| Show SEL affixed only to papers signed by the president history of its development down to the present time Franklin Frank llna la objection to the eagles eagle as the national bird washington gaillard Gall lard hunt chief I 1 of the division of manuscripts has just completed a historical sketch of the great seal beal of the united states the sketch telling of the various stages of development through which thereal the seal went before the one now in uso use was finally adopted when the continental congress made the obverse of the great seal th the a national urine arma it intended that the device should pass pasa into common use among the people as aa the flag had done and like the flag tho the arms arma at first met with general approval which see soon gave place to an acceptance of it as an emblem of the power and sovereignty of the united states which placed it above criticism not all the fathers of the republic however were pleased with the selection of the eagle as the national emblow emblem when the badge of the order of the society of the cincinnati was made in prance france in 1784 it was objected to by some because the displayed eagle resembled a turkey for my part wrote benjama franklin january 20 1784 to his daughter 1 I wish tile the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country he does not get tits his living honestly you may have hava seen him perched on some dead tree where too lazy to fish for himself he watches elm V gal aard hunt I 1 tiie the labor of the fishing hawk and when that diligent bird has baa at length taken a fish and Is bearing it to hla his nest for the support of his mate and young ones the bald eagle pursues him and takes it from him with all tahe injustice ho he Is never in good caste but like those among men who live by and robbing he la is generally poor and often very lousy besides he is a rank coward the little kingbird not bigger than a spar row attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district ho Is therefore by no means mean 8 a proper emblem for the brave and honest cincinnati of america who have driven all the kingbirds king birds from our country the seal itself has of course a very avery limited use which is strictly guarded by law tho the secretary of state Is it its custodian but even he has no author authority to affix it to any paper that does not bear the presidents signature in 1803 chief justice marshall in delivering an opinion of the supreme cour court t used the following language relative to the seal it may be considered applicable to all instruments to which the seal is affixed the signature of the president Is a warrant for affixing the great seal to the commission and the great seal la is only to be affixed to an instrument which is complete it attests by an act supposed to be of public notoriety the verity of tho the presidential bigna signature tu re it Is never to be affixed till the commission Is signed because the signature which gives force and effect to the commission Is conclusive evidence that the appointment Is made the commission being signed the he subsequent duty of the secretary of state Is prescribed by law and not to be guided by the will of the president he do la Is to affix the seal of the united states to the commission and Is to record it at the present time the seal beal of the united states Is affixed to the commissions of nil all cabinet officers and diplomatic and consular off officers leers who are nominated by the president and confirmed by the senate r all ceremonious communications from the dent to the heads of foreign govern ments all treaties conventions and formal agreements of tho the president with foreign powers all pro clama dons by the president all equators ex to 0 foreign consular officers in the uni ted ed states who are appointed by the heads of the governments which they represent to warrants by the lent jent to receive persons surre surrendered fly 11 y foreign governments under extra altion 00 treaties and to all miscella leous commissions of civil off officers leers ap wonted by the president by and a nd with VV ith he advice find and consent of the senate chose appointments a are not now ca directed by law to be signed ader a different seal feal i |
