The Correct Arms of the State of New York. 



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whole, by which they are recognized among men, one portion of the 

 token being as much a part of the whole as any other portion. The 

 stalwarts that support the Arms of Prussia, and the lion and unicorn 

 that support the Arms of Great Britain^ are more essential to make 

 an impression on the popular mind that they have before them the 

 symbols of their country for their patriotic reverence, than any of the 

 minute quarterings within the shield. 



Approaching closer to details regarding the New York Arms, I 

 have still one observation of a general nature to make regarding them ; 

 it is that New York is one of the very few States that makes any 

 mention at all of Arms in its constitution or laws. I regard this fact 

 as worthy of being made prominent, if for no other reason than 

 because it affords an evidence of the high culture of the leading 

 minds in the convention. In the history of the successive States of 

 the Union, the urgent motive for establishing Arms for each State 

 has chiefly been to be in possession of a device for the seals of the 

 State. Indeed the laws of the States, as if mindless and regardless of 

 Arms, frequently merely require that there shall be a device for a 

 seal, and this seal subsequently becomes in the usage of all the Arms 

 of the State, although the laws nowhere make any mention that that 

 State has any Arms. 



On the first organization of a State or Territory, the officers of its 

 departments and courts solicit of the legislature the means of le- 

 galizing their acts by a seal, and it immediately authorizes its chief 

 officer or officers to devise such a seal. Availing themselves of such 

 resources of wit, fancy and education as are at hand, a device is 

 precipitated upon a State by the officers of that year for a seal, and it is 

 this seal, which, perhaps without the approval of the best minds in the 

 State, stands through the successive years, not only as the State Seal, 

 but also as the State Arms, and is used upon the State flags, and upon 

 medals. Yet in the popular apprehension the device is less known as 

 being the State Seal than as being the State Arras. 



The language of the original motion in the New York convention 

 on this subject, in 1777, confirms the general truth of what I have 

 stated. The first motion made was solely to appoint a committee to 

 devise a great seal. The action some months later, in September, ap- 

 pointing a second committee, specified nothing farther than a seal. 

 But when in March, 1778, the law for the seal came to be enacted, its 

 language was, ''and whereas Arms complete have been provided and 

 seals." Although there had been no requisition for Arms from the 

 committee, there were evidently some persons near the government 

 who recognized the genuine necessities of the case for the rising State, 

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