After the admission of Vermont and Kentucky into the Union, Congress
passed an act in 1794, increasing both the stars and stripes from
thirteen to fifteen, to take effect May, 1795. It was as follows:
“An act making alterations in the flag of the United States. Be it
enacted, etc., That from and after the first day of May, one thousand,
seven hundred and ninety-five, the flag of the United States be fifteen
stripes, alternate red and white, and that the union be fifteen stars,
white in a blue field.
“Approved January 13, 1794.”
This flag was used for several years. It flew at the mastheads of
our gallant ships and was carried by our little army in the war with
England in 1812. A few years later Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana and
Indiana, now won to civilization by hardy pioneers, clamored for
admittance into the Union. When they were finally admitted as states,
another change in the flag became necessary. The sturdy young republic
was advancing by leaps and bounds in civilization and wealth; its
hardy sons pushing further west and south constantly, reclaiming from
wild savages, to the uses of their own race, greater and larger areas,
which were bound to be erected into states and take their places in the
family of the original thirteen. It became manifest that legislation
was necessary, permanently defining the national flag, and providing
for such changes as the future development of the country would
require. Congress rose to the occasion. A committee, with Hon. Peter
Wendover of New York as chairman, was appointed to frame a law, and
with very little delay the committee reported a measure fulfilling
every requirement then existing, and providing for all the future. The
measure was passed by congress and went on the statute books as the law
establishing the flag as our great-grandfathers of that day knew it,
and as we know it to-day. The law has never been changed, and here it
is:
“An act to establish the flag of the United States.
“Section 1. Be it enacted, etc., That from and after the fourth day
of July next, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal
stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union have twenty stars,
white in the blue field.
“Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That on the admission of every
new state into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag,
and that such addition shall take effect on the fourth of July next
succeeding such admission. Approved April 4, 1818.”
The thirteen stripes will always represent the number of the “old
thirteen” whose patriotism and love of justice brought about the
independence of America. The stars that come into the blue sky of
the flag will mark or indicate the increase of the states since the
adoption of the Constitution. It is interesting to note that under the
stars and stripes Washington, in 1793, laid the corner stone of the
capitol of the United States, first having personally selected the
site of the building. It is also interesting to know that Washington
did not live to see the capitol completed, but died before the seat of
government was moved to Washington in 1800. The main capitol building
was not completed till 1811. It is also a matter of historical interest
that the president’s home, now called the White House, was completed
during the life of Washington, and it is an authenticated fact that
he and his wife inspected the house in all its parts only a few days
before his death. The president’s house was practically destroyed by
the British in 1814; the walls alone remained intact, but the stone was
so discolored that when the building was reconstructed, it had to be
painted, and from this came the name of the “White House.”
The large picture of Washington, by Stewart, which is now in the east
room, at the time of the bombardment by the British, was taken out of
its frame by Mrs. Dolly Madison, wife of the president, and sent to a
secure place across the river.
This flag of forty-five stars, this flag of our country, is our
inspiration. It kindles in our hearts patriotic feelings, it carries
our thoughts and our minds forward in the cause of liberty and right.
On sea and on land, wherever the star spangled banner waves, it thrills
the heart of every true American with pride. It recalls the memories
of battles bravely fought. It recalls the victories of Trenton and
Princeton, it recalls the victories of Gettysburg and Appomattox. We
see the flag as first carried by Paul Jones across the sea; we see
the flag as carried by Commodore Perry on Lake Erie; we see the flag
as carried by Farragut at New Orleans; we see Admiral Dewey through
smoke and fire hoisting the flag in the Philippines. This same flag was
carried to victory by Admirals Sampson and Schley in Cuba. This flag
recalls the many battles bravely fought and grandly won. It symbolizes
the principles of human progress and human liberty. The stars represent
the unity and harmony of our states. They are the constellation of our
country. Their luster reflects to every nation of the world. The flag
of 1776, the old thirteen, has grown to be one of the great flags of
the earth. Its stars reach from ocean to ocean. We see it leading the
armies of Washington and Greene, of Grant and Sherman and Sheridan, and
of Miles, Shafter and Merritt.
This is the flag of the “dawn’s early light” that was immortalized by
Francis Scott Key—“The Star Spangled Banner.”
General Grant once said, “No one is great enough to write his name on
the flag.”
A century under the stars and stripes has been the greatest century of
progress in the history of the world. No other nation that has ever
existed has carried forward such a banner. Its colors were taken from
various sources and brought into one harmonious combination, and it
“waves over a country which unites all nationalities and all races,
and in the end brings about a homogeneous population, representing the
highest type of civilization.” It is not strange that this flag of
Washington, of Hamilton, of Adams, of Jefferson; this flag of Jackson,
of Webster, of Clay, this flag of Lincoln, of Grant and of McKinley
should exert such world-wide influence. It holds a unique place in the
nations of the world. It has spread knowledge and faith and hope among
all classes. It means liberty with justice. Its international influence
places it in the first rank. It twines itself among the flags of other
nations, not for destruction or war, but for friendship and progress
in the cause of humanity. In the councils of peace; in the conquests
of war; in everything that pertains to government, in everything that
pertains to the advancement of humanity, it calls forth the admiration
of mankind. Under its influence the arts and sciences have been
fostered, commerce has expanded and education has been made universal.
It waves for the right and the harbors of the globe will salute this
banner as a harbinger of progress and peace.
The youngest nation has the oldest flag.
It is of historical interest that our flag is older than the present
flag of Great Britain, which was adopted in 1801, and it is nine years
older than the flag of Spain, which was adopted in 1785. The French
tricolor was decreed in 1794; then comes the flag of Portugal in 1830;
then the Italian tricolor in 1848; then the flags of the old empires
of China and Japan, and of the empire of Germany, which represents the
sovereignty of fourteen distinct states established in 1870.
Prior to the Revolution, and indeed during the evolution of a nation
through the crucible of war, separate and distinct flags were popular
with the colonists. Nearly every colony had at least one. They were not
abandoned until it became apparent the colonies were never again to be
colonies, but to form a nation with one flag, one set of institutions
and laws, a fact which inspired the visit of Washington to Betsy Ross
as told in the foregoing papers. Many of the colonial flags were
interesting.