Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1863-06-24
THE NEW COyggDERlFE FLAG.

An ACT TO establish ths Flag Of the Con-
fcieratc States.
"THs Cagress II he C5nf;dcrafe States Of
america DO c,aef That the flag Of the Con-
federotc States shall he as follows; The
li.llLabe Whit, The length double the width
0T tie Gag, with thennITII NOV -as %
battle tlagl to be square OF two.thirds the
width Of the hag, having the ground red,
with broad saltier OF blue, bordcrcd with
white, "a blue cross white edgod--Ed. Tel)
and cmblazoned white mullcts of FIVE poin-
ted stars, corresponding in number TO that
Of the Confederate Statcs.'
Approved May lat, 1868.
The above act describes the new lsg so
that with little attention our readers can
form q Just idea of IT,. We remark merely
that "salter' in lleyaliic language im-
ports the same az the cross Of 81. Andrew
or diagonal cross-anl that "mUllots'
arc five pointed stars.
We are gratihed that the nag of the Pro-
yisional Congress has been changed, and
that the permanent banner OF the Confel-
cracy is so entirely different from the old
flag. The stars and stripes and stars and
bars too nearly resemblcl each other to
symbolic the characteristics Of tho two
Governments; and besides were easily mis-
taken for each other on the field This fact
induced Gems. Johnson and Beauregard,
Immediately after the first battle OF Manas-
sas to order the use of battle flag. They
selected the design which had been propos-
ed for the Confederate flag by Mr.. Miles Of
South Carolina, when the stars and bars
were adopted. Under this battle flag our
brave soldiers have been ever since fighting
it had become endearcd to them nd to the
people by the historic associations conncc-
4 ted with it on many fields Of blood This
/ flag then must be in some way preserved,
! and amid the variety Of opinions concern
! ing the adoption of a new flag, these con-
sidcrations had controlling force. The
committee on flag and seal determined TO
make the battle flag "Union' for the Com
fedcratc banner, and 4 majority rccommcn-
! dcd white field with blue bar extending
through II lengthwisc. This report was a.
dopted by the Senate, but in the House it
! was amended on motion of Mr.. Gray, who
was a member of the Committee, by inser-
ton of description of the battle flag and
! striking ont the blue bar thus leaving
pure white field, and this is the flag now
| adopted for the Confcderacy. At Richmond
and every where east Of the Mississippi it
has been received with general satisfaction.
Our exchanges all speak of it in compl
! mcntary terms. The Richmond Dispatch
| says:
"lhe new flag, which was displayed from
| the capitol on Thursday, il is gratifying 10
say, gives universal salts faction. Almost
any sort of flag, to take the place of the
detested parody upon the stars and stripes,
for so long the lawful ensign of the Confed-
cracy would have been hailed with plea
sure. But the one we now have is not only
acceptable on this ground, but on account
OF its own appropriateness; and more than
! this, again, because in it is preserved that
immortal Danncr-tlle battle tiag-which
has been consecrated on so many battle
! fields and has been followed by our soldiers
to so many glorious victories. We had not
anticipated from the action of Congress
upon the subject q result so sensible, so
generally satisfactory. The councils Of
many on such topic rarely produce any
thing but an abortion, such us the '',Stars
and Bars y for instance. Let us have no
more of that, but hereafter know only that
appropriate and beautiful banner hallowed
by our. victories and now established by
law"
The President, We learn approved it with
satisfaction-most OF the army officers, es-
! UcClully DedulSSuluj cApiSoo PiSuouio az
its adoption, and our most promin ont naval
officers say that it is admirable for its dis
tinctness. They say the white can be seen
further at sea than any other, unless the
red be an exception. The flag was adopted
on the lst May N day on which began
the late battles at fredericksburg, Chan
ccllorvile and Wilderness Cburch, and the
( first use m dc otit--,ts baptism SO TO speak
was to shroNd the remains Of The immor-
tai "Stonewali Jackson.
The symbolisn Of the flag may DO said to
be thus: The Confederate States represca-
ted by the slals arc unI;cd in strength en-
the blue cross, enlblamatig Of faith, and so
united arc contendiug On the red ground
of blood for truth peace lud freedom which
we tender on The fell ofNhto, THUS whio
we offer peace to az cations, yet nnited by
common faith We are strong, sud ora ready
to battle for truth and freedom
It is a noble and glorious ensign scat
! tcring all thoughts of reconstruction--and
leading to victory and independence.