REPORT ON 
 
 Desecration of American Flag, 
 
 SONS OF THE REVOLUTION, 
 
 
 CONNECTICUT. 
 

 c* 
 
 A Report 
 
 Read at the Annual Meeting 
 
 of the 
 
 Sons of the Revolution 
 
 December 8, 1896. 
 
 
By 
 FES » »W 
 
RECEIVED, 
 
 JUN 8 1897 
 
 To the Connecticut Society of the ^S^^^R-jfiuR 
 
 Sons of the Revolution: 
 
 Your Committee to whom was referred the subject of proper 
 legislation in respect to the desecration of the National Flag of the 
 United States beg leave to offer the following memoranda in report : 
 
 Your Committee find that the subject has occupied more or less of 
 the minds of the patriotic thinkers throughout the country during several 
 years, and that there has been a great deal of anxiety to find some practical 
 way of maintaining pure the Flag of our Nation from every disrespect. 
 
 The Flag of the United States is peculiar in that it is made up of three 
 bright and distinctive colors, and these colors in combination and ar- 
 rangement become exceedingly attractive, and especially so to an enter- 
 prising business man who is on the watch for something startling to 
 assist in the sale of his wares. And the fact that the Flag is the Ameri- 
 can Standard, and proclaims the advertised article as American, perhaps, 
 also gives an additional advantage to the advertiser. For similar reasons 
 the various political parties, and the political candidates, make free use 
 of the Flag, which they decorate with their names, and the objects for 
 which they are reaching. These things, and these uses of the National 
 Flag, have grown and have become common as the country has developed. 
 The progress of this misuse has progressed, the people not knowing or not 
 heeding it unrebuked, until those who have so offended have come to think 
 there has been no harm done. Now, that there has been expressed a 
 desire for the stoppage of this misuse, there arises considerable difficulty 
 for securing for the subject a full and proper consideration. Bills have 
 been introduced into Congress to prevent the desecration of the Flag 
 since January 7, 1880, when a Bill for that purpose was presented to the 
 House of Representatives by Mr. Barbor. On the 24th of May, 1890, 
 the House Committee on the Judiciary reported a Bill which, after con- 
 sideration, passed the House, and was sent to the Senate, but no action 
 whatever appears to have been taken upon it in that body. There are 
 now four bills before Congress respecting the Flag. Two of these bills 
 relate primarily to the arrangement of the stars in the field of bine, one 
 being that of Mr. Cockrell (S 2533), introduced March 16, 1896. and the 
 other introduced by Mr. Sherman (S 2717) on April 2, 1896. The other 
 two bills are substantially the same and relate to the desecration o( the 
 Flag, one being presented to the Senate by Mr. Hansbrough (S ! 
 icSo5, and reintroduced by him (S 255) December 3, 1S05. The other bill 
 
 was presented to the House by Mr. Linton (ll R 884) December 9, 1895. 
 As respects objections there are two that at once present theinseh \ 
 
V 
 
 The Patent Office has up to this time granted twenty-five (25) trade 
 marks in which the American Flag forms an essential feature, and since 
 the 1st of July of the present year there have been filed in the Patent 
 Office six (6) designs in which the Flag is a part. If the bills before Con- 
 gress should be adopted it would necessitate a change in the laws re- 
 specting trade mark and copyright. The other objection can be stated 
 in the words of Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, who writes, *' I took up 
 that matter with a very earnest desire for some legislation. But as we 
 reflected on the different plans which were brought to our attention, and 
 made our own suggestions, the difficulties multiplied. I am afraid that 
 the great political parties of the country would not consent that the prac- 
 tice of hanging out the Flag w r ith the names of the candidates attached 
 should be abandoned." 
 
 Your Committee are of the opinion that in no other county of the 
 world would the use of the national emblems and the national flag be 
 permitted for any such purposes, 3'et we must bear in mind that few or 
 no other national standards present such advantages, although man}' 
 other people use a tri-color. The question naturally comes, as to the 
 reasons why such uses have been permitted. 
 
 Prior to the Civil War there was comparatively but little display of our 
 National Flag, except upon festive occasions, and even then, its exhibi- 
 tion was almost wholly upon public buildings. Doubtless, the advertiser 
 of those days may have made use of it from patriotic motives, while at 
 the same time he may have believed that it was also for his own best 
 interest. We are inclined to think that, perhaps, such use of the Flag 
 in those times did contribute towards patriotic sentiment, but it would 
 scarcely have any such effect at the present time, for the idea and senti- 
 ment of the entire people have undergone a complete change. 
 
