Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE AMERICAN FLAG.


Century" in the National Intel2tgencer IN Septem
Der last we mentioned the fact that the first nation
al flag of the present design, adopted in 1918, was
made under the direction of the gallant Capt REID
who commanded the priyateer General Armstrong.
1t was designed by Captain REID, and made at his
house, in New York, by his wife and number of
young ladies, and was first hoisted over the Hall
of the House of Representatives on the 18th April,
1918, at 2 o'clock p, NJ.
We are glad to have it in our power to-day to
give to our readers some additional particulars,
which have never before been published.
Previous to the adoption of the present flag by
Congress the number of stripes in the old flag had been
increased to eighteen, according to the number of
States admitted into the Union, thus destroying the
beauty and perspicuiy of the flag; and, while this
order was preserved in some, others contained but
nine stripes, as fancy dictated. On the admission
of Indiana into the Union in 1916, Mr. PETER II.
WENDovER, of New York, offered a resolution
g thata committee be appointed to inquire into the
expediency Of altering the flag the United States
A committee was appointed, who reported bill on
the I'd January, 1917, but it was not acted upon.
While the committee had the matter under conside-
ration, Mr.. Wendover called on Capt. Reid, who
was in Washington at the time, and requested him
to form design of our flag so as to represent the
increase of the States without destroying its dstinc
tive character, the committee were about to in
the stars and stripes to the whole number of
States. Capt. Reid recommended that the stripes
be reduced the original number of thirteen States
and to form the number of stars representing the
whole number of States into one great star in the
Union adding one star for every new State, thus
giving the significant meaning to the flag, symbol
cally expressed of L pluribus unum." This de-
sign Of Capt. Reds was adopted in committee, but
the bill did not pass until the next Congress, in
1873, Capt. Reid also recommended the committee
to establish national standard, to be composed of
the four emblematical representations of our es-
cutcheon, to be placed in the four quarters of the
flag, follows: the stars at the top in the lefthand
corner the eagle in the rght-hand corner, with the
goddess of liberty under the stars, and the stripes
under the eagle; this standard to be hoisted over
the halls of Congress, and our shipsofwar, navy
yards, and other public places when visited by the
President and other digntaries. He also desired to
make distinction between the flags worn by our
national vessels and those of the merchantmen, by
simply arranging the stars in parallel lines in the
union for the naval service, and forming them in
great star in the union for the merchant service
Capt. Reid also proposed to adopt national cock
AIDE, upon our flag, instead Of the black English
cockade which our officers now wear but these de-
signs did not succeed before the committee.
The following extracts of letters from Mr. Wen
I -. i NJ. 4
taken from the originals, which we have seen, are
worthy Of preservation a part of the history of
our country, and will be found highly interesting.
'sWAsHINGTos, ,FEBRuARY 49, 1917.
DEAR SIR: The flag is yet on the table; know
when it will get to the anvil received the flag from
Mr. Jarvis would have presented him my thanks for
his polite attention to my request but am so oppressed
with letter writing that have time take exercise
and but little sleep. Please present my thanks to Mr.
Jarvis for his kindness me- and the standard addressed
to you accompanying it,
81 find the flag proposition is almost universally ap
proved Of but fear the standard will have to lie till
next session. ...
"With much esteem, your humble servant,
"P. H. WENDoVER."
'.WAsHINGTos JANUARY q, 1915
ssDEaR Sir: = As am not o military man, l
leave others regulate the cockade shall attend the
Star spangled Banner, though wish the other chang
ed from British to American.
8. In haste, and with much esteem, yours,
"PR. H. WENDOVER."
"WAsHNGToN, MARCH "a, 1918.
DEAR SIR: = ~ This day the first call on the docket
was the Star Spangled Banner. moved to 60 in
mttee on the bill General Smith moved to discharge the
Committee of the Whole and postpone the bill indefinite
ly appealed that gentleman and the House to know
il they willing thus to neglect the banner Of freedom
Gen. Smiths motse negatived by almost unani-
vote and hoised the striped bunting in Com
mittee Of the Whole After had made few observa-
tons and down. Mr.. Pondexter moved to strike out
twenty and insert seven with view to have stripes
for the old and for the States motion rejected
nearly unanimously. Mr.. Foger then moved to strike
out twenty and insert thirteen to restore the original flag
his motion also negatved by similar vote. Mr..
Robertson then suggested wish to fix arbitrary num-
Der Of stripes say nine eleven but seemed to
approve Of his dea and the committee and reported
the bill without amendment and the House ordered
crossed for q third reading by almost unani-
VOTE
alt was remarked by many that the subject came mp
in good time flag almost blew away with the
storm which on Saturday almost hurricane. 1t is
now completely ragged bunting, and fear shall
have to sit part the session without the Star Span
gled Banner over our heads.
YOURS. PR H. WENDoyER