraldy, may be done away with;
and the rival beasts, birds, and snakes
Of nations, which are living evidence
of mans pride, hate and quarrels, be
forgotten in simple and jus. under
standing OF MS common rights, which
require no staggering device to stir up
national feeling The day OF foolish
symbols is waxing towards its night.
Truth then shall take the place o!
srtiEce; and men look al things as they
arc without the aid Of symbolic fool
cries; which arc but the creations Of
simple and barbarous ages, still intru-
ded into the common sense Of this
period Of transition-between the
bloody past and peaceful future.
To the Editar, Of the Norh American.
GENrLEMEN.-Io observed under the
editorial head in your valuable journa!
of the 9Th inst, a desire TO know the
device Of the American Flag Of the
Revolutionary War, and also stating it
was . curious fact that none of the
present generation have any knowledge
Of what was the Flag Of the Revolu-
tionsry War and wishing to be inform
ed Of the colors used in tho flag,
and Of the position Of the Rattle
Snake.
II affords me much pleasure TO OBJ
serve thvt the citizens of Philadelphia
had the pleasing satisfaction of behold
ing the Flag of,he Revolution thrown
proudly to the breeze, the first time
IL ,oas ever displayed, which flag was
run up to the main royal Of the Frigdfe
.avred' by the hand Of the late cele-
bra,ed Paul Jones, then first lieu
tesnt Of that frigate, under salute
oil thirteen guns, while lying off Ches-
nut Street wharf, and by referring to
my "L1e Of Paul Jones'" page ll,h,
you will see the fact as stated.
The Flag was thirteen stripes, red
and white, with Rattle Snake extern
ded, mouth open and sting out towards
tho outer folds Of the flag, the tail just
touching the staff, as if springing on a
foe; under the snake were the following
words" DON'T Tread Upo'. Ne
Theirs was no field Of blue, or whi,e,o or
stars, but simply as above stated; and
II was that very flag, while proudly
coating from the main royal Of the frig-
alto Alliance, (the hulk Of which now
lies opposite the city, under the gal
liant Paul Jones, that dashed through
British fleet of tweniy-onc sail Of the
line, in the North Sea; the intrepid
Jones delivering his s,arboard and
larboard broadsides undcra ten-knot
breeze into the Admiral, and receiving
the fire of the whole feet as he passed,
and under full chase of the formidable
foe, arrived in safety at Brest
Among the full length portraits Of
some Of our most distinguished Revo
iutionary heroes in my possession, is
one of The late Commodore Hopkins.
in full dress with the Frigate Alfred in
The back ground, snd The Revolution