 At the commencement of the Civil War, after the shot was fiied upon 
 Sumter, all at once the people of the Northern States of the Union dis- 
 covered that there was an American Flag, and towns and villages, cities 
 and country hamlets blossomed full-bloom with a most gorgeous display 
 of the Red, White and Blue. Since then the country and the people 
 have made more of the American Flag, and to day we see it ewrvv 
 
 On May 29, 1888, a Pennsylvania Council of the Junior Order of 
 American Mechanics presented a National Flag to a public school. We 
 believe this to have been the first presentation of the kind in this coun- 
 try. This incident has led to great results, and has had a most wonder- 
 ful influence extending throughout the country. Similar presentation! 
 
 followed by other Councils of this Society, and other bodies took up the 
 idea, so that school after school became the recipients of Flags. ] 
 
 presentations were usually accompanied with patriotic and his - . 
 
 dresses, bringing out and developing a fund o\ fact, feeling ami inf. 
 tion that has sei ved to evolve a love for the Flag and for the country of 
 tin- Flag, its institutions of liberty, that, perhaps, could not fa 
 accomplished so successfully in any other way. 
 
These presentations of Flags to public schools have been foil* 
 naturally by the recognition of the Flag itself by teachers and pupils as 
 a proper adjunct to the school apparatus, and there have since arisen in the 
 schools certain forms and ceremonies that are observed more or less by 
 all, so that the reception and the salute to the Flag have become features 
 of interest, in many schools very beautiful and impressive. These forms 
 and ceremonies are a positive profit, give patriotic instruction to the 
 children which they carry into their future lives, and to their present 
 homes, the Flag is held in honor and the Country is thereby Btrengthi n< d. 
 
 Following on b} 7 natural development, there has come the recogni- 
 tion of the Flag as an educational factor by the legislative bodies of many 
 States, and this has shown itself through the enactment of certain laws 
 authorizing the erection of flag poles and Flags on public school houses, 
 and then requiring such displayed during school hours. California, it is 
 said, was the first to place such a law upon her statutes; now nearly i 
 one of the Northern States have passed such laws. It is the opinion of 
 your Committee that similar laws would benefit the states who have not 
 yet legislated on this subject, and the3 r believe that similar legislation 
 ought to be had in every State, North, South, East or West. 
 
 The exhibition of the Flag upon the school houses has by no means 
 satisfied the American people. Another step in advance has been taken. 
 It has been the custom on special occasions to display prominently for- 
 eign flags, sometimes beside the National Emblem, but often to the ex- 
 clusion of the American Standard. The American people have declared 
 that when a foreigner determines to cast his lot among our people, he 
 OUgbt to leave his foreign nationality behind him and become wholly an 
 American citizen, and the demand was made that no foreign flags 
 should be displayed on public buildings at any time, except under extra- 
 ordinary circumstances. Several legislative bodies have so decided, and 
 now the public buildings exhibit no foreign flags at all. 
 
 Legislation respecting the Flag is not very voluminous. Cong] 
 has contented itself to the simple adoption of the National Ensign. The 
 first bill creating the Flag for the United States was a short " E 
 in the Continental Congress which was adopted on June 14, 1777. The 
 second was a bill in the first Congn BS "An Act Making an Alteration in 
 the Flag of the United States." changing it so as to have fifteen (15) 
 stripes and fifteen (15) stars The third was "An Act to Establish the 
 Flag of the United States," which became a law on April iS. [8 1 8. This 
 is the extent of our National legislation OH the subject, if we excepl 
 tain Acts, one in April and the other in August. 1799, authorizing the I 
 dent to prepare a Flag for the United Stat QUC Service, and & 
 
 resolutions for the loan of II IgS and buntinj 
 
 for th vation of Hags taken by the armies and n.' 
 
 the United States in batth 
 
 Tli Lg was prepared f imittee of 
 
 of General George Washington, Rob, Mrs. 
 
