Hie Correct Arms of the State of Neio York. 



207 



selves to erase or efface so expressive a portion of this grand and 

 beautiful memorial of the birth of the State ? 



These Arms were conceived during the battle-year of 1777 ; they 

 were formed at the crisis of the revolution. With these Arms on her 

 flag, New York went through the war ; they were displayed at the 

 great surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. It cannot be possible 

 that any of the emblems upon them, of such historical significance, 

 will be allowed to disappear without anyone knowing how it occurred 

 and without any approving voice of the people. How can wc speak 

 of having no blot on our escutcheon, if we are indifferent as to what 

 that escutcheon really is, and if we do not cherish the symbol of the 

 empire State with reverence, when we find it restored to our sight ? 



When we consider the lofty and noble significance of the symbols 

 devised by these founders of the State, how paltry and trifling 

 are mere female figures, with the emblems of their character, 

 the cap of liberty, the scales, the blindfold and the sword removed ; 

 figures seated and inactive, supporting nothing and apathetic, while 

 our shield with its rising sun, and our motto, Excelsior, speaks of 

 aspirations for all that is best, to be sustained by Liberty and Justice ! 



The badges and ensigns by which to designate and identify a people 

 are a species of object-teaching, the use of which comes down from 

 the remotest antiquity. The twelve tribes of Israel were each shad-, 

 owed forth by a specific emblem. Each one of the six nations of the 

 Iroquois was known by one. Our soldiers know what it is to follow 

 or stand by the national flag in battle: and each army corps of our 

 civil war had its unchangeable and easily recognizable badge. 

 ■ In a comparative study of the arms and seals of the States of the 

 whole Union, I find that at least sixteen of them have arms and seals 

 which are nearly identical with each other, with the exception that 

 each seal has the addition of an inscription or legend, bearing the 

 name of the particular department using the arms as a seal. And in 

 Massachusetts, as in New York, on parade or in service, the State flag 

 having upon it the Arms of the State is borne along in company with 

 the national colors. But the arms of several of the States appear to 

 have been subjected to various fanciful changes like our own, as if in 

 the view of those who make fresh copies, there was no significance or 

 authority in the original picture or device. The arms on the seal of 

 the State of Connecticut were changed before the revolution from 

 fifteen vines to three with no apparent authol*ity. The constitution 

 of 1818 declares that the seal shall not be altered, but neither in that 

 instrument nor in any law is the seal ascertained or described. In 

 1840, the Secretary of State was required to report whether any leg- 



