The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1904-01-22
WHAT THEFArHERs EXPECTED



North American Continent
That the early fathers of this CONN.,
ny expected the United States Of Amer
Ga 70 embrace the entire worth amer
scan continent is called to mind hv tho
tact that in the recent placing Of an or
ger TO recut ths great seal of the limited
states treasury the question arose as TO
Tue legend or motto it has always borne.
ana whether or not it should be changed
= what is actually the truth, or wheth-
e. II should be allowed to remain as i.
mas always been. 1t will not be changed
Jays the Washington Star.
The legend or motto imprinted nnor
oniteo States bonds. treasury notes, etc.
reaos: Thesaur, Amer. Septent. Sigil. }"
signifying Seal of the Treasury OF
North America"
me query has often been asked why
TINS iegsod is not inscribed seal Of the
treasury Of the United States OF Amer
lea. What is known as the great seal.
OF the treasury Of the United States. a
facsimile of which appears on all the
circulating notes and ether pecuniary
ooiigations of the government, is a fire.
Quent subject Of inquiry on the part OF
the people Of an investigating turn Of
mine. the legend, which literally is seal
OF the treasury of North America" sug-
costing an especial subject OF inquiry.
why the seal should be that of the treas
ury OF North America is es specially pug
xiing to almost every person familiar
with the literal significance Of the legend.
The history Of the seal and Of its
adoption IS not entirely clear. Sep
TENDER rs, ITS. the continental con-
gress resolved that committee of three
De appointed to prepare a seal for the
treasury and the navy" The commit
tee chosen in pursuance OF that resolu-
ton consisted of Messrs. Witherspoon,
Robert Morris and r. H. Lee. At that
time the treasury was under the juris-
d3ction Of the committee on finance, or
board Of the treasury, and the navy was
under the board of admiralty. The
committee made report on recon-
mending a device for the navy, hut there
Is no record OF report having been
made for the treasury. A seal for the
treasury. however, was adopted, impress
siOns Of which are found on original
papers in the files Of the register of the
treasury. Some minor changes have
been made from time to time in this
seal, but the seal now in use is substan-
tally the same as that originally adopt
ed.
The legend on the seal is ''Thesaur,
Amer. Septent, Sigil.." which is an abb
breviation Of "Thesauri Americae Sep
tentrionalis Sigillum." The congress Of
the confederation granted charter to
Robert Morris for the Bank Of North
America" and the same authority au-
thorized the establishment OF q mint OF
North America, !" both of these terms
most likely originating with Robert
Morris, who subsequently was q mem-
Der of the committee to prepare seal
for the treasury and navy. 1t is there
fore highly probable that Robert Nor
ris furnished the legend for the ssal OF
the treasury, which would explain the
employment OF the term North Amer
lea" The reason for using this term
was probably owing to the fact that the
fathers OF the republic confidently ex-
pected that Canada would ultimately
become = part Of the sovereignty. and
be included in the independent colonies.
In 1774 the popular legislature OF
Canada was abolished BY act Of parlia-
msnt, and royal ofhcers appointed to
make laws for the province, except laws
to raise taxes This gave the British
government . firm hold on Canada. Eff
forts were made In 1775. during the revo-
luton, to regain possession Of Canada.
but those efforts failed.
In 1s4s Edward stabler. Of Sandy
Spring, Montgomery county. Nd, one
of the most famous die sinkers and seal
engravers OF his time. vas commits
stoned to make . fac-simile Of the orig
inal treasury seal. which was worn
from constant use. and failed to make
GOOD impressions. Mr.. Stabler suggest
ted some minor changes In the way OF
fmproyement, but was instructed to
COPY the design exactly a 1t was, and
ain accordance with law" Diligent eff
forts have failed to discover any law on
heSsubject.
In recutting the seal it has been de-
terminsd by Secretary Shaw that - the
rreat seal has always been. 60 shall It
remain. OF course, unless congress
should direct otherwise. As one omciai
remarked: "The United States may
avn the earth one OF these days; then
viii. be time enough to make the
change"
Everyday Heroes.
A,,rv 80 In which the life boat