Thomas Jefferson Papers

To Thomas Jefferson from John Sevier, 12 January 1804

From John Sevier

Knoxville 12 January 1804

Sir

I have the honor to Acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th of December ultimo, with the inclosed copy of an Article of Amendment proposed by Congress to be added to the constitution of the United States respecting the election of President and Vice president, to be laid before the legislature of Tennessee; which will with much pleasure be complied with at their next meeting in session, and I entertain no doubt they will readily approve the measure. And I tender you assurances of my Very high respect and Consideration

John Sevier

RC (NcU: Samuel Gordon Heiskell Papers); at foot of text: “Thomas Jefferson esquire President of the U States.” Recorded in SJL as received 24 Jan.

On 7 June, Sevier issued a proclamation convening the next meeting of the Tennessee legislature on 23 July. Both houses ratified the proposed Twelfth Amendment by unanimous consent on 27 July, making Tennessee the thirteenth and deciding state to do so (Tennessee Gazette and Mero-District Advertiser, 13 June 1804; Madison, Papers description begins William T. Hutchinson, Robert A. Rutland, J. C. A. Stagg, and others, eds., The Papers of James Madison, Chicago and Charlottesville, 1962- , 37 vols.: Sec. of State Ser., 1986- , 10 vols.; Pres. Ser., 1984- , 8 vols.; Ret. Ser., 2009- , 2 vols. description ends , Sec. of State Ser., 7:527, 555-6; Kuroda, Origins of the Twelfth Amendment description begins Tadahisa Kuroda, The Origins of the Twelfth Amendment: The Electoral College in the Early Republic, 1787-1804, Westport, Conn., 1994 description ends , 161).

Index Entries