 . ROSS, a niece by ma,: named member of the cum- 
 
mittee. These gentlemen called upon Mrs. Ross at her house, No. 239 
 Arch Street, in the City of Philadelphia, and presented a rough sketch 
 that they brought with them which had been drawn by Washington. In 
 the sketch all the stars were six-pointed. Some one has said or written 
 that a six-pointed star wis English, that it had special reference to the 
 spurs of ancient English knighthood. Mrs. Ross objected to the six- 
 pointed star and remarked that a five-pointed star would look better, and 
 taking a bit of paper she folded it and with her scissors with one cut pro- 
 duced the star she wished. The sketch was redrawn and from it the 
 Flag was made. Now as to the time of this incident. On May 21, 1776, 
 Washington was at New York. On that day he received from John 
 Hancock, President of Congress, a note asking him to come to the City 
 of Philadelphia to consult with Congress, and he left that afternoon, ar- 
 riving in Philadelphia about two o'clock on the afternoon of the follow- 
 ing day. On the 23d and 24th he was present in Congress. He left the 
 city June 6th and arrived in New York on the 10th. The account says 
 that the committee visited Mrs. Ross in May. This seems to be the only 
 time possible, for Washington was not in the City on an}- date but this, 
 that would suit the incident, although he was there the year before when 
 he was appointed from his seat in Congress by that bod}' to the supreme 
 command of the Arm}*. The order for the original Flag, then, was un- 
 doubtedly given between the 23d of May and the 1st of June, 1776. The 
 Flag was made, presented to the committee, it is said, in June, but for 
 some reason that does' not appear it was not adopted until the 17th of 
 June, 1777, one year from the time of its preparation. The origin of the 
 Flag seems to be surrounded in mystery. There exists absolutely no lit- 
 erature on the subject, either in the shape of letters, bills, orders or mem- 
 oranda. Mr. Canby says that his grandmother's family have absolutely 
 nothing, and neither he nor other members of the family can account for 
 it but probably Mrs. Ross herself destroyed all these old business papers 
 esteeming them of no value whatever to her family. There are a number 
 of flag papers and patterns that belonged to Mrs. Hannah Knox which 
 .lie of Later date that appear to be the only documents of the kind extant. 
 A poem in the Massachusetts S&y, of March 10, 1774. has in it a line, 
 
 " Tlie American Ensign now sparkles a star." 
 This is pointed to as the lust suggestion of a Star in connection with 
 
 ili- Flag, in 1775, the Philadelphia Troop of Light Horse (City Troop) 
 
 a banner presented to them, consisting of thirteen stripes. This 
 
 banner is still preserved in the armory at Philadelphia. Th thing 
 
 ie united. There was evidently little 
 or d ption, Mr. Canby is ^( the un- 
 
 ion that the Flag was in constant use prior to its adoption, ami that 
 on tin- date given, it occurred t.> some \\\^:. t the 
 
 mally ad ipted an 1 a resolution wai 
 it comment 
 
It is interesting to note in passing that the house where Betsy Ross 
 lived and where the first Flag was made is still standing on Arch St 
 in Philadelphia. The time of the erection of this little house is not 
 known. There have lately been published several articles in which it is 
 said the bricks used in its building were brought over from Europe in 
 the ship, Welcome, and that the house itself was constructed under the 
 immediate supervision of William Perm, but there is no warrant for the 
 story, whatever. It is a remarkably old building, and except a frame 
 kitchen that has been added, is the same as when Bets}' Ross occupied it. 
 The heavy shutters are joined with handmade nails, and hinged with hand- 
 made screws, and seem to be as strong to-day as when they were hung. 
 In the little back parlor is a fireplace, with its old blue tiling and oak man- 
 tle and in the corner of the room is a corner-closet that shows the marks 
 of age. The floor is of heavy timber, but it has become very rough and 
 uneven. The property is in the possession of a German family named 
 Mund, and the)- have held it for man}' years. Attempts have been made 
 to purchase it, convert it into a museum, or transfer it to Fairmont I 
 Some years ago, the Jr. O. U. A. M. proposed to buy and an examination 
 was had of the title, which was found to be defective. All attempts to 
 purchase have failed. 
 
 John Ross, the husband of Betsy Ross, was the son of the Rev. .-Eneas 
 Ross, an Episcopal clergyman, who was assistant at Christ's Church, and 
 rector of Old Trinity (Oxford), Philadelphia. lie was an upl 
 and he and his wife learned the business from one Webster, who had 
 considerable reputation at the time in that particular line. John Ross 
 and his wife began business on their own account in Chestnut Street, 
 but afterwards moved and occupied the house on Arch Street, where the 
 Flag was made. With some other young men, John Ross was eng 
 on one of the wharfs in guarding military stores, and while in th< 
 formance of this duty he met with an accident that resulted in his 
 death. He was buned in Christ Church Grave Yard January 20, : 
 His wife was left a widow at the age of twenty-four (24) years. The 
 Munds have in their store an oil painting of Betsy ROSS, but there is no 
 reliable and authentic picture of her, form vet painted. This 
 
 picture represents her as a woman of middle age of coarse In 
 
 1893, the artist, C. II. Weisgerber, | to paint a picture <>f B 
 
 Ross exhibiting the Flag to the committee. He ma etch and 
 
 showed it to Mr. Canity. He b 3 looking like a wom 
 
 fifty, with a distinctly German face. Mr Canbv told him that it 9 
 not do, that she was at the time quite a yo and he u 
 
 it. At 1I1 ion of the artist | ' 
 
 daughters and members of the family at or near hei >m all 
 
 these feces combined, Mr. Weis 
 in his beautiful picture. 
 
