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The
Benton Desk
After the burning of the Capitol, (1814), Thomas Constantine a cabinetmaker
from New York made new mahogany furniture (1819) for the reconstructed
Old House Chamber, also known as Statuary Hall. Additional desks of
the same design were made later to accommodate more Members. The desks
used in the original chamber were sold at auction when the House moved
to its present chamber in 1857. Since most Members did not have offices
until 1908, desks like the one shown at left were important for storing
papers.
Thomas Hart
Benton of Missouri, best known for his 30 years of service in the
Senate, used this front row desk when he served in the House during
the 33rd Congress (1853-1855). The desk was sold at auction in 1858
and acquired by the American Antiquarian Society in 1886.
U.S. House of Representatives Chair, 1819
The mahogany chair shown at the left is one of the original chairs
made for the Old House Chamber, as attested by its T. Constantine,
& Co. New York City cabinet shop label. The seat of this highback
chair was covered with horsehair and there are two hand rests. The
stretcher frame at the bottom was added later to hold the Member's
hat.
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The Mace
The Mace of the U.S. House of Representatives is one of the oldest
and most important symbols of our nation's government.
In one of its
first resolutions, the U.S. House of Representatives of the 1st
Federal Congress (April 14, 1789) established the Office of the
Sergeant at Arms. The first Speaker of the House, Frederick Muhlenburg
of Pennsylvania, approved the Mace as the proper symbol of the Sergeant
at Arms in carrying out the duties of this office.
The design
of the Mace is derived from an ancient battle weapon and the Roman
fasces. The ceremonial Mace is 46 inches high and consists of 13
ebony rods representing the original 13 states of the Union
bound together by silver bands. Atop this shaft is a silver
globe on which sits an intricately cast solid silver eagle.
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The
Speaker's Letter Ordering The Mace
Three Maces have been used by the House of Representatives since its
inception. Between 1814 and 1841, the Mace was wooden. The present
Mace, "presented and qualified" on December 29, 1841 is
made of ebony and silver. In a letter (left) to silversmith William
Adams, Speaker John White specified that the Mace should be "similar
to one destroyed in the year 1814," when the Capitol was burned
by the British.
Letter of Speaker John White ordering the Mace
Source: Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury,
National Archives and Records Administration.
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The
Mace in the House Chamber
Each day when the House of Representatives is called to order,
the Sergeant at Arms or his assistant carries the Mace into the House
Chamber and places it on a green marble pedestal at the Speaker's
right.
The Mace
remains in this position while the House is in session but is moved
to the lower pedestal when the House resolves itself into Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union. This procedure allows
Members coming onto the Floor and visitors in the galleries to determine
whether the House is in session or in committee.
Note the
fasces (above) mounted on the wall behind the Mace. The original Roman fasces,
consisting of an axe bound within a bundle of rods by a red strap,
were carried before the consul and used to restore order and to carry
out punishment of the courts.The photograph shows the Mace place in its green pedestal on the Rostrum.
The Mace in the green marble pedestal, located on the Rostrum,
The Architect of the Capitol.
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The
Mace Used To Restore Order
In accordance with the Rules of the House, on the rare occasions when
a Member becomes unruly, the Sergeant at Arms, on order of the Speaker,
lifts the Mace from its pedestal and presents it before the offenders,
thereby restoring order. The drawing at right depicts the occasion
of a dispute that arose prior to the counting of the electoral votes
in the contested Presidential election of 1876.
The illustration appeared in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper on February 24, 1877. It depicts the Sergeant At Arms presenting the Mace in an effort to restore order in the House Chamber. There are members and pages are seated and standing on the House floor while the Sergeant At Arms presents the Mace.
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The
Mace at Presidential Inaugurations
Presidential inaugurations are held in the meeting place of the Congress,
with the Congress officially in attendance. The House of Representatives
and the Senate arrive at the ceremony as separate bodies and take
seats of honor behind the podium. The Sergeant at Arms or his assistant,
carrying the Mace, heads the procession of the Members of the House
of Representatives and stands behind them, holding the Mace, throughout
the inauguration ceremony.
The photograph shows the Mace leading the procession of members of the House of Representatives during the inauguration of President Richard M. Nixon on January 20, 1969. The delegation is descending a wooden platform in front of the central portico of the Capitol's East front. The Sergeant at Arms is carrying the Mace with the Members following behind. There are people seated on benches on either side of the aisle.
The Procession of the Mace Presidential Inauguration, 1969.
Office of the Architect of the Capitol
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