The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-07-30
Birth of Americas Eagle.
From the Louisville courier-JournaI.

From the Louisville CourierJournaI.
On July 4, 1776, after the Declaration
of Independence had been read to the
Continental Congress, it was resolved that
DR.. Franklin, Mr.. j. Adams and Mr..
Jefferson be committee to prepare a de-
vice for a seal of the United States -
They reported on August 10, and the
shield-like design they recommended had
in one of its six divisions an eagle-a very
significant littlet fellow, by the way-that
played most unimportant part on the
device.
The two main figures were the God
dess of Liberty and the Goddess of JUS
tice, who stood beneath the ''Eye of
Providence On this design we meet
officially for the first time that weIl-known
expression, IF Pluribus Unum." The
quotation was one familiar to the colonists
as the motto of the Gentleman S Maga-
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 committee S report was
laid on the table.
Nothing further was done until March
%, 1879, when the matter was referred
to Il new committee, consisting of James
Lowell, of Massachusetts; Mr. Scott, of
Virginia, and William Houstoun, of
Georgia After some debate their re-
port was ordered to be recommitted to
new committee, 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 suitable
device for seal, and in the meantime the
committee reports 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 submitted.
The assistance of William Burton, NJ. A,
a resident of Philadelphia, was also sought,
and he submitted an elaborate design,
which contained very little that was sub
sequently used. But it is here that the
eagle for the first time prominently ap-
pears. In the description of the device
the bird is mentioned as being ''emble-
matical of sovereignty
Another design was submitted by Chas
Thomson, the Secretary of Congress.
Here we still further trace the process of
evolution in the American eagle. Though
we aim to divest this little history of the
''boast of heraldry," the following de-
scription conveys an excellent 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 bundle
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 scroll, with the
words, 'E Pluribus Unum. -
The next and last report is indorsed,
"Mr. Barton improvement on the Secre-
tary's device
This made some slight alteration in the
Secretary's design, and, after itself un-
dergoing certain changes, it was adopted
So, all things considered, we suppose we
are justified in saying that the great, glo-
rious and indestructible American eagle was
born not quite 116 years ago.