AN ADDRESS

UNITED STATES, UPON THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, AND URGING UNITED AND EARNEST EFFORTS TO DEFEAT THEIR ENEMY, MAY 26, 1779.

TO THE INHABITAnts of the united states of ameRICA. Friends and countrymen--The present situation of public affairs demands your most serious attention, and particularly the great and increasing depreciation of your currency requires the immediate, strenuous, and united efforts of all true friends to their country, for preventing an extension of the mischiefs that have already flowed from that source.

America, without arms, ammunition, discipline, revenue, government, or ally, almost totally stript of commerce, and in the weakness of youth, as it were, with a "staff and a sling," only dared, "in the name of the Lord of Hosts," to engage a gigantic adversary, prepared at all points, boasting of his strength, and of whom even mighty warriors "were greatly afraid."

For defraying the expenses of this uncommon war, your representatives in congress were obliged to emit paper money; an expedient that you knew to have been before generally and successfully practised on this continent.

They were very sensible of the inconveniences with which too frequent emissions would be attended, and endeavored to avoid them. For this purpose they established loan-offices so early as in October, 1776, and have, from that time to this, repeatedly and earnestly solicited you to lend them money on the faith of United States. The sums received on loan have nevertheless proved inadequate to the public exigencies. Our enemies prosecuting the war by sea and land with implacable fury and with some success, taxation at home and borrowing abroad, in the midst of difficulties and dangers, were alike impracticable. Hence the continued necessity of new emissions.

But to this cause alone we do not impute the evil before mentioned. We have too much reason to believe it has been in part owing to the artifices of men who have hastened to

tive and executive powers of these states a due attention to these interesting affairs. How far those recommendations have been complied with we will not undertake to determine, but we hold ourselves bound in duty to you to declare, that we are not convinced there has been as much diligence used in detecting and reforming abuses as there has been in committing or complaining of them.

With regard to monopolizers, it is our opinion, that taxes, judiciously laid on such articles as become the objects of engrossers, and those frequently collected, would operate against the pernicious tendency of such practices.

As to inferior officers employed in the public service, we anxiously desire to call your most vigilant attention to their conduct with respect to every species of misbehavior, whether proceeding from ignorance, negligence or fraud, and to the making of laws for inflicting exemplary punishments on all offenders of this kind.

We are sorry to hear that some persons are so slightly informed of their own interests, as to suppose that it is advantageous to them to sell the produce of their farms at enormous prices, when a little reflection might convince them that it is injurious to those interests and the general welfare. If they expect thereby to purchase imported goods cheaper, they will be egregiously disappointed; for the merchants, who know they cannot obtain returns in gold, silver, or bills of exchange, but that their vessels, if loaded here at all, must be loaded with produce, will raise the price of what they have to sell, in proportion to the price of what they have to buy, and consequently the landholder can purchase no more foreign goods, for the same quantity of his produce, than he could before.

The evil, however, does not stop at this point. The landholder, by acting on this mistaken calculation, is only laboring to accumulate an immense debt, by increasing the public expenses, for the payment of which his estate is engaged, and to embarrass every measure adopted for vindicating his liberty, and securing his posterity.

But we should be highly criminal if we did not plainly tell you, that those hopes are not founded wholly upon our own proceedings. These must be supported by your virtue, your wisdom, and your diligence. From the advantage of those seats in the national council with which you have honored us, we have a pleasing prospect of many blessings approaching this our native land. It is your patriotism must introduce and fix them here.

In vain will it be for your delegates to form plans of economy; to strive to stop a continuation of emissions by taxation or loan, if you do not zealously co-operate with them in promoting their designs, and use your utmost industry to prevent the waste of money in the expenditure, which your respective situations, in the several places where it is expended, may enable you to do. A discharge of this duty, a compliance with recommendations for supplying money, might enable congress to give speedy assurances to the public that no more emissions shall take place, and thereby close that source of depreciation.

Your governments being now established, and your ability to contend with your invaders ascertained, we have, on the most mature deliberation, judged it indispensably necessary to call upon you for forty-five millions of dollars, in addition to the fifteen millions required by a resolution of congress, of the 2d of January last, to be paid into the continental treasury before the 1st day of January next, in the same proportion, as to the quotas of the several states, with that for the said fifteen millions.

It appeared proper to us to fix the first day of next January for the payment of the whole; but, as it is probable that some states, if not all, will raise part of the sums by instalments, or otherwise, before that time, we recommend in the strongest manner the paying as much as can be collected as soon as possible into the continental treasury.

