The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-21
TIE CENTENNIAL STATE PAPER

WAsHXGroN, Jan. 20 1878.
In pursuance OF an act OF Congress approved Janu-
ny 49, 1875 the Secretary Of state yesterday morn
ing affixed Great Seal OF the United States to the
document entitled "The Administrators OF tho nited
States Government at tho Beginning Of Its Second
Century" II then privately exhibited to tho
President preparatory TO Its beng hcrm oay scale
between plates OF glass and framed for nal deposit In
the Department OF State.
'rhs Administrators OF the United States Govern.
msnt Al the Beginning of Its Second Century, was
exhibited In burglary proof safe at Philadelphia, In
front OF the grand stand 1t Inde pendence Hail. July
l. 1876, rs part OF tho Centennial exercise 1t was
then removed 10 the scat OF government ana tempo
rary PLACED On deposit In Inc Department OF State
century hence u will be looked upon with as IN UGH
interest as 10 the Declaration OF Independence at Tho
present ~ day r,v, Tn, s Ss.a paper thirty
by an cmbleinstic border. surmounIsd by a
vlgnette Of state. composed OF an eagle grasp
cap. and Give branches scroll, upon which up
pears the wOrd CONSTITUTIONS" each siue Of the
representation OF Plymouth Rock. on which IN.
scribed the dates "l776-lS76" with the United States
motto, Plur1bus Unmm. The background repre-
sents u storm scene and from the clouds above the
horizon streaks OF lightning are to be observed. The
remainder Of the border made up OF flgots, typIly
ing the thirteen original States. which are bound
together with band Of stars gathering in the upper
corners olive and onk branches tho former signifyIng
peace aud the latter symbol eng strength. Az each
rounded with clusters Of owe and oak leaves. The
document derives It's interest anu importance from
The fact that upon lis aco are tho OF the
ecuve, judicial and legislative officers OF the gov
eminent, IN nil numbering 401.
IL was signed nj tho Executive Mansion in the coun-
Gil room by the President and his Cabinet: Ut the
Cspnoi the Chief Justice and Associate Justices
sfnxcd tneif signatures in the Court Chambers; the
United States Senators subscribed their names 10 IL
In the Vice Prcsdents apartment; and tho Represent
ntivts OF the United States complete the state ro-
cord entered their names upon II IN the Speakers
room.
The arrangement Of signatures IL In the following
order:The President heads the Iist the Calumet, ~
their Offices were created by law the Supreme Court
according to seniority OF appointment the senate na
were admitted, and Territorial delegates, in the
order Of tho creation OF the Territories The
Senators longest IN continuous service signed
nrst under head Of their respective states, and
Representatives In tho numerical order OF
their districts Each branch OF government bears the
certificate Of It's clerk or secretary, under SEAL that
the signatures are genuine The instrument Of the
date July 4. 1879 AZ that time Hon. Thomas W.
Ferry, OF Michigan, wass Vice President pro fem
npd lie Office of Inc Secretary of ms Trasnrv 49,.
vacant There was one vacancy Ia the Senate and one
III the House. The colored members seven In
number, oenatof and six Representatives. siuce
then three members OF the Senate and Jour OF the
House have diod, viz:-Senators Allen Taylor Car
pcnter. Of West Virginia. Lewis Bogy, OF Missouri;
oliver y. Morton, Of Indiana; Represen tatives Ed.
ward " Parsons, OF Kentucky; Michael Z. Korr, Of
Indiana; SoUeski Ross, OF Pennsylv wanna, and John
II. Bureigh, Of Maine.
sion TO regulate tho counting OF votes Tor President
aud Vice President the decision OF questions ars-
are pointed out In the index. The Great Seal tho
United states Is In gold, and those VI the legislative
branches arc dark blue Tney are located In hori-
zontnl limo the lett side OF the that Of
the United states at the top, the mid
die and the House. VI tho bottom. They are three
inches IN diameter The judiciary seal the
Each seal Is ornsmentsd with . different 1gurItyo
decoration Of Stata