 Tl. • ; [777, .'md on the f >llo* 
 
 in the old Swede's Church (Gloria Dei) Betsy Rosa 
 Captain Ashburn, \ 
 
8 
 
 and died a prisoner in Mill Prison, in England, on March 3, 17S2. John 
 Claypole, also a prisoner, who had fought and was wounded at German- 
 town, nursed Captain Ashburn through his sickness, and received from 
 him his dying messages to his wife. After peace was declared, Claypole 
 was released and came home bringing the intelligence of Captain Ash- 
 burn's death. 
 
 On May 8, 1783, Elizabeth Ashburn and John Claypole were mar- 
 ried. They joined the Free Quakers. Claypole died of paralysis August 
 3. 1817, leaving four daughters. One of these daughters, Mrs. Clarissa 
 11, and her mother continued the manufacture of Flags for the gov- 
 ernment, and the business was continued after the death of Mrs. Clay- 
 pole until the year 1857, when it was given up for conscientious rea 
 Mrs. Wilson feeling it to be wrong to make Flags for ships of war, al- 
 though Flags were made for some time for the merchant service. 
 
 Mrs. Claypole died January 30. 1S36, and was buried in Mount Mo- 
 ri ah Cemetery. 
 
 The second name worthy of record in connection with the American 
 Flag is that of Captain Samuel Chester Reid, who was born at Norwich, 
 Conn., August 25, 17S3. He went to sea at the early age of eleven 
 years, and was captured by a French privatrer, and for six months was 
 a prisoner at Basseterre. On his release he became an active midshipman 
 on board the United States ship, Baltimore, of Commodore Truxtun's 
 fleet in the West Indies. On the breaking out of the War of 1S12, he 
 commanded the privateer Gen. Armstrong, with which he fought one of 
 the most remarkable naval battles on record in the port of Fayal on 
 September 26 and 27, 1814. His force was 7 guns and 90 men. He was 
 attacked by the boats of the Plantagenet, 74 guns ; the Rota, 44 guns, 
 and the Carnation, 18 guns. Reid succeeded in thoroughly disabling and 
 defeating the enemy, and finally scuttled his own vessel to prevent her 
 capture. Reid's loss was two killed and seven wounded. This attack in 
 a neutral port led to diplomatic correspondence, but the arbitration of 
 Louis Napoleon decided against the Americans. The effect of this action 
 undoubtedly gave Gen. Jackson the victory at N\ 5, for the 
 
 British fleet was on its way to reinforce the British forces operating 
 against that city. 
 
 Capt. Reid was appointed a sailing master in the United 
 
 and served in that capacity until his death. lie was warden oi tlu 
 
 w Ynik. and he invented tl-.e signal tel< giaph which was set np at 
 Sandy Hook, the Narrows, ami the Battery and he 1. num- 
 
 I the pilot boats running cut of New York. 
 
 Tlu- i u 1 called for some change in the National Stan- 
 
 dard. When Vermontand Kentucky were annexed to the Union, two stripes 
 
 l ;<> tin Flag and two additional b1 
 of blue. Nev. ! came into the Union, and thea 
 
 • the situation, propositions we- entire change, and 
 
 intro luction of new devices, and a great deal of feeling was mani- 
 
fested. Peter H. Wendover represented in the house one of the New- 
 York districts, and to him in association with Captain Samuel Chester 
 Reid, we are indebted for our present Amertcan Flag. It is said that Capt. 
 Reid suggested the return to the original thirteen red and white alter- 
 nate stripes, and that they should ever keep in memory the beginning of 
 the American Union with thirteen independent States, and that the field 
 of blue should contain one star for every state in the Union, to be placed 
 there upon the Fourth of July next succeeding the admission of th< 
 State. On the adoption of the Wendover bill to ' ' Establish the Flag of 
 the United States," Mrs. Reid, the wife of the Commander of the Gen. 
 Armstrong, made a new Flag in accordance with the requirements of the 
 Wendover bill, which was sent to Washington, arriving there on the 
 1 2th or 13th of April, and it was raised over the house on the 13th, for the 
 old Flag had been almost totally destroyed because of severe and violent 
 storms. In this Flag the constellation of stars was arranged in the form 
 of one large five-pointed star. It has been said that this particular Flag 
 has only been raised upon that occasion, but we have not been able to 
 verify the assertion. Mrs. Reid was a daughter of Nathan Jennings, of 
 Fairfield, Conn. Capt. Reid died in the City cf New York on January 
 28, 1S61. His funeral was from Trinity Church, and the states 
 
 Marines from the Brooklyn Navy Yard escorted his remains to their last 
 resting place at Greenwood. The historian, Los sing, says that " Capt. 
 Reid was simple in his habits and manners, upright and honest in his 
 ways. He was the chosen companion of many of the- best and most dis- 
 tinguished American citizens, and his memory is sweetest to those who 
 knew him best." 
 
