West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-03-23
THE STATE SEALS.
ny HON. JAMES c McGREw.
-

trsm the West Virginia School Journal
Few years since the writer was
called on To tell a teachers institute
how West Virginia came to be state.
Perhaps the hundreds OF teachers in
the State who read the School Journal,
and whose lives began since the stir
ring times of Eighteen Hundred and
S.xty-three, may read with some de-
gree et Interest the story OF how,
when, and by whom, the seals and
coat OF arms of the State were devised,
and what the various parts which com
pose the picture are emblematic of.
The use Of seals, private and official,
has come down to us from remote an
tiquity. Frequent mention OF seals Is
made in the Bible; aud IL is said by
antiquarians that they have been
found To exist in great numbers aud
variety of form in Assyrian remains.
1t is supposed that when seals first
came into use itIwas FOR the purpose of
aiiiNing the name Of the individual
owner TO IA writing; and subsequcntlv
they came into use for the purpose of
authentIcating written agreements bs.
tween private individuals, and also
public documents. Ia this csuntry the
United States and the different states
OF the Union, have seals each different
from every othor. Some are very
simple and others quite complicated
IN their composition whils they differ
also in form. The circular form ap-
pedrs 10 be tho most common, while
the spade or ogivs form is frequently
met with. The use OF seals, for boLa
pubic and private purposes, probably
came 10 US fron EHgland.
la maLy OF the states Of the United
States a simple scroll Aade with pen
asd ink is Il legal seal.
When West Virginia vas organized
on the goth OF JuEe, 1868, and Arthur
l. foreman was inaug governor,
the State had no seal; and hence was
without IA legal method OF authentica.
thug documents pertaining TO the
affairs of tho State. The Legislature
mot and was organized June 2Otn.
asd oa the 22nd, Potter G.. Van Wrinkle.
"A msmbs OF the house of delegates
offered the following - Resolved.
with the concurrence Sf tho Ssnate.
That a comnittse be appointed to de.
Vise suitable devices aRd inscriptions
Tor the seals Of the State, and report
the same TO the Legislature; and that
until such seals are adopted and ready
for use, the Governor be authorized TO
ahiX his private seal TO all Instruments
otherwise requiring the seal Of the
State
Uadsr this resolution p. q. Van
Ninkle, VIM. l.. Crawford and l. r..
Davidson were appointed on the part
OF the house OF delegates
The resolution was immediately con
Cured in by the Senate, and the fol-
lowing mem bors appointed on the part
Of the Senate ID. d. r. Farnsworth.
Edwin Maxwell and Greeuberry Slack.
The joint COMMITTEES held several
meetings, and as the mem bers q ffered
some what radically in their tastes and
views Of what woul1 be appropri,lte
for the seals, another senator and two
delegates, (of whom the writer was
ons) we're called into consultation
with the committee, and a device for
the seals was finally agreed upoR. a
gentleman by the Hame OIL H. Diss
Debar. foreigner, who was at the
capital cOntss.inR the seat of one Of
the delegates. and who was an expert
drauRh htsmaH, was called upon and
81 rN Na al "A
in the various emblems which had
been decided upon by the cont ittee
together with appropriate inscri ptions.
The Legislature had taken recess
from August 9th, % September end.
and in The ncanti.ue the drawing Of
The seal had been completed ~ Diss
Debar, and hal been photo2ra phed for
inspection by the ,nem Oers
The report Of the joint committee
was made 60 the house ot delegates
septem Der 28rd. and adopted without
dissent The DESCRIPTION Of the seals
contained in Che report was literally
ss fellows:
The disc Of the great seal TO be two
and One-haf inches ,n diameter. The
diverse To- bear the legend. state
of West Virginia" the constitutional
designation of our State. which. with
the motto "Montani Somper bihori.
tMountaiucers always frsrl is To- bs
inserted in the circumference In the
center. rock with ivy. emblemttic
of stability and contiuuaace aud on
the face OF the rock the inscription
June 20. 1868 the date Of our fsun.
datiOa as il "grsgod with d rea Of ..o.