Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-09-24
SEAL OF OUR UNION
Uncle Sans Mark When He
Stamps Official Documents.
HISTORY OF ITS ADOPTION.
Franklin. Adams and jefferson Were
the Men Appointed by John Hancock
"a, Prepare tho Device For the Great
Seal Of the United States


TO- Prepare the Device For the Great
Seal OF the United States
The founders OF our government did
nothing without careful dellberation.
and we are told that the adoption OF
scal for the United States was as care
fully considered ns the framing OF the
Declaration OF Independence. II was
adopted during the period OF the Con
federacy. several years before the adop'
tion Of the constitution. but not I'll
after several years dcliberntlon.
On the 4th Of July. iT1G. after the
Declaration OF Independence had been
finally acted upon. John Hancock. pres
ident OF the congress, appointed BenJa.
min Franklin. John Adams and Thorn.
nv jefferson a committee ITO prepare II
device for the great seal OF the United
States OF Amerlcn" seal was not
needed for ornament or show. but 10
certify the official commissions soon 10
he issued by the United States The
committee took up the matter at once
Each OF the members OF the commit
tee had some ideas Of his own, and
they called In an artist of Philadelphia
To help them formulate design. This
artist was Pierre Slmitlerri. patriotic
Swiss. who was doing some excellent
portrait painting In the then capital
city OF the country.
The Swiss drew design. which was
discussed by the committee. after
which each member suggested add
tions or changes. which were incorpo
rated by jefferson In report made TO
congress on Aug. 10. l7T6 This report
was IN hcraldic language, describing
the shield. crest. dexter. legend etc.
The following X an extract of this re
port;
THE great seal should on one side
have the arms OF the United States Of
America. which arms should be as fol
lows: The shield has six quarters-the
first an cnnmelcd rose. for England.
the second a thistle proper, for Scot
land; the third harp. for Ireland;
the fourth leur-delis. for France:
the fifth the imperial eagle, for Ger
many: the sixth the crowned lion, for
uolland-pointing out the countries
from which the colonies have been
peopled."
After describing other details. as the
Goddess OF Liberty. the initial letters
OF the colonies, etc. the report said.
Crest. the eye OF Providence In n
radiant triangle, whose glory extends
over the shield aud beyond the fg
ures: motto. 'E Pluribus Unum.'
For some reason or other congress
referred this device back 10 the com
mlttec for further report. Franklin
had proposed for II motto Rebellion tc
Tyrants Is Obedience to God" Adams
proposed Hercules leaning on club
while all the virtues and nearly all the
vices grouped about him In differen,
attitudes. His design would have beer
a monstrosity and laughingstock. Jef
ferson's composite design simplitiet
matters. and II was he who suggested
the motto "E Pluribus Unum."
This was In August. lTTG. The wal
soon absorbed the attention aud moth
Ing further was done about the sea
until March, ITO. when commtte,
OF three was appointed to consider and
report on the subject This committee
reported In favor OF shield with thir
teen diagonal stripes. alternately re,
and white. constellation OF thirteer
stars, n figure OF Liberty and the mottC
"Bello vel Pace Paratus" c'Ready fo
war or for peace"l.
This report also was recommltted
and 1t was nearly a year before thu
matter came up again Not to follow
through repeated discussions and re
jectlons of several designs the presen
seal was not adopted till June 20. liS2
II was the work OF young Amcri
can artist, William Barton by name
who followed In many respects the de
sign submitted by Jefferson six year
before, but slmpllHed H. lie retaine,
the eagle. n bundle OF arrows In on
talon and an olive branch In the other
the helmet with six bars or quarter
ings, signlfying the six nationalltie
from which the country had been main
u peopled. and the motto ''E Pluribu
Unum." which survived all the discus
sions
The designer said. The motto al
ludes TO the Union" He added In hi
explanation. "The escutcheou Is born
on the breast OF the American eagle
without any other support, to denot
that the United States Of Amcrlc
ought to rely on their own virtues"
The different executive department
Of the government have each their ow
seal. but every commission signed b
the president is stamped with the grea
seal OF the United States, which Is keT
In the state department. Washingto