Jonah Patel
The signing of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were both significant events in the nation's history. The Declaration of Independence was penned by Thomas Jefferson using a silver dip pen, and the engrosser or official copier was likely Timothy Matlock, an assistant to Charles Thomson, secretary to the Congress. The Constitution, on the other hand, was drafted by delegates of the Federal Convention in 1787 and engrossed by Jacob Shallus, a clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While the specific pen used to sign the Constitution is not mentioned, the Syng inkstand, which held the ink for the signing, has become a famous artifact. The use of autopens, or machines that reproduce handwriting, has also raised constitutional questions about the validity of documents signed by elected officials.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pen | Quill pen |
| Feather used | Goose flight feather |
| Pen for the first draft | Silver dip-pen |
| Writer of the first draft | Thomas Jefferson |
| Writer of the final draft | Timothy Matlock or Timothy Matlack |
| Inkstand | Syng inkstand |
| Current location of the inkstand | Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution was handwritten with a quill pen
The use of a quill pen for such an important document was not unusual at the time. In fact, official documents of the time were usually engrossed, or copied in large, clear script. Quill pens were commonly used for writing in Europe and, by extension, colonial America, from 600 to 1800 AD. The pens were made from the flight feathers of geese, with each pen being unique due to the natural variations in the feathers. The process of making a quill pen required a skilled craftsman to select, clean, and carve the feathers for writing.
The use of quill pens has a long history, dating back to ancient times. Quill pens were often made from the feathers of birds such as geese, swans, and ravens. The feathers were carefully selected and prepared, with the shaft or quill being carved to a point or rounded, depending on the preference of the writer. Quill pens were used for a variety of purposes, including writing, drawing, and signing important documents.
The choice of a quill pen for the US Constitution may have been influenced by the European and English traditions of penmanship that were prevalent in colonial America. The influence of English roundhand script, for example, can be seen in the handwriting of Timothy Matlack, the engrosser of the Declaration of Independence. Matlack's use of this script, executed with a feather quill pen, resulted in a beautiful and legible document that has become a specimen of the country's history.
In conclusion, the use of a quill pen to handwrite the US Constitution was a reflection of the writing tools and traditions of the time. The quill pen, with its unique characteristics and historical significance, played a crucial role in the creation of one of the most important documents in American history.
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The Syng inkstand was used for the ink
The ink used to sign the Constitution likely came from an inkstand, a stand, tray, or casket that houses writing instruments. Inkstands were generally portable objects intended to sit on the table or desk of the writer. They were particularly useful when quill pens and dip pens were in everyday use, as was the case when the Constitution was signed. The Syng inkstand, created by renowned silversmith Syng, who immigrated to America from Ireland in 1713, was used for the ink. It is decorated in a late Rococo style and includes a pounce pot, quill holder, and inkpot.
Syng was a master craftsman who created fine works in silver and gold for the wealthy families of Philadelphia. He was also an associate of Benjamin Franklin and a prominent member of the Philadelphia community, assisting in founding the Library Company of Philadelphia, the American Philosophical Society, the Union Fire Company, and the University of Pennsylvania. In 1731, Syng served as Grand Master of Masons in Pennsylvania.
The Syng inkstand became the property of the State of Pennsylvania after the Constitutional Convention ended and was moved to the state capital in Harrisburg. It was returned to the City of Philadelphia in 1876, on the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, where it became famous. The inkstand was considered such an important artifact that it was removed from Independence Hall in 1922 when cracks appeared in the plaster ceiling, stoking fears that the building would collapse.
Today, the Syng inkstand is on display in a special case in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
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The engrosser of the Constitution was Jacob Shallus
The engrosser of the US Constitution was Jacob Shallus, a 37-year-old assistant clerk of the Pennsylvania Assembly. Shallus was born in 1750 and passed away in 1796. He was the son of German immigrants who had settled in Pennsylvania in 1749. His father, Valentine Schallus, was an innkeeper who immigrated from the Palatine region in 1747, and his mother was Frederica Catherina. Shallus had a brother named Thomas, who worked as a mapmaker.