Though it is manifest that moderate taxation, in times of peace, will recover the credit of your currency, yet the encouragement which your enemies derive from its depreciation, and

We are persuaded you will use all possible care to make the promotion of the general welfare interfere as little as may be with the ease and comfort of individuals; but though the raising these sums should press heavily on some of your constituents, yet the obligations we feel to your venerable clergy, the truly helpless widows and orphans, your most gallant, generous, meritorious officers and soldiers, the public faith and the common weal, so irresistibly urge us to attempt the appreciation of your currency, that we cannot withhold obedience to those authoritative sensations.

On this subject we will only add, that, as the rules of justice are most pleasing to our infinitely good and gracious Creator, and an adherence to them most likely to obtain his favor, so they will ever be found to be the best and safest maxims of human policy.

To our constituents we submit the propriety and purity of our intentions, well knowing they will not forget, that we lay no burthens upon them, but those in which we participate with them-a happy sympathy, that pervades societies formed on the basis of equal liberty. Many cares, many labors, and may we not add, reproaches-are peculiar to us. These are the emoluments of our unsolicited stations; and with these we are content, if you approve our conduct. If you do not, we shall return to our private condition, with no other regret than that which will arise from our not having served you as acceptably and essentially as we wished and strove to do, though as cheerfully and faithfully as we could.

Think not we despair of the commonwealth, or endeavor to shrink from opposing difficulties. No. Your cause is too good, your objects too sacred, to be relinquished. We tell you truths, because you are freemen who can bear to hear them, and may profit by them; and when they reach your enemies, we fear not the consequences, because we are not ignorant of their resources or our own. Let your good sense decide upon the comparison. Let even their prejudiced understandings decide upon it, and you need not be apprehensive of the determination.

Whatever supposed advantages from plans of rapine, projects of blood, or dreams of domination, may heretofore have amused their inflamed fancies, the conduct of one monarch, the friend and protector of the rights of mankind, has turned the scale so much against them, that their visionary schemes vanish, as

denomination to the baffled troops of a nation, impiously priding herself in notions of her omnipotence.

Rouse yourselves, therefore, that this campaign may finish the great work you have so nobly carried on for several years past. What nation ever engaged in such a contest under such a complication of disadvantages; so soon surmounted many of them, and in so short a period of time had so certain a prospect of a speedy and happy conclusion? We will venture to pronounce, that so remarkable an instance exists not in the annals of mankind. We well remember what you said at the commencement of this war. You saw the immense difference between your circumstances and those of your enemies, and you knew the quarrel must decide on no less than your lives, liberties and estates. All these you greatly put to every hazard, resolving rather to die freemen than to live slaves; and justice will oblige the impartial world to confess you have uniformly acted on the same generous principle. | Consider how much you have done, how comparatively little remains to be done, to crown you with success. Persevere, and you ensure peace, freedom, safety, glory, sovereignty, and felicity to yourselves, your children, and your children's children.

Encouraged by favors already received from infinite goodness, gratefully acknowledging them, earnestly imploring their continuance, constantly endeavoring to draw them down on your heads by an amendment of your lives, and a conformity to the Divine Will, humbly confiding in the protection so often and wonderfully experienced, vigorously employ the means placed by Providence in your hands, for completing your labors.

Fill up your battalions-be prepared in every part to repel the incursions of your enemiesplace your several quotas in the continental treasury-lend money for public uses-sink the emissions of your respective states-provide effectually for expediting the conveyance of supplies for your armies and fleets, and for your allies-prevent the produce of the country from being monopolized-effectually superintend the behavior of public officers,-diligently promote piety, virtue, brotherly love, learning, frugality, and moderation-and may you be approved before Almighty God worthy of those blessings we devoutly wish you to enjoy.

Done in congress, by unanimous consent, this twenty-sixth day of May, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-nine. JOHN JAY, President. CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.

Attest.

PROCLAMATION

BY CONGRESS, OCTOBER 26, 1781, RECOMMENDING TO THE SEVERAL STATES THE OBSERVANCE OF THE 13TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 1781, AS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER.

PROCLAMATION.

Whereas, it hath pleased Almighty God, the father of mercies, remarkably to assist and support the United States of America, in their important struggle for liberty, against the long continued efforts of a powerful nation, it is the duty of all ranks to observe and thankfully acknowledge the interpositions of his Providence in their behalf. Through the whole of the contest, from its first rise to this time, the influence of Divine Providence may be clearly perceived in many signal instances, of which we mention but few.

In revealing the councils of our enemies, when the discoveries were seasonable and important, and the means were seemingly inadequate or fortuitous ;-in preserving and even improving the union of the several states, on the breach of which our enemies placed their greatest dependence ;—in increasing the number, and adding to the zeal and attachment of the friends of liberty-in granting remarkable deliverances, and blessing us with the most signal success, when affairs seemed to have the most discouraging appearance ;—in raising up for us a most powerful and generous ally, in one of the first of the European powers ;-in confounding the councils of our enemies, and suffering them to pursue such measures, as have most directly contributed to frustrate their own desires and expectations,-above all, in making their extreme cruelty to the inhabitants of these states, when in their power, and their savage devastation of property, the very means of cementing our union, and adding vigor to every effort in opposition to them.