 The history of the American Flag is the history of the Nation, and 
 there are many names that might be mentioned in connection with it, 
 for there have been those who have carried it around the world, those 
 who have penetrated with it into the icy regions of the' Arctic and Ant- 
 arctic Circles, and those who have planted it upon foreign fortn 
 those who have taken it to remotest regions, and who, under its pi 
 tion, have accomplished great things to their own honor and also to the 
 honor of their country. 
 
 There is but one additional name that we propose mentioning here, 
 
 for our story could hardly be complete without the name of Francis Scott 
 
 a Baltimore lawyer. The War of (8l -' brought to this country an 
 
 invading English Army under the command of General Robert Ross, and 
 
 an English Fleet under Admiral Geoi -burn. The British had at- 
 
 tacked the City of Washington, destroyed considerable property and de- 
 
 ire the City of Baltimore, but in this attack they made 
 an utter failure. 
 
 Dr. William Beames wis a prominent and popular pfc 
 siderable reputation, a member of one of the oldest Maryland families 
 
 lite. 1! 
 
 Marlborough, Prin< je County. The attack on Wash- 
 
 enrred on August 24, 1S14, and Admiral Cockbum'fl Beet was at the 
 
IO 
 
 m mill of the Patuxent River. One September afternoon a party of 
 
 Britisl i from the squadron visited and were entertained by Dr. 
 
 they may have talked too freely. They returned 
 
 about midnight, compelled the doctor to rise from his bed, and hurried 
 
 him off to the British ships, hardly giving him time to properly clothe 
 
 t he left the house without either his wig or his spectacles. 
 
 evening of the day that the British fleet was moving down 
 
 the Potomac, Mr. Richard West arrived in Baltimore, and at once went to 
 
 the house of Mr. Francis Scott Key with the information that his friend, 
 
 Dr. Beames, was a prisoner on board one of the British vessels, that he 
 
 was closely guarded, his friends were not permitted to see him, and his 
 
 e peremptorily refused. Finding their efforts unavailing, his friends, 
 
 alarmed for his safety, advised Mr. West to hasten to Georgetown, see 
 
 Mr. Key and request him to obtain the sanction of the government to 
 
 his (Mr. Key's) L;oing on board the Admiral's ship under a flag of truce 
 
 and endeavor to obtain the release of Dr. Beames. 
 
 Mr. Key readil}' agreed to undertake the mission, and the President 
 promptly gave his sanction. Orders were at once issued to the vessel 
 usually employed as a cartel in the communication with the fleet in the 
 Chesapeake Bay to be read}- without dela}', and Mr. John Skinner, who 
 was the government's agent for flags of truce and exchange of pris 
 and who had become known to the officers of the fleet, was directed to 
 accompan}' Mr. Key. 
 
 Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who married a sister of Francis Scott 
 Key, writes from Washington, in 1856, to Mr. H. V. D. Jones, as follows : 
 
 " They found the British fleet at the mouth of the Potomac River, 
 preparing for the expedition against Baltimore." They •• were court- 
 eously received by Admiral Cockburn and the officers of the army and 
 navy, but when he made known his business, his application was re- 
 
 d SO coldly that he feared it would foil. However, after a goo-' 
 of conversation, they consented to release Dr. Beames, but Mr. Key was 
 at the same time informed that neither he nor anyone else would b< 
 mitted to leave the fleet for some days, and they must all be del 
 until the attack on Baltimore, which was then about to be made, was 
 over ; but they assured him he and Mr. Skinner shoul COm- 
 
 ble as possible, and that they would be well tak m the 
 
 commanded by Sir Francis Cockburn 
 . and to this frigate they wei t had 
 
 led the Patapsco River. Admiral Cockburn shifted his flag to the 
 Surprise, and Mr. Key and Mr. Skinner ami Dr, Beames ent on 
 
 I their own vessel, with a guard <>;' marines to prevent tl 
 landing. They thought thee tunate in I 
 
 m which en listinctly the Flaj McHenry 
 
 from the deck of their vessel. Mr. Key then p led with much anima- 
 
 tion I 
 
 ■ ery shell 
 oment it was first Bred until it fell, Listening with breathless inter- 
 
