Alis volat propriis

Seal of the Oregon Territory with the latin phrase Alis volat propriis.

Alis volat propriis is a Latin phrase meaning "She flies with her own wings" and is the motto of U.S. state of Oregon.^[1]

The motto was written in English by judge Jesse Quinn Thornton, and its Latin translation was added to the Territorial Seal adopted by the Oregon Territorial Legislature in 1854.^[2] The motto referred to the May 2 1843 vote by Oregon Country settlers at the third Champoeg Meeting to form a provisional government independent of the United States and Great Britain.^[3] In 1957, the Oregon Legislature changed the motto to "The Union," reflecting conflicting views about slavery in Oregon's early days.^[3]

In 1987, the legislature readopted the original motto, which it felt better reflected Oregon's independent spirit.^[3] The sponsors of the bill that changed the motto back to alis volat propriis included the Oregon Secretary of State and later Governor Barbara Roberts, President of the Oregon Senate Jason Boe, and Senate historian Cecil Edwards.^[3]

In 1999, after a short debate in committee^[4], the Oregon House of Representatives was presented with HB 2269. If enacted, this bill would have reverted the state motto to "The Union", but the bill was defeated when it reached the House floor.^[5]

The current Oregon State Seal still features the motto "The Union".^[4]

References

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