And as we cannot help leading the good people of these states to a retrospect on the events which have taken place since the beginning of the war, so we recommend, in a particular manner, to their observation, the goodness of God in the year now drawing to a conclusion. In which the confederation of the United States has been completed-in which there have been so many instances of prowess, and success in our armies, particularly in the southern states, where, notwithstanding the difficulties with which they had to struggle, they have recovered the whole country which the enemy had overrun, leaving them only a post or two, on or near the sea;-in which we have

been so powerfully and effectually assisted by our allies, while in all the conjunct operations the most perfect harmony has subsisted in the allied army;-in which there has been so plentiful a harvest, and so great abundance of the fruits of the earth of every kind, as not only enables us easily to supply the wants of our army but gives comfort and happiness to the whole people--and, in which, after the success of our allies by sea, a general of the first rank, with his whole army, has been captured by the allied forces, under the direction of our commander in chief.

It is therefore recommended to the several states to set apart the thirteenth day of December next, to be religiously observed as a day of thanksgiving and prayer; that all the people may assemble on that day, with grateful hearts, to celebrate the praises of our gracious Benefactor; to confess our manifold sins; to offer up our most fervent supplications to the God of all Grace, that it may please him to pardon our offences, and incline our hearts for the future to keep all his laws; to comfort and relieve all our brethren who are in distress or captivity; to prosper our husbandmen, and give success to all engaged in lawful commerce; to impart wisdom and integrity to our counsellors, judgment and fortitude to our officers and soldiers, to protect and prosper our illustrious ally, and favor our united exertions for the speedy establishment of a safe, honorable, and lasting peace; to bless all seminaries of learning; and cause the knowledge of God to cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas.

Done in congress this twenty-sixth day of Oc

tober, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, and in the sixth year of the independence of the United States of America.

THOMAS M'KEAN, President. Attest, CHARLES THOMPSON, Secretary.

HISTORY

OF THE ADOPTION OF THE COAT OF ARMS OF THE UNITED STATES, BY CONGRESS, JUNE 26, 1782.

Although the study of heraldry may not be very amusing, yet as the Eagle with extended wings grasping the arms of War, and the olive of Peace, is constantly presented to our eyes, it may not be uninteresting to give a history and an explanation of the arms of our country.

In June, 1782, when congress were about to form an armorial device for a seal for the Union, Charles Thompson, esq., then secretary, with

the honorable Dr. Arthur Lee and E. Boudinot, members of congress, called on Mr. William Barton, and consulted him on the occasion. The great seal, for which Mr. Barton furnished these gentlemen with devices, was adopted by congress on the 26th of June, 1782. The device is as follows:

Arms-Paleways of thirteen pieces, argent,* gules, a chief azure, the escutcheon on the breast of the American eagle, displayed, proper, holding in his dexter talon an olive branch and in his sinister a bunch of thirteen arrows, all proper; and in his beak a scroll, with the motto "E pluribus unum.'

The crest-Over the head of the eagle, which appears above the escutcheon, a glory or breaking through a cloud proper, and surrounding stars, forining a constellation, argent, on an azure field.

Reverse-A pyramid unfinished.

In the zenith an eye in a triangle, surrounded with a glory. Over the eye these words, " Annuit cæptis.”

Remarks and explanations-The escutcheon is composed of the chief and pale, the two most honorable ordinaries. The thirteen pieces pale, represent the several states in the union, all joined in one solid compact entire, supporting a chief which unites the whole, and represents congress. The motto alludes to the union.

The pales in the arms are kept closely united by the chief, and the chief depends on that union, and the strength resulting from it, for its support, to denote the confederacy of the states, and the preservation of the union, through congress.

The colors of the pales are those used in the flag of the United States of America. White signifies purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; and blue, the color of the chief, signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice. The olive branch and arrows denote the power of peace and war, which is exclusively vested in congress.

state taking its place and rank among other The crest, or constellation, denotes a new foreign powers.

The escutcheon, borne on the breast of an American eagle, without any other supporters, denotes that the U. States ought to rely on their own virtue.

The pyramid on the reverse, signifies strength

* In heraldry, argent signifies white, gules red, and azure blue where these colors cannot be emblazed, they are represented on seals, etc. as follows: Argent, by a perfect blank : red by perpendicular, and azure by horizontal lines. The chief in our arms, on the horizontal lines in the upper quarter of the escutcheon, or eagle's breast.