February 2, 1861; The New York Herald
Among the many measures that have exercised the wisdom of the South Carolina Legislature recently, is one on the subject for the adoption of a national or State flag.
About one week after the passage of the secession ordinance the South Carolina Legislature adopted a flag of the following description: –
The flag has fifteen white stars on a marine blue ground, the centre star the larger one; a white palmetto tree and crescent on the upper right hand corner, and the corner spaces, including the ground on which the palmetto and crescent are placed, of red.
On the 26th of January the Legislature repealed the first resolution adopting a State flag, and substituted another one. The following cut will give an idea of the appearance of the new ensign: –
The field is dark blue. Upon the upper inner corner of the flag is the crescent, in white, the horns pointing upward. In the middle of the flag is an oval, in white, emblazoned with a golden palmetto, upright.
The subsequent day the Legislature rescinded the second resolution, and substituted the following: –
It now consists of a blue field, with a white palmetto tree in the middle, upright. The white crescent in the upper flag staff corner remains as before, the horns pointing upward.
Whether these shiftings and changes in the Legislature of the miniature republic are ominous or indicative of the character of its statesmen or policy we cannot at present divine. It strikes us, however, that the vision of the stars and stripes of the Union, which have proudly waved over our country for seventy years, is still impressed in the imaginations of the legislators of South Carolina, and that, notwithstanding their new flags, made up with combinations of snakes, palmettos, half moons and fifteen stars, they will not be content until they re-unfold the flag with thirty four stars and thirteen stripes.