II 
 
 est to hear the explosion that followed. While the bombardment con- 
 tinued it was sufficient proof that the fort had not surrendered ; but it 
 suddenly ceased, sometime before day, and as they had no communica- 
 tion with any of the enemy's ships, they did not know whether the fort 
 had surrendered or the attack upon it had been abandoned. They paced 
 the deck the rest of the night in painful suspense, watching with intense 
 anxiety for the return of day, and looking every few minutes at their 
 watches to see how long they must wait for it. As soon as it dawned 
 and before it was light enough to see objects at a distance, their glasses 
 were turned to the fort, uncertain whether they should see the Stars and 
 Stripes or the flag of the enemy. At length, light came and they saw that 
 
 ' ' Our Flag was still there.' 
 
 11 At length he was informed that the attack upon Baltimore had failed 
 and that he and his friend would be permitted to leave and go where they 
 pleased. 
 
 ' ' He then told me that under the excitement of the time he had 
 written a song and handed me a printed copy of the ' Star Spangled 
 Banner.' I asked him how he found time in the scenes he had passed 
 through to compose such a song, and he said he had commenced it on 
 the deck of their vessel on the fervor of the moment, when he saw the 
 enemy hastily retreating to their ships and looking at the flag he had so 
 anxiously watched as the morning opened, that he had written some lines 
 on the back of an old letter which happened to be in his pocket, and that 
 he finished it on the boat on his way to the shore. He said that on the 
 next morning he took it to Judge Joseph Hopper Nicholson, and asked 
 him what he thought of it, and that he was so much pleased with it, 
 that he immediately took it to the printer, and directed copies to be 
 struck off in hand-bill form, and that he (Mr. Key) believed that it had 
 been favorably received by the Baltimore public. Judge Nicholson and 
 Mr. Key are brothers-in-law, Mrs. Key and Mrs. Nicholson being sisters. 
 The judge was a man of cultivated taste, and had at one time been dis- 
 tinguished among the leading men in Congress, and was at the period 
 of which I speak, Chief Justice of Baltimore, and one of the Judj 
 
 the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Notwithstanding his judicial char- 
 
 which exempted him from military Sendee, he accepted the command 
 of a volunteer Company of artillery which formed part of the -im- 
 port Mc Henry during the bombardment. The judge, relieved from duty, 
 
 had returned to his family only the night before. Mr. Key showed him 
 
 mg and you may easily imagine the feelings with which at thai 
 
 ment he read and ;.-a\ it to the public. It was no doubt, as Mr. Key 
 
 modestly expressed it, favorably received. In less than an hour ai 
 was placed in the hands of the printer, it was all o\\ 
 
 enthusiasm and took- it^ place 
 
12 
 
 This BOng was put into type by Samuel Sands, a boy of [8 year- in 
 the employ of Captain Benjamin Eede, wlio was absent with his com- 
 mand at North Point, where Gen. Ross had attempted to land his forces. 
 The BOng was fust sung in front of Capt. Kede's printing office, in the 
 street, by James Laurenson, a boy of twelve years of age on September 
 14. Charles Durang also Bang it in a restaurant next door to the Holli- 
 day Street Theater and after that every night in the theater. The orig- 
 inal draft of the words of this Bong is owned in Baltimore, by Mrs. Re- 
 Uoyd Shippen, and the Colonial Dames of that city are preparing 
 plans to the end of making the song by formal action a National Song. 
 
 The State of Illinois was by no means satisfied with merely placing 
 the Flag upon the public school buildings, but proposed to make it oblig- 
 atory for all educational institutions to fly the National Standard above 
 their heads while their schools were in session. The first section of the 
 law adopted June 26, 1895, reads as follows : 
 
 11 That it shall be the duty of all school directors and boards of edu- 
 cation of all the public schools of the State, and trustees and boards of 
 directors of all colleges and educational institutions of every description 
 in this State, whether state, county, municipal, district, sectarian or pri- 
 v at- .-. to provide United States National Flags of not less than four feet 
 
 ight in size, and cause the same to be unfurled from a flagstaff to 
 be placed on the top of all public schoolhouses, college buildings, and 
 on all buildings used for educational purposes in this State, or by county, 
 township, municipal, district, sectarian, corporation, or private authority, 
 On each and every day when such schools, colleges and educational in- 
 stitutions are in session from 9 ,\. If. to 4 P. If. in each and every \ 
 
 oilier sections of the same act extend its operations to and 
 all criminal institutions, reformatories, asylums, court h< 1 ap- 
 
 propriates money for the purchase of Flags for such purposes. 
 
