Show the name canada traced to indians the mace a symbol of government authority has an ancient origin one in washington has been in existence since the organization of the federal government in 1789 it was provided for by a resolution adopted by the house during the he first congress on april 14 of that year it has served as a symbol ol of authority auth arity of the sergeant at arms who is charged with the duty of preserving order on the floor of the house states stales a writer in the indianapolis news the magistrates of the old roman republic proceeding on foot from one place to another set up their little courts to administer justice each was attended by a small body of men known as victors lic tors who preserved order made arrests and inflicted punishment each carried with him a bunch of rods fastened together by thongs with an ax bound on the outside the rods for scourging and the ax for beheading in conquering britain the romans brought with them the fasces or rods as an emblem of authority which like other roman customs custori s remained with the british people and were introduced into american institutions the mace in use in the english house of commons was made in 1649 by thomas maundy chief maker of maces in the time of oliver cromwell the mace of the cromwell period however bore no regal symbols these were restored after his time cromwell himself perpetrated the most flagrant offense of legislative authority when he pointed to the golden mace then in use and shouted take away that bauble in a few instances the mace has been used in the united states to quiet some angered member of the house of representatives according to records its authority has never been ignored A number of states stales including south carolina have maces used on state occasions |