The Ely miner., 1930-02-21

uEH6l secretary Of state, metal
VMbW disk two and half inches
in diameter and engraved
with the coat Of arms Of
this nation. And when that is done,
the document bears the imprint Of the
oldest national arms in the world,
despite the fact that the United
States is a young" nation. For our
coat OF arms has retained its original
design for nearly 80 years, longer
than has that of other nations which
are much older than ours.
The history Of the great seal goes
back to the founding of the republic
Soon after the adoption Of the Declar-
alton of Independence in 1776, reso-
luton was passed by the Continental
congress naming Benjamin Franklin,
Thomas Jefferson and John Adams as
a committee to design a coat Of arms
for the new nation. The original sug-
gestion for the coat Of arms was that
the shield should be divided into six
of those countries whose colonists
made up the greater part Of the pop
ulation of the United States. Two
Of the features included in this COM
mittee's design were later included in
the present coat Of arms, but nothing
definite was accomplished at that time.
On March 25, 1779, the matter was
again brought up for consideration
and a second committee submitted
design in which the radiant constella-
tion Of thirteen stars first made its
appearance. 1t also provided for
thirteen alternate red and white
stripes which were to be placed dag
onally across the shield. But this
committee design was not accepted.
Then a third committee tried its hand
at the job and the members Of this
one called to their assistance noted
authority on heraldry, DR.. William
Barton Of Philadelphia.
The design submitted by this COM
mittee was complicated one. 1t pro-
vided for thirteen stripes or pales, a
constellation of thirteen stars, an
eagle poised on the summit of Doric
column, helmet of gold on which was
cap Of dignity, surmounted by
cock armed with gaffs; on the right
side was a figure Of the genius of
America and on the left a man In
armor Over all cleaned the eye of
Providence and below the shield was
the motto "Deo favente" (Favored by
God). Above the crest was another
motto "Virtus sola invicta" (Virtue
alone is uncOnQuerable).
Finally out of the suggestions put
forth by the three committees the coat
of arms in it's present form, proposed
by Doctor Barton and making use of
some Of the elements contained in the
previous designs, was adopted by
congress on June 20, 1882. By this
time the seal had been stripped of
every emblem that suggested mon
archy and included those which en-
phasized the idea Of democracy. The
outstanding features were the eagle,
the shield and the stars.
The eagle. typical Of those found in
this country and unlike those which
appear on the imperial arms of Aus
tria, Germany and Russia. stands for
power and authority. In its right
talon 1t holds an olive branch and in
these denoting power In peace and in
war. The ancient symbol Of peace,
the olive branch, was placed in the
right talon to indicate that the first
gesture of the new republic should be
peace instead Of war, but the arrows
in the left talon indicate that the ma
ton stands ready to defend itself If
need be. The escutcheon was set
across the breast of the eagle without
any other support to show that the
United States was to rely on it's own
strength.
The Journals Of the Continental
congress afford an interesting analysis
of the coat Of arms. This tells of the
significance OF the escutcheon In the
relationship between the individual
states and the federal Union. In terms
of heraldry 1t Is composed of "chief"
and thirteen "pales." that is, an
"azure" (blue) crossbar resting on
stripes of "gules' tred) alternated
with argent" (write).
1.-The pieces paly," reads the old
text, represent the several states all
Joined in one solid compact entire.
supporting a Chief which unites the
whole and represents congress. The
Motto alludes to this Union. The
paies in the Arms are kent closely
united by the chief and tine chief de-