The Washington times., 1902-08-31
A NEW GREAT SEAL OF THE UNITED STATES

nor has it ever been cut since II could
not conveniently be used for purposes OF
seal, and therefore. it has been allow
ed to go unnoticed to the present day.
This original Great Seal was used first
by Congress. The Oldest document that
has been preserved bearing its imprint
| is a parchment commission dated Sep
tember 16, 1882. granting full power and
authority to General Washington to ar
range with the British for an exchange
of prisoners of war. signed by John Han
son, President of Congress. and counter
signed by Charles Thomson. secretary.
The seal is impressed upon the parch-
ment over a white wafer fastened by REQ
wax in the upper left-haud corner The
| present method is to attach the seal to
| the lower left-hand corner Of docu-
ment.
| AS adopted by the old Congress, the
Great Seal was continued in force and
effect by the present Federal Govern
ment under the Constitution. by the act
of Congress of September Is. 1889, cre-
ating the Department of State. Ever
since it has been confined to the custody
of the Secretary of State. He was at
| first required TO affix it to all civil
commissions of officers of the United
States appointed by the President, either
alone or with the advice and consent OF
the Senate after the commissions had
been signed by the President. The Pres.
ident's signature TO an official instru-
ment is regarded as a warrant in itself
for affixing the Great Seal. Later on.
as the duties of the Government ex-
panded. the practice of affixing the
Great Seal to all commissions was grad
ually abandoned. and now it is required
20 b. affixed only TO the commissions OF
members of the Cabinet, and of our
Giplcmatic and consular officers. TO cere-
mnnious communications from the Pres
lident to foreign governments. to treaties.
pardons, proclamations, exequaturs to
foreign consular officers in this country.
and to miscellaneous commissions OF
certain civil officers. The commissions
Of postmasters are made out with the
seal of the Postofice Department; COM
missions of officers of the Interior De-
partment are made out with the seal
OF that department; likewise Federal ju-
dietary officials. such as marshais and
attorneys. are appointed under the seal
of the Department of Justice.
In various countries nowadays the au-
thenticity of a treaty vita anotner
power is attestcd by a large pendant
wax seal the cords that run through
the paper being carried through the
wax. As the wax would otherwise be
quite certain to break and the cords
become detached. a metal box, usually
of gold or silver. is used to cover ard
protect the wax impression. Our own
Great Seal was thus attached to treaties
up to the year 1869. when the Practice
was abandoned The impression en- thei
paper itself with a thin white wafer
is used upon treaties as well as eihery
instruments 20 which The seal is aflixed!y |
In the new Great Seal. now cutting.
there will be thirteen olives ON ths
olive branch and he eagles claws VIII
be turned forward, and not backward.
as in the preceding three. Otherwise
the new design VIII follow closely that
of the present Great Seal. except ;ha
all the details will he treated more ar
tistically. and the whole VIII be more1
beautifully executed. thanks to thel
progress of modern engraving.