 Section 4 provided for the punishment of offenses against the Act, 
 and declared that the person offendis usa1 or neglect to carry out 
 
 the provisions of the Act should be %t deemed guilty of a misdemeai 
 and on conviction thereof be fined not less than $3 or more than 
 
 if suit for each and everyday thai they shall so neglect on 
 
 to comply with the provisions of the Act." 
 
 The State University of Illinois, and Borne sectarian 
 either fail* d or neglected to carry out the provisions of this Act 
 was instituted in the Circuit Court of Champaign County, 
 Francis M t, by the indictment 1 
 
 Th in these courts of Illinois do not I filewritl 
 
 opinions, but state their views iu open court. 
 
 opinions .ire taken down by the court st 
 
 th.it it is not held nee 
 
 .1 full copy oftheopinion Of Jud ht in this case, but up to this 
 
 time tin attempt has failed, although they 1 
 
13 
 
 and to the court stenographer with reference to the subject. A letter, 
 signed " W. M. P.," published in Harper's Weekly, of July n, 1896, 
 gives the following as a part of the opinion of Judge Wright : 
 
 "The Legislature has power, under certain limitations, to define 
 what is and what is not a misdemeanor, what is and what is not a crime, 
 but in so doing it must have for its object either the maintenance of the 
 police authority of the State, or the health of the State. If the legisla- 
 tion in that respect does not fall within some of these subjects, or kindred 
 subjects, so that all would, at first blush, see, then the act declared to be 
 a misdemeanor that does not fall within some of these definitions, or 
 something akin to them, would not be a misdemeanor. So, in this case, 
 I think, the Legislature has clearly made a mistake in declaring some- 
 thing to be a misdemeanor that was never heard of before. ' ' 
 
 It is worthy of remark that the greater institutions of Connecticut, 
 Yale College, for instance, have no place for the displa}^ of the National 
 Flag. It does seem as if it would be well to make some provision for 
 this omission, and have the Flag placed where the students may see it 
 during their college life. The recent erection of the Phelps Memorial 
 Arch, which towers above all the other buildings on the campus, perhaps, 
 affords a fitting place for a flagstaff, and for the floating of the " Stars 
 and Stripes." 
 
 In the State of California, the discovery of gold and the abundant 
 production of the soil has been the cause for the gathering of large num- 
 bers of foreigners, who united together in groups, preserving thereby 
 their own nationality, language and customs. Associations were formed 
 by them, some of which took a military character, including uniform, 
 drill under arms and street parades, and on these occasions they were 
 wont to carry the flag of their own nationality. This thing became ob- 
 jectionable, so that on March 26, 1895, the California Legislature placed 
 a statute on their books governing the case, and Gov. Budd issued from 
 the Adjutant General's Office a circular, dated July 26, 1895 in reference 
 to the matter, and which to-day governs all private military organizations 
 in the State of California, that are not an actual part of the National 
 Guard of the State. 
 
 The following are the conditions under which an independent mili- 
 tary company is permitted to exist in the State of California. 
 
 First. That the oath of allegiance to the United States and State of 
 California be taken by each member of such military company or organ- 
 ization so drilling or parading. 
 
 Second. That the said oaths be filed in the office of the Adjutant 
 General of California, with an agreement hy the said organization that 
 at any and all times when called upon to defend the government or up- 
 hold the laws of the United States, or the State of California, or in 1 
 of emergency, such military company or organization will place itself 
 and its arms and equipments under the authority and control of the ex- 
 ecutive power of the United States or the Commander-in-Chief of this 
 State. 
 
14 
 
 Third. That a copy of the constitution and by-laws of such mili- 
 lization asking such License be first filed with and 
 
 approved by the governor. 
 
 rth. That no flag or insignia, except our National or State 
 carried in the ranks of said military company or organiza- 
 tion while th< rilling or parading with arms. 
 
 Your Committee is not aware that there are any such stringent rules 
 
 ce in any other State in the Union, although several States have some 
 
 law ; i private military organizations, and the display of red or 
 
 The organization of foreigners as foreigners 
 shou d be discouraged, and this is especially desirable when such < 
 ization assumes a military character. It is desirable that every person 
 ling permanently in this country should be American, no matter in 
 part of the world he may have happened to have been born, and 
 th it every citizen should recognize the " Star Spangled Banner" as the 
 only Flag of their allegiance, and of their protection. 
 
 ir Committee has endeavored in the foregoing to give to the So- 
 ciety some slight idea of what has been done, and what is being done to 
 preserve our National Flay from disrespect, to honor it and to make 
 it more precious to the people of these United States, not merely 
 a symbol, but a reality — an expression of a real Union of our great 
 country and of our one united people. The Flag is on exhibition 
 every day in the year throughout most of the Northern States, and it is 
 3eldom now that we see it displayed in an objectionable manner, as 
 was too often the case sonn \ >. We think that measures should 
 
 be taken to secure a similar display in the Southern States, for it has 
 found that in proportion to the display of the Flag, so the National 
 inst the sectional feeling has increased. It is to be hoped that 
 with the full and free living of the Flag everywhere there may disappear 
 from among the people every vestige of Sectional feeling, and that we 
 may have One Country, One People, One Nationality, under One I 
 
 and tint — the "Stars and Stripes," of the Revolution, the "Star- 
 led Banner, " of the War of x8is, and the "Old Glory," of the 
 
 ; War. 
 
