[for the Richmond Dispatch.]
the Confederate flag and the Southern cross.
Much has been said, and not a little written, upon the subject of the new Confederate flag.
Many designs have been proposed, some of which have, at least, the merit of originality.
That the present flag should be abandoned, we think, nearly every one will admit.
We propose as a substitute for it the one which we will now describe; Dimensions--the length to be double the width.
Colors--divide the length into twenty four parts; the first seven parts to be scarlet; the next five parts to be bright grass green; the next four parts to be white; and the remaining eight parts to be a deep sky blue, which shall be the field.
The Emblem-- I cross composed of clustering stars of gold, to be set in the blue field.
It may be constructed as follows: Place five stars, one above the other and equi-distant, in the middle of the field, and parallel with the staff; divide the width of the field into thirty-two parts, and arrange the stars so that the first one will be 9½ parts from its centre to the top of the field and the fifth one the same number of parts from its centre to the bottom of the field.
Between the second and third star from the top, place as star each side of a point midway between them, so that the four stars will form equilateral triangles; then add two stars at the top, two at the bottom, and two at each side, placing them so as to form equilateral triangles, the sides of the angles being the same length as the distance (measured from centre to centre) which separates one from another the stars first arranged, and you will have completed the cross. It will be observed there are fifteen stars altogether, which represent the fifteen Southern States. The two stars between the triangles at the sides to be in eclipse, as they are intended to represent the Southern States yet remaining in the old Union.
The cross has, for more than fifteen centuries, been a military emblem. It is as beautiful as it is significant. Up to the time of Constantine, it was used by the Romans as an instrument of torture, and malefactors suffered death upon it — but, this terrible mode of punishment was abolished by him, and the cross was elevated to a dignity it had never known before. The story of his conversion to Christianity is well known. Eusebius gives it in impressive language. It was during his war with Maxentius, the Roman Emperor, that he daily supplicated Heaven to aid him in overthrowing his enemies. A beneficent creator heard his prayers. The sign of the cross appeared in the sky above the declining sun — luminous and beautiful; having over it the words; ‘"By this conquer."’ He and his whole army were struck with wonder and amazement. Being unable to interpret its significance. Christ, it appears from the historian, came to his relief; for when night came on, and he had retired to rest, the Saviour appeared to him in a vision, holding in his hand the cross he had seen, and told him ‘"To make a standard resembling the sign which he had seen in the heavens, and to use it as a defence in the battle with his enemies."’ The legions of Maxentius were overthrown by the Christian warrior on the plains of Etruria, and the cross floated in triumph beneath the bright Italian skies.
The cross of St. Louis — a military order lustituted by Louis the 14th; is well known. The cross of St. Andrew, the cross of St. George, the various crosses used by the different orders of Knights, such as kaights of the Red Cross, Knights of Malte, (who wore a while cross on their breast, suspended by a black ribbon, and many others we could name, all having some military signification.
Within the cross we have described, there is almost a perfect representation of ‘"The Cross of the South."’ This constellation has some eighteen or twenty stars, but only four principal ones. Around some of these are clusters of minute stars just visible. It is by far the most splendid object in the southern heavens. A traveler in Brazil writes: ‘"we beheld this glorious constellation for the first time in latitude 14 deg. 7 min. We all contemplated it with feelings of profound devotion. To the navigator it is a token of peace. According to its position, it indicates the hours of the night. We had long wished for this consteliation as a guide to the other hemisp here. We therefore felt inexpressible pleasure when we perceived it in the resplendent firmament."’
Humboldt, also, refers to his first view of this constellation with peculiar feeling. ‘"We saw distinctly,"’ says the great traveller, ‘"for the first time the 'Cross of the South,' on the night of the 4th and 5th of July in the 16th degree of latitude — it was strongly inclined, and appeared from time to time between the clouds, the centre of which forrowed by uncondensed lightning, reflected a silver light. The pleasure felt in discovering the Southern Cross, was warmly shared by such of the crew as had lived in the celonies. In the solitude of the seas, we hail a star as a friend, from whom we have been long separated. The two great stars which mark the summit and foot of the cross, have nearly the same right ascension; It follows that the constellation is almost perpendicular at the moment when it passes the meridian. It is known at what hour of the night in different seasons, the Southern Cross is erect or inclined. It is a time piece that advances very regularly, nearly four minutes a day. How often have we heard our guide exclaim in the savannas of Venezuels, 'midnight is past, the cross begins to bend.'"’
We think the cross would be particularly appropriate as an emblem for the flag of our Great Republic. We know that its bright stars are ever twinkling in the deep blue vault of the Southern sky; and, as the course of empire with us, is toward the South, it would seem to invite us there, and act as a beacon light to guide us over its mighty mountains, and its broad and sunny plains.
Richmond, Jan. 20. 1862. J. B. T.
