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

The American Flag in plain English, is
field in the form Of a parallelogram, with
six white and seven red parallel stripes, demo-
ting the union of the original Thirteen Colo
nles with blue sqaare 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 4 Piuribus Unnn.' Tho
great Union flag was hosted on the Cd day
OF January, l716, ut Cambridge, by General
Washington. Lieut.. Carter wrote from
Charleston Heights, January the 26th, l176i
The Kings speech was sent by flag 10
them ON the lst. In short time after they
received it, they hosted an Union flag (above
the Continental, with thirteen stripes) at
Mount Pisyat; their ci adel fired thirteen
guns and gave the ike number Of cheers. -
And General Washington wrote from Cam
bridge, on the 4th Of the same month, 10 Col.
Joseph Reed : The speech | send you. a
volume of them was sent out by the Boston
gentry; aud, iurccal enough, we cave great
JOY to them, without knowing or intending it,
for on that day-the day which gave being TO
the new army, but before the proclamation
came to hand, we had hoisted the Union flag,
in compliment to The Colonies. But, beholdi
it was received in BCston as token Of tho
deep impression the speech hal made upon
US, and rs n signal of submission. So We
hear, by person out Of Boston, last night.
by this time, presume, they begin TO think
II strange that we have not made a formal
surrender IF our lives Thus We have nm
acknowledge ofthe presence Of the stripes,
aud device resembling the British Union
Jack. This latter instead o being 0bDDe the
stripes, was probably in The place now occu-
pied by the blue square aud whLe stars
.rpn ihis it would appear thaL the Great
Union Flag OF the Colonies was the Brush
flag modified by drawing SIX white stripes
through the red field, thus making thirteen
red aud white stripes, representing the rebel
lous Colonies IA Union. The flag, probably,
was originated by the Committee OF Confer
cnce, appointed by Congress, aud composed
Of Dr. franklin, Mr.. lAnch, and Mr. ll1rri-
son; aud the idea Of such "A modification Of
the 81 itish flag, IS not only simple, but GER
talnly very natural one, when we consider
the circumstances ond history Of the times.
The necessity fer change Of the emblem
Of union was apparent and the thirteen Col
onles readily suggested the idea OF n constel-
lation Of stars. Consequently we lind that
The constellation Lyra was uctualy under
consideration and was used on passports
July II, lT7, Congress pissed the following:
'tcso,ved, that the ilag ol the thirteen United
States he thirt, en- Stripes alternate red aud
white That the union be Thirteen stars,
white ~ blue field, representing new con-
stel!ation.' II aTp'nrs that the fret act Of
Cungrcss, changing the flag, WAS on the 18Th
Of January. !,9I, when II was enacted, That
Irini aud alter the lst day of May, y. d.,
1875, lhe flag Of the United Statcs be fifteen
stripes alternate red and @htci that The
Unlon DO fifteen stars white IN n blue lleid.'
The stars were arranged IN n circle, lndlcat-
Ing eternal uulou. Ihls was the flag Of tho
United States during the war Of l5l2-li.-
ln 1878 the hlg If the United States was
AMIN altered aud rs We are informed, on
the su0orsiion Of the Hon. Mr.. w Wendoycr,
of New York, a return was made 10 the thr-
tecu stripes: as il was anticipated the flag
would b. come uuwieldy if a stripe were add
ed on the admission II each State, and,
moreover by the plan proposed, the union
Of the old thirteen StStes, as well as the num-
Der Of members composing the existing Union
would bo presented by this flag of The Cni-
ted States. Mr.. W. also proposed the ar
rangement Of the stars in the union IN the
form Of IA sirgle star. Ia this there was
departure from the original design, as tho
pcrpeluty Of tue Union ceased 10 be indca-
ted by tue flag. as il bad previously been IN
the circle Of stars, except 30 far hs Indicated
by the several stars forming one large shr.--
The Resolution OF 1878 was 10 iolOwt: That
from and alter the fourth day Of July next,
the 0au OF tie 1 nted States be thirteen hor-
lzsntal strips, alternate red and white; that
the un on be twenty stars, whlie IA a blue
field. And that, on the admission Of a he"
Stale into he 4 mon, one star be added u
tie union Of the hag and that such add lon
shall take effect on the fourth day oi Juy
next succeeding such sdInissiOn.