Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-05-02
A new National Name.

A Committee of the New York Historical So
ciety, consisting Of David Dudley Field, Henry r.
Schoolcraft, and Charles Fenno Hoffman, have, in
a report TO the society recommended the adoption
of the Republic of Allegunia " as National
name. They set forth in strong terms the want Of
a distinctive National name. They say:
When we speak of a national name, we mean
of course one that is both single and distinctive.
The formula "United States Of America is ne-
Their. Being phrase from which il is impos-
sible 10 derive an adjective, we have no means
ofdescribing ourselves, but by a circumlocution.
We cannot even say-'United States Of Amer
lea men , if we say United Staters,' we laugh
at ourselves, and if we call ourselves Americans
ave use word that al present belongs TO the
whole hemisphere. Nor has il the merit even
of being distinctive. There are on this conti-
nent four or five UNITED States united
States of North America as some will have it,,
is scarcely more accurate. North America has
three united States already our own, the
United States of Central America and the u
nited States of Mexico. In fine, UNITED
States of America has now scarcely more APP
propriateness to us than United States of Eu-
rope would have to the provinces of France,
or TO the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland.
If this were not one nation, but confedera-
population, or a common character, we might
not need general name. The names of the
different nations composing the conlederacy,
would sufficiently disling ush their respective
citizens, and for the confederacy itself any des-
cription, as in the case Of the 'quadruple ALI
ance' or the 'holy alliance might suffice, Penn
sylvanan, Vermontesc, or Virginian might
serve as distinctive appeldtion in any part of
the world, if Pennsylvania, or Vermont, or Viz
nsn FIJI tn h.a
of any account, beyond the pale of our Union,
and might be sufficient for all purposes, if the
Pennsylvania, the Vermontese, s. the Virgin
ian, were not also fellow countrymen, and for
that reason in need of word to sig nily their
common relation.
Let it not be thought mere matter Of con-
venence. II is more. II has much to do with
national and heroic sentiment. The intimate
relation between language and sentiment is as
certain as any law of nature. Mean ideas will
he associated with mean words. And nation
will get nick name, if has no other.
Our condition is altogether anomalous.
There never before has been a nation, of any
consequence in the world, without its own APP
propriate, distinctive name. The great nations
that have hitherto arisen, have made their
names "a spell in story And who can doubt
that the names themselves reacted as spell
upon their people, prompting them to heroic
OeeuS, HelgHleulHH anu concentrating luelI iONt
and pride of country. Nationality must eX
press itself in words. True patriotism, then,
not less than taste and convenience, prompt US
10 seek for it some adequate expression.
They acknowledge that Columbia would be
more appropriate could appreciate it TO our
selves, but that cannot be. Washington Irving
first suggested the name of Alegania.
The committee recommended to the society the
adoption of the following resolutions:
First, That il is expedient that efforts should
now be made to unite upon SPECIFIC GE-
OGRPHICAL NAME for the country, and
while this society discaims any pretension To
decide upon question of such general interest,
yet as the object is of common concern. and
any successful movement in regard To il, must
begin among the people, we venture, for want
of Others to undertake it, TO bring the subject
before them, in the hope that the requisite ac-
tion may be no longer delayed.
Second, That the name Of Allegania be re-
commended as the best, considering that il is
derived from the grandest and most useful nat
ura feature common to the whole country, an
eternal type of-strenglh and union, stretching |
from the Gulf of Mexico TO the great lakes /;
that il is associated with the most interesting
portions Of our history; and that in adopting il |
we should restore TO the land one Of the prim-
rodaI titles of the aborigines.
Third, That letter be addressed by the So
ciety TO other historical societies and to eminent
citizens in different parts of the country, ask
ing their concurrence and cooperation in bring
ing the name before the people.
Fourth, That the want ola specific name for
our country being all essential defect in ee-
mentary works of education, it be proposed TO
the authors Of school books and maps, TO deSig-
nate this country hereafter as the Republic Of
Allega nia.'