Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-11
TIE 1Eu- coYgEDERArE FLAG.

character of the document but also as page in the
history Of our country's struggle. The bill adopt
ng the new design has passed the Senate rnani-
mousy, and is now before the Committee on Flag
and Seal Of the House, composed OF Messrs Chiffon
of Alabama, Riyes Of Virginia, and Chambers, of
Mississippi
Hon. Ef,cqrd SparroU, Chairman of the Committee on
Military 4 RAYS, CoRtederde States Senate:
GENERAL: While disabled for active service,
have employed portion OF my leisure in trying 70
Improve natnal nag, and, after much attention
70 the subject and the laws OF hersldry, have sub
mitted a de sign 10 Congress, which introduced
into the Senate on the 18th ultimo by Mr.. Semmes,
OF Louisiana. The bill which l have drawn is as
follows
"a BILL TO ESTABLISH THE FLAG OF TIE Compel
EKATE STATES.
The CONGRESS OF The Con federQts States of
Ansricq do c,act That the Tag OF the Confederate
states shall be as follows The width two-thirds Of
It's length with the Union, (uow used as the battle
dag 10 be in width three hths of the width of the
dag and so proportiOned as TO leave the length OF
thg held on the side Of the union twice the width
below it TO have the ground red, and broad blue
satier thereon bordered with white and emblazoned
with mullets hve-ponted stars, corresponding in
number that OF the Confederate States; the field
,o Ice white except the outer half from the union,
which shall be a red bar extending the width of the
Tag"
Before Offering the BILL that gentleman addressed
q letter to the commander Of the Army of Northern
Virginia requesting his views in regard to the pro-
posed alteration. General Lee replied that he
thought 1t every pretty" AMI that 1t certainly
added distnctneSs TO the nag; but, with his usual
modcsty said he mistrustcd his own Judgment in
such matters, and that the 'nsyal gentlemen were
he proper persons to be consulted. The bill was
accordingly referred TO the Committee ON Naval At
fairs and after various plans submitted, and
che opinions Of leading officers of our navy OBJ
tanned said committee unanimously recommended
Is adoption. On your suggestion that II would be
we'll % have the opinions of other officers OF the
army on the subject, the bill was, motion Of Nh.
Brown, OF Mississippi, referred 10 the Committee
on Military Affairs, and l now have the honor TO
submit herewith, TO Your consideration, the letters
have received from Gen. Joseph h. Johnston.
Gen. $. Cooper, Lieutenpnt Gen. Ewel Lieutenant
Gen. LongstTeets Inspector General, Maj. Gems.
Fitz Lee, RosSer and LOmax, Of cavalry Brigadier
Generals Peudlcton and Long, OF artillery; Colonel
Cruchhed, Stonewau Jackscn'5 chief OF artillery;
Mai. Cen. Hcth, Mai. Gen. Smith, Governor of
Virginia. and Mai. Gen. Smith, Superintendent OF
Virginia Military institute; Captain N. W. Barker,
actiug chief of Signal Bureau, and Captain Will
bourn of Signal Corps, Brig. Gen. Wharton, Col
!. ;. MOsby and many other distinguished officers
OF the army, all approving this design, which, with
,uch letters "a have been addressed 20 !ou on the
subject, viii furnish your committee with the de-
sired information. Allow me, General, to add few
words on the merits of the proposed alteration
Under the present act of Congress the proportions
ii the flag are incorrect, the eugth being double
.he width, which is against all rule, and flag so
made will not float. The now used over the
Capitol is not according 10 law; but it Is correctly
proportioned, having tho width twO-thrds OF the
length. So that the proportions, at least will have
60 be changed, and while under amendment, it is
proposed 10 improve the field of the flag also. 1t
mas been ascertained by practical use in the army
md navy tina: our nag IS very easily soled from its
excessive Wilderness, and it is especially liable to
his objection steam vessels which are rapidly
,uperscdng all other ships of war. The portion OF
die nag proposed To be changed tO a red VIZ is the
mart TOO most readily deiaced IL is strongly urged
by naval officers of high standing that our flag is
liable TO be mistaken for tag Of truce, particularly
In a calm, when il hangs dead against the mast, and
the union is obscured by the white bunting. When
seen at distance, hags are generally displayed
against the wbite clouds beyond; and hence want of
dstincness is great defect in the present flag, the
union being the only portion seen. Besides these
c3pita objections to IL, the dag is so tame
boxing that il excites no emotion IN the hearts
OF our people, and looks more like white table
cloth with a cOlOred patch in one rner, than the
ensign Of great nation such ours is destined to
be- CCnsedueptiv we have not become attached to
II as we should have done By this time had the
cOors been more striking 1t was huFriedy adopted
al the very close of a session Of the last Con.
,ress as tie best they could do under the null
,iDucte Uf plans submitted, and when the contest
really was shetheT the battle flag should form part OF
II. See accompanying letter from Colonel A. II.
Boteler Chairman OF The Committee on Flag and
seal of last Congress IN favor Of this amendment.
respcetfuliy submit that the bill before the Senate
REMOVES all the objections urged against the Con-
ederate tag. 1t gives tcOrreetDeSs of proportion,
iisnctn0ss and charScter renders II lit for practi
cal use, aud presents beautiful Standard which,
under no circumstances, can be mistSken for Tag
of truce or the nag OF any other nation on earth
Ii relieves the Tag Of its P0ieJ cedappearance, and
makes it look more martial. The battle nag, Sc
lected by General Johnston, aud recommended by
himself and Geu. Bcauregard and under which so
much blood has been spilled IN our struggle for in
dependence is fully displayed as the union in the
prI.uosed aag which can only be done by surround
ma 4 nth lekits and the red bar forming the
outer half of the leid from the unlOni Is suggested
as the best design Cor lis improvement. ! am OPP
posed ell stripes, many or few, red or blue; for
besides the resemblance, they would make our tag
answer TO the common description OF the now de-
graded badge Of the basesi of .tyranDe'-'' the
Stars and Stripes"
The eolors Vi the new flag would be chiefly white
and red, with as little Is possible Of the Yankee
1hue 1he beradic significance OF these colors IL
deemed especially appropriate for the Confederate
State --thcoghite (argenti being embematic of pu
ry aud innocence, and the red gules) Of fortitudc
aad courage. In tho adoption Of ensigls b. the
principal natl OF the world 1t is noticed by Cap.
tain Hamit "A, in history Of the United States Flag
that they generally initiate the ensigns of the ma
tionS fl ON which they sprung. This rule il con-
Piled with IN the nag, as proposed Tor our people
are chiefly descended from the British and French,
ana We ret the Union and the cross of ST. Andrew
from the former, aud the red bar from the flag OF
the latter nation while the idea of having stars TO
REPRESENT the States respectively Is taken from the
flag OF the Old Union, mainly founded by our fore
fathers. The new flag is easily made, and is with
cut tie complication OF any painting, which, be-
sides the difficulty of correct execution, soon rots
the hunt ing. The proportions, while most pleasing
10 ths eye, p, ssess the virtue OF smpiicity-the
"a, 49, ba rnfn hoi SAM
width as the red bar. They have been approved
by some Of the best artists in the Confederacy,
and. after earefdl examination, have been pro-
nOuuced correct BY some of The most expert
enced officers Of the> nayy-such as Commodore
Forrest, Captain Raphael Semmes, Captain S. S,
Lee, Captain Mason, Captain W. H, Psrker, the