Papers of John Adams, volume 21
r.President and Gentlemen of the Senate of the United States,
d.1796.
We have the Honor to inform you that we are within the walls of your Chamber, ready to produce, to you papers to prove, that we have been duly and legally elected Senators to represent the State of Tennessee in your Body— And that State haveing a right to be represented in the Congress of the United States, on an equal footing with the original States; in all respects whatever; our Duty compels us to demand that we be now admited to our Seats.—1
m.Blount
W
mCocke
RC (DNA:RG 46, Records of the U.S.
Senate); docketed: “Letter signed / Wm
Blount & Wm Cocke / claiming a seat in
the / Senate / from the State of Tennessee / May 23d / 1796. / 4th
Con / 1st Sess.”
Newly elected senators William Blount (1749–1800), of
Windsor, N.C., and William Cocke (1748–1828), of Amelia County, Va.,
presented their credentials. However, since they were selected by the
Tennessee legislature prior to the state’s admission to the union,
Congress barred them from taking their seats until 6 Dec. (
Biog.
Dir. Cong.
; Tennessee Timeline,
www.senate.gov/states/TN/timeline.shtml).