Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1898-06-08
BIRTH OF AMERICAS EAGLE.
Evolution OF the Hersldic Bird
which Is So Lively Just Now.

On July 4, 1776, after the declaration OF
independence had been r. ad to the Con-
ttnental congress. IL WIS resolved THAT
DIR. Franklin, Mr.. ]. Adams and Mr.. JEFF
ferson be a committee to prepare q de-
vice for a seal OF the United States. says
the philadelphia Record. They reported
on August TO- and the shieidlike design
they recommended had In one OF its six
divisions an eagle-a very insignificant
little fellow, by the way-that played n
most important part on the device.
The two main figures were the Goddess
of Liberty and the Goddess of Justice.
who stood beneath the Eye OF Provi-
dence.''-0n this design we meet official
~ for the first time that weil-known ex-
preston. "E Plurdbus Unum." The quo
tation was a familiar one to the colontstS
as the motto OF the Gentleman's Maya
zine, and naturally suggested itself as the
most appropriate description of the new
order of things.
To make a long story short. the pro-
POSED seal was not accorded a favorable
reception. and the committees report WAS
laid on the table.
Nothing further was done until March
%, 1719, when the matter was referred TO
a new committee. consisting of James
Lowell of Massachusetts,. Mr.. Scott OF
Virginia, and William Houstoun of Geor-
gia." After some debate their report was
ordered to recommftted to a new commit
tee. composed of Middleton and Rutledge
of South Carolina and Boudinot of New
Jersey.
Two years later the records show ac-
tivity in the efforts TO evolve a suitable
device for the seal, and in the meantime
the committee rports were referred to the
secretary of congress, Charles Thomson.
The name of Arthur Lee, member Of
congress from Virginia, just returned
from France, also appears as one of the
members to whom designs were submit
ted. The assistance of William Burton.
NJ. A.. resident of Philadelphia was also
sought. and he submitted an elaborate
design which contained very little that
was subsequently used. But il Is here
that the eagle for the first time promi-
nently appears. In the description OF the
device the bird is mentioned as being
''embematic of sovereignty"
Another design was submitted by
Charles Thomson, the secretary Of con-
gress. Here we still further trace the
process of evolution in the American
eagle. Though we aim to dvest this little
history of the boast of heraldry." the
following description conveys an excel
lent idea Of the device:
1.-The shield borne on the breast OF an
American eagle. on the wing and rising
proper. In the dexter talon of the eagle
an olive branch, and in the sinister a bun
die OF arrows. Over the head of the eagle
"A constellation of stars. surrounded with
bright rays, and at little distance
clouds. In the bill OF the eagle a scroll
with the words E Pluribus Unum.'
The next and last report is indorsed Mr..
Barton's Improvement on the secretary's
device
This made some slight alterations In the
secretary's design and after itself under
going certain changes, II was adopted
June 30 lsl2. So all, things enns-s<sasast ,s.e-
suppose we are Justified In saying that the
great, glorious and indestructtble Ameri-
can eagle was born not quite ll6 years
aRO.