The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-08

THE GREAT SEALS OF NORTH CAROLINA
BY KEMP P. BATTLE, IL. D.

POI GU he uClCSdbSu hio pONSIS " III
Hugh Williamson, the Historian and
member of Congress, and Col. Abasha
Thomas, Commissioner of this State for
the Adjustment of our Revolutionary ac-
counts Being, however, a graduate of
Princeton, and a lover ,the muses., al
belt not very successful in his wooing,
he submitted the following design, re-
questing that an expert be employed to
furnish substitute, if not approved.
'The Great Seal is laid off into quar-
tiers. The first sinister is intended for
81 sheaf, and l wish Ceres with her torch
could be inserted to represent the farm
ing interest in the Western part OF this
State. The first dexter is intended for
Amalthea@ with her cornucopia
heaped with Indian corn, rep
resenting the great planting interest of
Roanoke and the northern part. The
second dexter is filed with hogsheads
and barrels and bales of goods, repre-
senting the commerce of the State. The
fourth sinister contains a pine tree, rep
resenting the timber, pitch, tar and tur-
pentine productions Of the southern part,
ami Liberty standing under the shade
with her cap on a staff. held by her right
hand and the Constitution held by her
left. The motto, "Hisc Cresco," to be in
the shape of a ribband or label at the
bottom The diameter of the shield to
be three inches"
Not wishing, | suppose, to offend the
Governor, Or. Williamson and Col
Thomas waited two years until the Ex-
ecutive chair was coupled by Richard
Dobbs Spaight. To him Col. Thomas
wrote that the Martin design was con-
denned by all experts. 1t was too COM
pick, the figures were too small and be-
sides it was against the rules of heraldry
to have the seal of single State quarter
ed Col. Thomas forwarded to Governor
Spaight the design, recommended by the
artist whom he had employed. | abridge
the description OF it,
Minerva introduces Ceres with her horn
of Plenty to Liberty, who is seated on a
pedestal with book in her right hand,
on which is the word Constitution. In
TIE background are a pyramid denoting
strength and durabiliay, and pine trel
representing the produce of the State.
Around the circumference was the usual
legend The Great Seal of the State of
North Carolina
This plan is Objectionable as being too
NAONdSu't hlSC ouSii SIlOHS LilnQSN Id
dies could not abide in such small COM
pass.
Governor Spaight replied, avowing his
ignorance of heraldry. and leaving The
whole matter to Colonel Thomas. He pre-
feIred the design of the artist to that
of Governor Martin, but suggested the
addition of ship, which would signify
boxes, bales, tobacco, hogsheads, pitch
tar and turpentine barrels, and a thou
sand other minute articles the basis of
commerce" II this recommendation had
been adopted we would have had three
goGdesses, a book, a tree, pyramid and
a ship, Besides the legend, crowded to-
gether
In 1898 the new seal arrived, modii-
cation of that Of the artist. 1t was ZAP
probated" by the General Assembly. As
however, the screw of the new machine
would not work, it was not until 1894
that it was used. The University has an
excellent impression of this made in 1875
when Samuel Asbe was Governor 1t is
a curiosity. The seal has only one side,
it having been determined, as | have said,
to discard the wax cake. 1t has two fig
ures, Liberty and Plenty. Liberty has a
most Grecian nose. Her side face is to-
wards the spectators. Her hair is done
up "a la GRECO" She has on a very
decollete dress. She is seated on her
pedestal and leans in most excited man
ner towards Plenty. In her right hand
is the pole or spear on which is the car
of Liberty. In her left is scroll, repre-
senting the Constitution. with that name
on it. She eagerly shows this to Plenty.
as if eXulting over its greatness Both
of her arms are bare to the elbows. To
my eye she is in too much haste and leans
forward too excitedly TO be graceful
and l grieve to say she is not nand
some. Plenty is much more comely ana
more graceful She seems to be afraid
that Liberty will collide with her. SO
she learns slightly backward. Her dresc
is less decollete than that of her COM
panion, though enough to be in the fash
ion OF a hundred years ago. Her hair
seems 10 be decorated with flowers. Al.
though ! canrot say that she has beau
tiful countenance, she certainly appears
agreeable, dignified and prepossessing. II
her right hand, leaning against her
shoulder, and overlooking with fruit. or
sweet potatoes, is the cornucopia. the
horn of abundance. In her left is large
car of Indian corn. Both of the figures
have bare feet. Around the whole are
the words, THE Great Seal of the State
of North Carolina"
This seal lasted until 1875, when the
General Assembly authorized the Gov
ernor to have it replaced by a new. AT
the same time an act was passed giving
the Governor authority to renew the same
when necessary. The design of 1885 an,
pears, however to have been used I'M
changed until 1893.
There is a wonderful artistic improve
ment in the new seal. The Goddess Of
Liberty stands majestic and graceful.
Her arms are bare but with a light shawl
over the left. In her right hand she holds
the Constitution not showing it to the
Goddess of Liberty. but to the world
Her left holds the spear and cap of Lib
erty. She looks toward Plenty Her
whole attitude is commanding and alert.
and gives the impression Of energy and
fcarlessness. The Goddess of Plenty is
seated. She has a sheaf of wheat in her
right hand. Her left holds the small
end of a capacious cornucopia which
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