"Original Report of May 10, 1779. No. 2."
"The seal to be four inches in diameter.
"On one side, the arms of the United States, as follows: The shield
charged on the field, with thirteen diagonal stripes, alternate red
and white. Supporters dexter, a warrior holding a sword; sinister,
a figure representing Peace, bearing an olive-branch. The crest, a
radiant constellation of thirteen stars. The motto: _Bello vel
pace_. The legend round the achievement, _Seal of the United
States_.
"On the reverse: The figure of Liberty, seated in a chair, holding
the staff and cap. The motto: _Semper_. Underneath, MDCCLXXVI."
"_May 17, 1779_--_page_ 149.
"The Report of the Committee on the Device of a Great Seal was
taken into consideration, and, after debate,
"Ordered that it be recommitted."
"Report No. 2, on the Great Seal, as altered after recommitment.
"The Committee to whom was referred, on the 25th of March last, the
report of a former committee on the Device of a Great Seal of the
United States, in Congress assembled, beg leave to report the
following description:--
"The Seal to be three inches in diameter.
"On one side, the arms of the United States, as follows: The shield
charged in the field azure, with thirteen diagonal stripes,
alternate rouge and argent, supporters; dexter, a warrior holding
a sword; sinister, a figure representing Peace, bearing the
olive-branch. The crest, a radiant constellation of thirteen stars.
The motto. _Bello vel pace_. The legend round the achievement, _The
Great Seal of the United States_.
"On the reverse: The figure of Liberty, seated in a chair, holding
the staff and cap. The motto: _Virtute perennis_. Underneath,
MDCCLXXVI.
"A drawing of the Seal is annexed. No. 3, May 10, 1780.
"A miniature of the face of the Great Seal to be prepared, of half
the diameter, to be affixed as the less Seal of the United States."
We have not thought it worth while to present the drawing above
referred to.
"_Device for an Armorial Atchievement for the United States of
North America, blazoned agreeably to the laws of Heraldry, proposed
by Mr. Barton, A.M._
"ARMS.--Paleways of [60]thirteen pieces, argent and gules; a chief
azure: the escutcheon placed on the breast of an American (the
bald-headed) eagle, displayed proper; holding in his beak a scroll,
inscribed with the motto, viz.:--
'_E Pluribus Unum_'--
and in his dexter talon a palm or an olive-branch; in the other a
bundle of thirteen arrows; all proper.
[60] "As the pales or pallets consist of an uneven number,
they ought in strictness to be blazoned--Argt. 6 pallets
gules; but as the thirteen pieces allude to the thirteen
States, they are blazoned according to the number of
_pieces paleways_."
"FOR THE CREST.--Over the head of the eagle, which appears
above the escutcheon, a glory, or, breaking through a cloud,
proper, and surrounding thirteen stars forming a constellation,
argent on an azure field.
"In the exergue of the Great Seal--
"Jul. IV. MDCCLXXVI."
"In the margin of the same--
"_Sigil. Mag. Reipub. Confoed. Americ._"
"_Remarks._--The escutcheon is composed of the chief and pale, the
two most honorable ordinaries; the latter 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 the Union. The colors or tinctures of the pales are those used
in the Flag of the United States. White, signifies purity,
innocence; red, hardiness and valor. The chief denotes Congress.
Blue is the ground of the American uniform, and this color
signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
"The meaning of the crest is obvious, as is likewise that of the
olive-branch and arrows.
"The escutcheon being placed on the breast of the eagle is a very
ancient mode of bearing, and is truly imperial. The eagle
_displayed_, is another heraldric figure; and, being borne in
the manner here described, supplies the place of supporters and
crest. The American States need no supporters but their own virtue,
and the preservation of their Union through Congress. The pales in
the arms are kept closely united by the chief, which last likewise
depends on that Union, and strength resulting from it, for its own
support--the inference is plain.