Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27

EALOO0L1 SudEuSO lIf Tie OluCc
of the secretary of the United
States Senate is a heavy bound
volume. which is literally worth
much more than it's weight in
gold. 1t may be said that, next to the
original draft of the Declaration of In
dependence, the manuscripts of which
this volume is composed are the most
valuable, in the eyes of the collector, OF
any in the custody of the government.
The volume contains the original mes
sages from the various Presidents to the
Senate. from the time of George Wash
ingtOn down to Grover Cleveland. An in
scription on the cover of the book reads:
Presidents messages from the executive
files of the Senate during the first CEN
fury of the existence of the United States
of America, May 1. 1885,
This treasured compilation was pre-
pared under the direction of Arson g.
McCook, who was then secretary of the
Senate. remarkable circumstance abou
the contents is that the writing. for the
most part, is as clear and legible as
when first inscribed. This is not the
case with the original of the Declaration
of Independence in the State Department.
A few years ago the writing of the latter
historic document began to fade, and il
alright steel safe and exposed only on
rare occasions.
i X
short time ago, however. it was
noticed that the ink in the Declaration
was becoming rapidly illegible, and now
the writing can be deciphered only with
great difficulty, and with the aid of q
magnifying glass. 1t is thought that this
obliteration is due partly to the fact that
an impression was taken of the hand
writing for the purpose of making a
facsimile, and some of the ink was
necessarily absorbed in the process.
At any rate, the original Declaration
cal be read now only In a certain light.
and 1T is said will soon be faded away
altogether.
This is not the case with the manu- :
script presidential messages IN the
Senate secretary's office. The hand
writing is as clear and legible now as
it was when penned by the famous men
who have long since passed from earth.
The parchments and paper upon
which these important state papers
were written were becoming rapidly
worn out by constant thumbing over.
when Gen. McCook wisely TOOK steps
to preserve them. The work was well
done, and, barring accidents, the pages
of the book and hanuWr1tlnS VIII JIG
in AS good q state OF preservation
hundred wears hence as today.
The initial message In the book Is the
first of any Importance sent to the Sen
ATE by President Washington. On tWo
occasions previous to the writing OF tni'
message he had, in person, met the SEN
ate in executive session. but since Angus
"a 1859, there is no record OF any FIesi
dent having done SO, although authority
for such a course is given by rule 36 o.
the Senate This rule is worded as foi
lows:
.When the President of the United
States shall meet the Senate In the Sen
ate chamber for the consideration OF eA-
ecutive business. he shall have seat or
the right Of the presiding officer
x x
This first message of Importance from
President George Washington to the Sen
ate is inscribed on coarse, unruied paper
in big, heavy, plain handwriting, and
signed by the we'll known signature, &c
washington" 1t reads:
gentlemen of the Senate: The Presl'
dent Of the United States will meet the
senate in the Senate chamber at half-pas
eleven o'clock to advise with them on the
terms Of the treaty to be negotiated will
| the Southern Indians
/ oNroU Yoyk August NSt 1720"