Shallus was a merchant in Philadelphia and was listed as a "gentleman" in the tax rolls. He married eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Melchior, sister to Col. Isaac Melcher, Barrack-Master-General of the Continental Army, in 1771. The couple had eight children, with their eldest, Francis Shallus, born in 1774. Francis went on to become an engraver, apprenticing under the 1st Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint.
During the Revolutionary War, Jacob Shallus served as a quartermaster in the First Pennsylvania Battalion and assisted in outfitting the privateer Retrieve. He also volunteered for the war in Canada and later resigned his commission to become a deputy commissary general for Pennsylvania. At the time of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Shallus served as the Assistant Clerk to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
On September 15, 1787, the delegates approved the final draft of the Constitution and ordered it to be engrossed on parchment, ready for signing on Monday, September 17. Shallus was chosen as the calligrapher and was paid $30 for transcribing the Constitution onto four sheets of parchment, measuring 28-3/4 inches by 23-5/8 inches. Using a goose quill and black ink made from iron filings in oak gall, Shallus wrote over 25,000 letters in nearly 4,500 words. The original handwritten document engrossed by Shallus is now on display in the Rotunda of the Charters of Freedom at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
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The use of autopens to sign documents has raised constitutional questions
The use of autopens to sign important documents has raised several constitutional questions. Autopen is a device that mechanically replicates a person's signature. A pen or any other writing implement is gripped by the arm of a machine, which then reproduces the signature after a writing sample has been fed to it. This allows celebrities or politicians to sign hundreds of documents without being directly involved or even being in the same room. While there are no laws governing a president's use of an autopen, the question of whether it is constitutional for someone or something to sign a bill outside of the president's presence has been raised.
The use of autopens by US presidents is not a new phenomenon. Presidents, including Donald Trump, have been using autopens for decades. However, when Trump claimed that Joe Biden's January 6 committee pardons were invalid because they were signed using an autopen, the issue of the constitutionality of autopens came into the spotlight. Legal experts have stated that there is nothing in US law that would invalidate pardons signed by autopen. Additionally, the Constitution does not specify that pardons must be in writing, and autopen signatures have been used before for substantive actions by presidents.
Despite this, some argue that the use of autopens by the president sets a dangerous precedent. The argument is that the Constitution does not allow for shortcuts, and the use of an autopen could potentially lead to unintended consequences, such as a period during which new legislation would not be in effect or a pocket veto. Furthermore, the question of whether the president was present when the autopen was used has been raised as a more important issue than the use of the autopen itself.
The debate over the use of autopens to sign documents has highlighted the lack of clear guidelines in this area. While there are no laws prohibiting the use of autopens, the potential consequences of their use, especially in high-value transactions, need to be carefully considered to ensure the integrity of the signature and the decision-making process.
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The Constitution does not specify a method for affixing the president's signature
The controversy surrounding autopen use centres around the validity of documents signed with an autopen and whether the president has foreknowledge of the documents being signed. Some argue that autopen use casts doubt on the president's knowledge of the documents, while others claim that the physical act of signing is not required for a document to be valid. In 2005, the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion that the president may sign a bill by directing a subordinate to affix their signature or using an autopen.
The use of autopens by presidents has been a topic of debate, with accusations levelled against former President Biden by the Trump administration. The Biden Presidential Library at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) denied requests for information about autopen use, citing a statute that prevents their release for five years after a president leaves office. The former president has not yet established a post-presidential office and is currently unreachable.
While the method of affixing the president's signature is not specified in the Constitution, the document outlines the powers of the president regarding pardons. Article II, Section 2 states that the president "shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment," with no mention of a required signature. This further complicates the debate surrounding autopen use, as presidential pardons may be granted orally or without a written signature.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution was penned by Jacob Shallus, a clerk of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, using a quill pen.
Quill pens are made from the flight feathers of geese. The wing feathers, shaft, or quill was carved to a point or rounded, based on the writer's preference.
The pen used to sign the US Constitution is now on display in a special case in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The use of autopens, machines that reproduce handwriting, has raised constitutional questions. The Constitution does not specify a method for affixing the president's signature. The Executive Branch has held that autopen use is constitutional.
