The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-08-31
SEAL OF OUR UNION
Uncle Sans Mark When He
Stamps Official Documents.
HISTORY OF ITS ADOPTION.

Franklin. Adams and Jefferson Wer
the Men Appointed by John Hancoci
TO Prepare the Device For the Grea
Seal of the United States.
The founders OF our government did
and we are told that the adoption of a
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.
federacy. several years before the adop
ton of the constitution. but not till
after several years deliberation.
On the 4th of July. 1776. 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
as Jefferson a 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 n design. which was
discussed by the committee. after
which each member suggested add
lions or changes. which were incorpo
rated by jefferson in a report made to
congress on Aug 10. 17I6. This report
was IN heraldic language. describing
the shield. crest. dexter legend. etc.
The following Is an extract of this re-
port:
1.-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 n thistle proper. for Scot
land; the third harp. for Ireland:
the fourth heur-de-lis. for France;
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 a
ri r.,hn do |
over the shield and beyond the fig
lres; motto. 'E Pluribus Unum.
For some reason or other congress
referred this device back to the COM
nittee for further report. Franklin
rad proposed for motto Rebellion to
'yrants Is Obedience to God" Adams
proposed Hercules leaning on club.
while all the virtues and nearly all the
ices grouped about him In different
attitudes. His design would have been
monstrosity and laughingstock. JEFF
erson's composite design simplified
matters. and ii was he who suggested
be motto "E Pluribus Unum'
This was in August. 1776. The war
Don absorbed the attention and moth
~ further was done about the seal
ntil March. 1T79. when committee
three was appointed TO consider and
aport on the subject. This committee
aported In favor of n shield with thir-
zen diagonal stripes. alternately red
nd white. a constellation of thirteen
.ars. n figure Of Liberty and the motto
Bello vel Pace Paratus'' c'Ready for
ar or for peaceo.
This report also was recommitted.
nd 1t was nearly year before the
after came up again. Not to follow
trough repeated discussions and re-
ctlons of several designs. the present
al was not adopted till June 20. 1882.
1t was the work Of young Ameri-
N artist. William Barton by name.
bo followed In many respects the de-
IN submitted by Jefferson six years
fore. but simplified it. He retained
e eagle. bundle of arrows In one
Ion and an olive branch In the other:
e helmet with six bars or quarter
IS. signifying the six nationalities
pm which the country had been main
peopled. and the motto ''E Pluribus
ium." which survived all the discus
ms.
The designer said THE motto al
les TO the Union" He added In his
THE escutcheon is borne
the breast of the American eagle.
thout any other support to denote
Il the United States of America
sht TO rely ON their own virtues"
he different executive departments
the government have each their own
H. bur every commission signed by
president is stamped with the great
I OF the United States. which is kept
the state Washington
St