Courier Democrat., 1916-09-28
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
20 Prepare the Device Fer the Great
Seal of the United States.
The founders of our government did
nothing without careful dclberation,
and we are told that the adoption of
seal for the United States was as care
fully considered as the framing of the
Declaration of independence. 1t was
adopted during the period of the Con-
fcdcracy, several years before the adop-
ton of the constitution, but not till
after several years deliheration.
On the 4th of July, 171G, after the
Declaration Of Independence had been
finally acted upon. John Hancock, pres
ident of the congress. appointed Benja-
min Franklin. John Adams and Thom-
as Jefferson Il committee ito prepare a
device for the great seal of the United
States of America. \ seal was not
needed for ornament or show, but to
certify the official commissions soon to
be 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 Simitierri. patriotic
Swiss who was doing some excellent
portrait painting in the then capital
city OF the country.
The Swiss drew a design. which was
discussed by the committee, after
which each member suggested addi-
tons or changes, which We're incorpo-
rated by jefferson in report made to
congress on Aug. 10. 1TT1G. This report
was in hcralGic 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 Quartcrs-thc
first nm cnaInelcd rose, for England;
the second Il thistle proper, for Scot
land; the third a harp. for Ireland;
the fourth Il Gcur-Gc-lis. for France:
the FIFTH the imperial eagle, for Ger
many: the sixth the crowned lion. for
r. ,#ul pointing oGt the countries
.fom which the colonies have been
poopled."
After describing other details. as tie
Goddess Of Liberty, The initial letters
of the colonies, etc. the report said.
Crest, the oy" Of Providence in a
radiant triangle. whose glory extends
over the shield and beyond the h=-
uros; motto. 'I pluribus Unum.''
Eor some reason or other congress
referred this device hack 10 the com
mittcc for further report Franklin
had proposed for ~ motto "Relel!ion 10
Tyrants is Obedience to God Adams
proposed Hercules leaning on a club,
while all The virtues and nearly ali the
vices grouped about him in different
iaoNstrcSitr and laushingstork. JEFF
| fe:soN's composite design simplitied
matters and it was he who suggested
the motto "I1 pluribus Unuln.'
This was in August, 171G. The war
| soon absorbed the attention and moth
| ing further WAS done about the seal
until March, 1779, when committee
OF three was appointed to consider and
report on tie subject. This committee
reported in favor of q shield with thir-
teen Diagonal stripes. alternately red
and white, constellation of thirteen
| Ct n f,-I-r ,,fI I,o ~
"Bello vel Pace ParatuS" (''Ready for
war or for peace'D.
This report also was rccommittcd,
and it was nearly a year before the
matter came UP again. Not to follow
through repeated discussions and re-
seal was not adopted till June 20. 17S2.
| 1t was the work OF a young 4Amer-
can artist, William Barton by name.
who followed in many respects the de-
sign submitted by Jefferson six years
before, but simpliied it. He retained
the eagle, d bundle Of arrows in one
talon and an olive branch in the other;
the helmet with six bars or quarter
in:s, signifylng the six nationalities
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
| iudes 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.-Wash