1. This statement is immediately followed on the LB by multiple extracts of resolutions and motions copied primarily from the U.S. Senate journal for 8, 9, and 10 February. For the printed version of those resolutions, and for the congressional measures made between 8 amd 10 Feb., see Journal of the Senate description begins The Journal of the Senate including The Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate: George Washington Administration 1789–1797. Edited by Martin P. Claussen. 9 vols. Wilmington, Del., 1977. description ends , 9:75–84, and Journal of the House description begins The Journal of the House of Representatives: George Washington Administration 1789–1797. Edited by Martin P. Claussen. 9 vols. Wilmington, Del., 1977. description ends , 9:169–81.

The first extract was a motion adopted by the Senate, dated “In Senate, February the 10th 1797,” and attested by Senate secretary Samuel Allyne Otis: “Ordered, that the Secretary of the Senate lay before the President of the United States, a copy of the Journal of the 8th instant, relative to the opening and counting the Votes for President and Vice President of the United States, and the declaration of the President of the Senate consequent thereon: And also to present to the President, a copy of the notification given by the President elect of the time, place and manner of qualifying to execute the duties of his office.”

The second extract, copied from the Senate journal for 8 Feb., reads: “A message from the House of Representatives by Mr [John] Beckley their Clerk:

“Mr President—The House of Representatives are ready to meet the Senate in the Chamber of that House, agreeable to the Report of the joint Committee, to attend the opening and examining the Votes of the Electors for President and Vice President of the United States as the Constitution provides. And he withdrew. … The two Houses of Congress accordingly assembled in the Representatives Chamber, and the Certificates of the Electors of sixteen States were by the Vice President opened and delivered to the Tellers appointed for the purpose, who having examined and ascertained the number of Votes, presented a list thereof to the Vice President, which was read as follows.” Inserted at this place in the extract is a table listing the presidential candidates and the number of electoral votes accorded to each from all sixteen states. The table shows that John Adams received seventy-one electoral votes, more than any other candidate, with Thomas Jefferson in second place with sixty-eight votes. Beneath the table, the extract for 8 Feb. continues: “Whereupon, The Vice-President [Adams] addressed the two Houses of Congress as follows:

“In obedience to the Constitution and Laws of the United States, and to the commands of both Houses of Congress, expressed in their resolution, passed in the present session, I now declare, that,

“John Adams, is elected President of the United States, for four years, to commence with the fourth day of March next; And that Thomas Jefferson, is elected Vice President of the United States, for four years, to commence with the fourth day of March next: ‘And may the Sovereign of the Universe, the ordainer of civil Government on earth; for the preservation of liberty justice and peace among men, enable both to discharge the duties of these Offices, conformably to the Constitution of the United States, with conscientious diligence, punctuality and perseverance.’” For the constitutional provisions governing the election of the president and vice president, see Article II, section 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The “resolution” probably refers to Congress’s orders pertaining to the joint committee’s report on the announcement of the election results (see Journal of the House description begins The Journal of the House of Representatives: George Washington Administration 1789–1797. Edited by Martin P. Claussen. 9 vols. Wilmington, Del., 1977. description ends , 9:137, 150, 152, 154–55).

Another extract, dated “Thursday, February 9th 1797,” reads: “The Vice President laid before the Senate, the following communication … In consequence of the declaration made yesterday in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, of the election of a President and Vice President of the United States, the record of which has just now been read from your Journal, by your Secretary, I have judged it proper to give notice, that on the fourth of March next at twelve Oclock, I propose to attend again in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, in order to take the Oath prescribed by the Constitution of the United States to be taken by the President, to be administered by the Chief Justice, or such other Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, as can most conveniently attend, and in case none of those Judges can attend, by the Judge of the District of Pennsylvania, before such Senators and Representatives of the United States as may find it convenient to honour the transaction with their presence.”

The remaining extracts were all dated 10 February. One reads: “The Committee to whom was referred the Resolution of the House of Representatives, respecting the manner of notifying, to the Vice President elect, his election to that Office, made report, which being amended, was adopted as follows:

“Resolved, that the President … be requested to cause to be transmitted to Thomas Jefferson … Vice President elect … notification of his election to that Office, and that the President of the Senate do make out and sign a Certificate …” notifying Jefferson of his election.

Another extract of 10 Feb., taken from the House journal and attested by House clerk John Beckley, was of a resolution stating “that the notification of the election of the Vice President, be made by such person, and in such manner, as the Senate may direct.” Secretary of State Timothy Pickering notified Jefferson of his election and transmitted the aforementioned certificate to him (see Pickering to GW, 10 Feb., and n.2).