The daily Alaskan., 1916-10-26
SaM'S
 OFFICIAL MARK

The founders of our government did nothing without careful deliberation. and We are told that the adoption Of seal for the Cnlted States was as care fully considered as the framing of the Declaration of Independence It was adopted during the period Of the Con federacy, several years before the ndop ton of the constitution, but not till after several years deliberation.
 On the 4th of July, lT7G, after the Declaration of Independence had been finally acted upon, John Hancock, pres 1 idcnt of the congress. appointed Renja min Franklin. John Adams and Thom- gs Jefferson Il committee "tO prepare device for the great seal of the United States of America" A seal was not needed for ornament or show, but to certify the official commissions soon to l be issued by the United States. The committee took up the matter at once.
 Each of the members Of the commit tee had scme ideas of his own, and they called in an artist of Philadelphia to help them formulate a design. This artist was Pierre Simitierri, a 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 addi tions or changes, which were incorpo' rated by Jefferson in a report made to congress on Aug. 10. 1776 This report was in heraldic language, describing the shield, crest, dexter, legend, etc. The following Is 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 enameled rose. for England; the second a thistle proper, for Scot land; the third a harp, for Ireland; the fourth a Geur-de.lls, for Francei the fifth the imperial eagle, for Ger many; the sixth the crowned lion, for Holland-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 radiant triangle. whose glory extends over the shield and beyond the fig ures; motto, E Plurlbus Unum.'
 For some reason or other congress referred this device back to the com mittee for further report Franklin had proposed for a motto Rebellion to Tyrants Is Obedience to God" Adams proposed Hercules leaning on a club, while all the virtues and nearly all the vices grouped about him In different attitudes. Ills design would have been monstrcsity and laughingstock. lief ferson's composite design simplifed matters. and it was he who suggested the motto "E Plurlbus Unum."
 This was in August, TIC. The war soon absorbed the attention and noth- ing further was done about the seal until March. TITO, when a committee of three was appointed to consider and report on the subject. This committee reported in favor of a shield with thir- teen diagonal stripes, alternately red and white, a constellation of thirteen stars. a figure of Liberty and the motto "Bello vel Pace Paratus" c'Ready for war or for peace".
 This report also was recommitted, and 1t was nearly year before the matter came up again. Not to follow through repeated discussions and re- iections of several designs. the present seal was not adopted till June 20, 17S2.
 It was the work of a young Ameri- can artist, William Barton by name, who followed in many respects the de sign submitted by Jefferson six years l before, but simplifei 1t. He retained the eagle. a bundle of arrows in one | talon and an olive branch in the other; | the helmet with six bars or quarter, l ings, Signifying the six natioralities from which the country had been main [ ly peopled, and the motto "E Pluribus Unum" which survived all the discus, | Sions
 The designer said, "The motto al- ludes to the Union" He added in his explanation, "The escutcheon Is borne on the breast of the American eagle, without any other support, to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own virtues"
 The different executive departments of the government have each their own seal but every commission signed by the president is stamped with the great seal of the United States, which Is kept In the state department-Washington l Post