The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-12-07
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
to Prepare the Device For the Great
Seal of the United States.
The founders of our government did
nothing without careful Geiiberation.
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
fcderacy, several years before the adop
ton of the constitution, but not till
after several years deliberation.
On the 4th of July, 177G. after the
Declare ton of independence had been
finally acted upon, John Hancock, pres
ident of the congress, appointed RenJa.
min Franklin, John Adams and Thorn
as jefferson committee ito 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
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, 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
tons or changes, which were incorpo-
rated by jefferson in report made to
congress on Aug. 10. 177G. 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. fer Scot
land: the third harp, for Ireland:
| the fourth Il fleur-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 q
radiant triangle. whose glory extends
over the shield and beyond the fig
ures; motto. e Pluribus Unum.'"
For some reason or other congress
referred this device back to the com
mittee for further report. Franklin
had proposed for motto rebellion tc
Tyrants Is Obedience to Cod Adams
proposed Hercules leaning on club
while all the virtues and nearly all the
vices grouped about him in different
attitudes. His design would have beer
a morstrosity and laughingstocl. lief
ferson's composite design simpliieC
matters. and it was he who suggested
the motto "E Pluribus Unum."
This was in August. 1I76 The wa,
soon absorbed the attention and moth
ing further was done about the sea
until March. ITO. when a COMMITTEES
of three was appointed to consider ant
report on the subject. This COMMITTEES
reported in favor of a shield with thir
teen diagonal stripes, alternately rel
and white. constellation of thirteen
stars, figure of Liberty and the MOTIF
"Bello vel Pace Faratus" c'Ready 70
war or for peace").
This report also was recomnitted
and it was nearly n year before tn
matter came up again. Not to follow
through reVeotcd discussions and re
icctions Of several designs. the presen
) seal was not adopted till June co. 1872
1t was the work Of a young Amcri
can artist. William Barton by name
who followed in many respects the de
sign submitted by jefferson six year
before, but simplifeI it. lie retaine
the eagle, bundle of arrows in on
: talon and an olive branch in the other
, the helmet with six bars or quarter
: ings. signifying the six nationalitie
from which the country had been main
ly peopled, and the motto "E rluribu
Unum." which survived all the discus
sionS.
The designer said. THE motto a
ludes to the Union" He added in hi
explanation. THE escutcheon Is born
t on the breast of the American eagle
, without any other support. to denot
that the United States of Americ
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
5 seal Of the United States. which Is keT
. In the state department.-Was
y Post
Changing It Bit.