The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-06
THE AMERICAN FLAG.

duced III the American Congress, June
18th, 1777, "That the flag of the thirteen
United States be thirteen stripes, alternately
red and white that the Union be thirteen
stars, white in blue field, representing a
new constellation" There is striking
coincidence between the design OF our flag
and the arms of Gen. Washington, which
consisted Of three stars in the upper por-
ton, and three bars running across the es-
cutcIcon. 1t is thought b. some that the
flag was derived from the heraldc design.
History informs us that several flags were
used by the Yankees before the present na-
tonal ono was adopted. In March, 1711J,
a minor flag, with q red field, was hoistcd
in New York, bearing the inscription on
one side of George Rex and the liberties
of America" and upon the reverse, "No
Popery." General Israel Putnam raised
OH Prospect Hill, July 18th, l775, flag
bearing Oh one side the motto Of onr Com.
monweal'h, "Q"i trunsfmW s"siinct = OH
the other, Z" An Appeal to IIeaven'--an
appeal well taken and amply s,lstanr,I.-
In October, l775, the floating batteries of
Boston bore Il flag with the latter motto,
and n pine troe upon white field, bearing
the Massachusetts emblem. Some cf the
colonies used in l775 a flag witl rattle
snake coiIed us if about to strike. and the
motto, "Dont tread OH me-" On january
18th, l77G. the grand Union flag of the
stars and stripes was raised on the hcig glts
near Boston, and it is said that some Of the
regulars made the grand mistake of sup
posing it WAS a token Of submission to the
King, whose speech had just been sent to
the Americans. The British Register Of
l77G says:
"They Qhe reLels) burnt the Kings
speech, and changed their colors from a
plain rcd ground to Il flag of thirteen stripes,
as symbol of the number and union of
the colonies" a letter from Boston, pub.
lislied in the Pcnnsylvanian Gazett', in
TIC, says "Thc Onion flag was raised
on the 2l, i'll compliment to the United
Colonies" These various flags, the Pine
Tree, l:attlesnakc, and the Stripes, were
used, accordingly to the tastes Of the patri-
OTIS until July, 1777, when the stars and
stripes were established by law. At first a
stripe was added for cacl, new State, but the
flag becoming too large, Congress reduced
the stripes to the original thirteen, and now
the stars arc made to correspond in number
with the States. There is no one, who lives
under the protection OF the Stars and Stripes,
but will agree with the Herald, that I" the
American flag is one Of the most beautiful
that floats upon any land or sea. lis pro-
portions are perfect when its properly made
-one half as broad as it is long. The
first stripe at the top is red, the next white,
and these colors alternate, making the last
| stripe red. The blue field for the stars is
the width and quaro Of The first seven
stripes, viz: four red and three white. The
colors Of the American flag are in beauti-
fnl relief, anil it is altogether a beautiful
national emblem. Long may it wave I'M
tarnished. lie who would erase one stripe.
or dim one star upon il, "acts traitors
part, and deserves traitors loom!"
WIT AND SATIRE.
These are dangerous gifts, and carefully
should they be used. They contain power
which may be made potent for good, al
though prone to evil. They are sharp edged
tools, which not unfrequently wound the
user. 1t is better to withhold witticisln
than wound friend. Let the wit and the
satirist, then, be careful of the sword they
wicld. If it is to subserve good ends-if it
is to guard the weak and smte the proud
then keep bright; but better let is rust
than make wounds in sensitive hearts, and
crafty petty malice aud mean malevo.
lence.
The London Critic says with much
| truth:
"Sterne warns lis at what price the
satirist may pursue his art Eugenio shall
c:ack his jest and lose his friend. He shall
leer at knaves and fools, and find the mob
rise and stone him. A wit is admired, but
Stunned. Most people, not paIsied by
cowardice, love to see lightning, volcanoes,
tempests. On the summer nights, when
the air is hot, and the lightnings play in
the tree.tops, or break through the ocean
wrack, they are dazzling and seductive.
Who hassnot lounged in the park or leaned
over the bulwark-with soft arm cIinging
round him, or wet curl dropping on his
cheek-until deop into the midnight, held
by the fiery openings and long golden inlets
into space? .-
"Yet the boldest lover of the picturesque
will watch. the beautiful white fire with a
secret awe, lest it leap too near. So with
| wit We admire in faar Vour NIT ,o-..,