The New York herald., 1862-01-26
THE REBEL FLAG AND THE SOUTHERN
CROSS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE RICHMOND DrsrArcH.


RICHMOND, Jan. 20, 1862
Much has been said ana not little written upon ,h
subject ofthe ConfedsraeAnsg Many designs have
been proposed OF which, least have merit
originality That the present flag should be abandoned
think nearly every one will admit We propose,
substitute for II. the one which will describe -
Dmensons-The length to be double the width Coors-
Divide the length into twenty -four parts tho first sever
parts to be scarlet tho next 1--WE parts to be bright
green the next four parts to be white and the remain
ing eight parts TO be deep sky blue which shall be the
6eld The cmblem-A cross composed OF clustering stars
OF gold 10 be set the blue fed II may be constructed
folows-Place five stars. one above the other and
cquidstant the middle Of the field and parallel with
parts and arrange the that the arst one win b.
and onehaf parts from its centre 10 the top OF the
6sd and the nh one the same number from its
oenre to the bottom OF the field Between the second
and third star from the top place star each side OF
point midway between them, that tho four stars will
form equatera rianges add two stars at the top
two tho bottom and two each sde placing them
TO form equateral trangies. the sides Of the angles
being the length as the distance measured from
stars first arranged. and you viii have completed the
cross. ~
which represent the hfteen southern States The two
stars between the tanges st the sides to bs In eclipse
they intended 10 represent the Southern States yet
The cross has for moro than fifteen CENTURIES been
military emblem It s as beautiful ~ II is significant.
Up TO the time OF Constantine was used by the Romans
instrument OF torture and malefact0rs suffered
death upon it, but this terrible mode Of punishment
abolished by him. and the elevated to dignity
IL never conversion
to Christianity is well Known Eusebius gives it in i'm.
pressive language. was during his with Maxen-
thus. the Roman Emperor. that he daily supplicated
Heaven to aid him in overthrowing his enemies be-
nehcent Creator heard his prayers The sign Of the
appeared in the sky above the declining SUM- luminous
qusr" He and his whole army wore struck with wonder
and amazement. Being unable to interpret its signin
cance Christ appears from the historian came TO his
relief for when night and be had retired to rest
the Saviour appeared TO him IN vision, holding in his
hand the cross be had seen, and told him "To mako
standard sta resembling tho sign which ne had seen in
with his enemies" The lsgons Of Maxentius were
overthrown by the Christian warrior the plains of
Etrura, and the cross foated in triumph beneath the
bright Italian skies.
The Cross Of St. Lousa military order instituted By
Louis XV..is we'll known The Cross Of St. Andrew,
the Cross OF St. George the various used by
different orders Of knights such Knights Of the Red
Cross, Knights Of Malta (who white their
breast, supended by black ribbon) and many others
We could name, all having some military Specification.
Within the cross We have described there is almost
perfect representation Of he Cross of the South" This
constellation has eighteen twenty stars but only
four principal ones Around some Of these clusters
Of minute just visible 1t is BY far the most spcn
wres-'We beheld this glorious constellation for the
first time n latitude IA deg min We ell contemplated
with feelings OF profound devotion To the navigator
1t is token Of peace According to its position ind
Gates the hours Of the night. We had long wished for
this constellation as guide to the other hemisphere.
We, therefore, felt nexpressble pleasure when per-
cevsd it in the resplendsnt armament"
Humboldt also refers to his first view Of this constsl
iston with peculiar feeling I'VE saw distinctly, says
the great traveller or the first time the Gross Of the
South the night Of the 4h and 5th Of July in the 10th
degree Of latitude II strongly inclined and appeared
from time to time between the clouds, the centre Of
which, furrowed BY uncondensed lightning, reflected
silver light The pleasure felt in discovering the Southern
Cross, was warmly shared by such Of the had
lived in the colonies. In the solitude Of the hail
a star friend from whom we have been long sepa.
rated. The two great stars which mark the
summit and foot Of the have nearly the right
ascension il follows that the constellation almost per
pendicular at the moment when 1t passes the meridian
II Is known at what hour Of the night in diff
erent the Southern Cross is erect ncned II
tmepiece that advances very regularly nearly four
minutes day. How often have we heard guide
claim, in the savannas Of Venezuela midnight past,
the cross begins to bend"
We think the would be particularly appropriate
~ an emblem for the flag OF our great republic wc
know that its bright twinkling the deep
blue vault Of the Southern sky and the course or
empire with is toward the south, IL would in
vte Us there, and act beacon light to guide
its mighty mountains and its broad and sunny plains