 Y >ur Committee would like to see two bills prepared, one to ^o be- 
 which should coverall questions relating to the honor and 
 ct due the Flag, both in our own country and in th 
 
 mporarily in foreign lands and also ils demand i 
 Upon til • high seas. A second bill IS Suggested to be submitted to the 
 i the Several States and which should provide ui; 
 
 touching ail questions which ate purely state matters. 
 
 Th aere undoubtedly an eai m - 1 the 
 
 Ct Should be shown t \ .;. but tin 
 
 a question as to what is and what is not disu>peet. Th. I 
 
 many resolutions passed by the ancestral and patriotic 
 
15 
 
 the newspapers and made public property, but Congress has as yet taken 
 no action. Your Committee has had a large correspondence covering 
 many of the States, and from among these letters they desire to call at- 
 tention to an extract from one dated at St. Louis, Mo., on January 16, 
 1896, from Gen. G. E. Dalton, commanding Comrades of the Battlefield. 
 He says : 
 
 "The Comrades of the Battlefield, being composed of those who 
 served the Nation under fire, during the Rebellion, has passed no resolu- 
 tion regarding National affairs. It passed its resolution when it resolved 
 that the nation must be saved, in '61 to '65, and it leaves it to those 
 who enjoy that nation to preserve it. 
 
 "As far, however, as I am aware of the feelings of those who served 
 under fire, who fought under the Flag of the Republic, they are almost 
 unanimously of the opinion that the more the Flag is brought before the 
 people, the more its representation is seen, the better. I think very few 
 of them consider that the Flag is desecrated or the American Eagle is 
 likely to lose a feather, from having the imprint of the same on any 
 legitimate advertising, and I think it would be a sad day when the youth 
 of the land should never see the Flag represented or in its proper form 
 except when accidentally observed on some official document of the 
 United States Government, or flying over some public building. * * * 
 Doubtless, those who wore the blue, but who never smelled burnt gun- 
 powder, would be very anxious to have the Flag secutely placed in a 
 band-box, but I think } t ou will find very few of those who served a hun- 
 dred or more days under fire anxious to restrict its use or exhibition. " 
 
 There appears to be no law requiring the government officials of the 
 several departments to display the Flag over or in connection with their 
 offices, but this has been generally done without the sanction of law 
 through circular letters issued by chiefs of departments and bureaus, 
 and the American Flag is to-day found floating over almost ever}' gov- 
 ernment building eveiy day in the year. 
 
 There is no law respecting the lettering that is permissable on the 
 face of the Flag. The War Department has a regulation respecting the 
 placing of the names of the battles in which a regiment may have par- 
 ticipated. The Grand Army of the Republic has the name of the post 
 and its number on the Flags which they use. It has been the custom of 
 late years in the presentations of the National Colors to societies and to 
 organizations to [have the name of the organization, the date of pi 
 tation, and the name or title of the donor. Years ago it was the COS torn 
 of hotel proprietors to have the name of their house upon their Flag, but 
 we seldom or never see it now. It does not appear that any of these in- 
 scriptions would injure or desecrate the Flag, yet we believe there should 
 be some definite rule and regulation covering these things. 
 
 In conclusion, your Committee would recommend the preparation of 
 the two bills, as has been suggested, and the presentation o\ t 
 to the several state and national bodies of our own Society, and to the 
 state and national bodies of other patriotic organizations as far as they 
 
i6 
 
 can be reached, to the several State Legislatures and to Congress through 
 their indorsement as far as it can be obtained. We believe in our Flag, 
 and we believe that the more the Flag is exhibited and displayed the 
 better it will be for the whole country, and that through it and its peace- 
 ful exhibition there will be developed a purer Americanism and a more 
 earnest love for the liberties that have been secured to us through so 
 much sacrifice and treasure. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted, 
 
 HENRY BALDWIN, 
 
 A. FLOYD DELAFIELD, 
 
 ALEXANDER HAMILTON. 
 
 '■IwCKO *«.N1 
 

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