The Trinity times., 1855-06-09
The American Flag.

The American Flag, in plain English, is
field in the form of a paralleogram, with
six white and seven red parallel stripes, demo-
ting the union Of the original Thirteen Colo
nles with blue square in the upper corner,
next the flag. staff, cutting off four red and
three white stripes, and containing thirty one
white stars, representing the number Of
States in the Union, combined in one large
star, symbOzlng the many in one of the
National motto y Piuubus Uaun,' The
great Union flag was hoisted on The Cd day
OF January, l7l6, ut Cambridge, by General
Washington. Lieut.. Carter wrote from
Charleston Heights, January the Goth, 1916;
The Kings speech was sent by q flag TO
them ON the lst In short time after they
received it, they hosted an Union flag (above
the Continental, with thirteen strpes) at
Mount Pisgat their cI adel fired thirteen
guns, and gave the like number Of cheers. -
And General Washington wrote from Cam
bridge, on the 4th Of the same month, TO Col.
Joseph Reed The speech send you. A
volume of them was sent out by the Boston
gentry; aud, inreical enough, we gave great
Joy to them, without knowing or Intending iti
ior on that day--lhe day which gave being to
the new army, but before the proclamation
came to hand, we had holsted the Union flag,
IN compliment to the Colonies. But, behold
il was received IN Boston as token Of tho
deep impression the speech bal made upon
u.s. and as signal of submission. So We
hear, by person out Of Boston, last night.
l'y this time, | presume, they begin TO think
il strange that we have not made formal
surrender cf our lives Thus We have an
ackuowlcdgme ofthe presence Of the stripes,
aud ii device resembling the British Union
Jack This latter, instead oi being oboUe the
stripes, was probably ia The place now occu-
pied by the blue square and white stars
From this it would appear that the Great
Union Flag Of the Colonies was the British
flag modified by drawing six white stripes
through the red field, thus making thirteen
red and white stripes, representing the rebel
lous Colonies N Union. The flag, probably,
was originated by the Committee OF Confer
ence, appointed by Congress, aud composed
Of Or. Franklin, Mr.. Lynch, and Mr.. llarri-
son; aud the idea Of such modification Of
the British llag is not only simple, but GER
tainly "A very natural one, when we consider
the circumstances and history OF the times
The necessity fer Il change Of the emblem
Of union was apparent aud the thirteen Col
onies readily suggested the idea OF n cOnstel-
lalion Of stars. Consequently we lind that
the constellation Lyra was actualy under
consideration aud was used on passpOrts.--
July II, I'm, Congress pnssed the following:
.Resorved, that the flag Ul the thirteen United
States be thlrt, en- stripes, alternate red and
white. That the union be- thirteen stars,
whte ~ blue field, representing new con-
slcl!alion.' It arponrs that the fret act Of
Congress, changing the flag, was on the 18th
Of Jauuary. l.9l, when II was enacted, That
irum and alter the lst day Of May, y. d.,
1875, The flag Of the United States be fifteen
stripes, alternate red and Wlitc that The
Union ba fifteen stars, white IN q blue licId.'
The stats were arranged ia Il circle, ndlcat-
no etelual union ihs was the flag Of the
United States during the war Of l5l2-l1.-
ln 1878 the ndg of the United States was
again ALTERED, aud. as We are informed, on
the suggestion of the Hon. Mr.. Wendovcr,
Of New York, a return was made to the tblr-
teen stripes; as il was anticipated the flag
would b, come uuwieldy If stripe were add
ed on the admission Of each State; and,
moreover, by the plan proposed, the union
of the old thirteen Stotcs, as well as the num-
ber Of members composing the existing Union
would be presented by this flag Of The Uni-
ted States Mr. W. also proposed tho ar
rangement Of the stars IN the union IA the
form Of single star. In this there was "A
departure from the original design, as tho
pcrpeluity Of the Union ceased to be indica-
led by tue fag as it had previously been in
the circle ol stars, except 30 far rs Indicated
by the several stars forming one large star
The Resolution of 1878 was % follows: That
rron and after The fourth day OF July next,
the Aag Of the L nited States be thirteen hor-
,zenta strip ., alternate red and white that
the un on be twenty stars, whIie in blue
field. And that. on the admission Of a new
Si,ie into the { mon, one star be added u
the union Of the flag and that such addition
shall lake effect on the ourth day of July
next succeeding such admission