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Show ri.tef Justice Marshall In 1S03 . of public notoriety, the verity of (h Presidential signature. "It Is never to be affixed till the commission is signed, because the i signature, which gives force and ef- j feet to the commission, Is conclusive evidence that the appointment I made." U. S. Great Seal Symbol of Power It Is Used Only Upon a Warrant Signed by the President. Early on the afternoon of July 4. 17TG. the Continental congress meeting meet-ing in Philadelphia resolved Itself into a commiitee oi the whole. A momentous piece of legislation was before it a declaration that "these United Colonies are. and of right ought to be. Free and Independent States." After a time the president reported re-ported favorably on the measure. A vote was taken, and so it came aboui a little before two o'clock the col onies oflicially declared their inde pendence from the mother country. But even then, the congress did not cease its labors for the day Meeting again after dinner It de cided to take steps to complete the evidence of the independence of the United States. Specifically. It laid plans for the adoption of an oflicial sign of sovereignty a national coat of arms, a Great Seal. On July 4, 17TG, the Continental congress "Resolved, that Dr. Frank lin, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Jefferson he a committee to prepare a device for a Seal of the United States of America.'' The first du- fi the Great Seal was cut in 1TS2. T-Ms special sign of sovereignty of the American republic re-public is atiixed to documents signe. bv the President. These include: 'commissions of all cabinet oflicers, diplomatic and consular oflicers who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the senate; all ceremonious cere-monious communications from th President to the heads of foreign governments; all treaties, conventions, conven-tions, and formal agreements of tin-President tin-President with foreign powers; all proclamations by the President; al! exequators to foreign consular olh cers in the United States who ar.; appointed by the heads of the governments gov-ernments which they represent ; M warrants by the President to receive persons surrendered by foreign governments gov-ernments under extradition treaties; and to all miscellaneous commissions of civil oflicers appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, whose appointments ap-pointments are not now specially directed by the law to be signed under un-der a different seal. When the Great Seal Is attached |