Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-06-02

nrosperity to which these liberties
have led Us.
On the 9th of December. 1916,
the Hon. Peter H. Vendover, OF New
York, moved for committee "io IN
quire into the expediency of altering
the flag" but bare minority agree
inr. the mover did not press it then.
On the lstb Of the month the
House proceeded to consider the
motion, and IA committee Of inquiry
was appointed. Mr.. Vendover had
no. any definite idea as to what al
teration would be made. He wanted
an inquiry with the view OF correct
ing what seemed an incongtnity- a
flag Of the United States not repre-
seuting all the United States. The
addition Of new States, it was gen
orally conceded, rendered some
change Necessary. The policy and
purpose oi BradIey's act Of l1y4
SET med to be the addition Of star
and stripe for each accession to the
couisdsracy; but did not definitely
assert itas law. Evenif il had. it
would not have bad historical
unioueness. We would be forever
ignoripg the past while parading the
present. 1t vas suggested in Con-
gress that we go back to the act Of
777, but that again would be ig-
norirg the present and recognizing
the past, which was directly opposed
to ouI principle Of progress.
1t remained for Captain Samnti
G. Reid 10 fix the happy medium;
10 combine the glory of the past
with the progress Of tie present, and
to give design for the Dstional flag
at once unique, beautiful and satls-
factory. H. suggested that on the
fisla there should be thirteen stripes
(alternate red and Whitley in coin-
memora:ion Of the thirteen colonies
that took the field for freedom, and
in the Union as many stars white
on blue feIdl as there were States
with a provision that new star
should be added fer every new State,
such new star to appear on the Fourth
of July succeeding such admission.
Captain Reid's idea Was adopted
by Mr. Vendover. and Incorporated
10 bis report (of tie select commit
tee1 presented to the House Of Rep
resentatives, January 9, 1877. The
billaccompanying this report was laid
over from the pressure Of business,
and motion Tor a new committee
vas brought forward and agreed to on
December l6. 1917. This conmit-
tee, through Mr.. ysndoyer, reported
on The 9Th Janpary, 1878, in tue
words Of the previous report, and
submitted a bill. On the oath
March, Fifteenth Congress, First
Sessiou.) the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the bill TO
alter tie Gag. Mr.. Vendoyer sup
ported it with point and elequence.i
Mr. Poindexter moved to amend by
reducing the number Of stars to sew
en-, the number Of States added to
the Union since the Declaration Of
independence. After slight dis
cussion, this was lost without q Oh
vision. On the .25.h March moved
to amend the title by substituting
the word establish in place Of the
word @alter" was adopted, when the
bill vas read a third time and passed.
|; On the 9th, the bill was read q
second time in the Senate, and re-
ferred to he Committee on Kavsi
Afairs. On the 30sh it was reported
without amendment by Mr.. Taite,
and was passed next day, BY unani-
nous consent, as follows:
An Act to establish the Flag Of the
United States.
Be X enacted, ETC, That from and
after the 4tb day Of July next, the