Papers of John Adams, volume 21

William Blount and William Cocke to the Senate, 23 May 1796 Blount, William Cocke, William Adams, John United States Senate

From William Blount and William Cocke

Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Senate of the United States, Philadelphia, Monday, May 23d. 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

Wm. Blount Wm Cocke

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.”

476 1.

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).

William Tudor to John Adams, 27 May 1796 Tudor, William Adams, John

From William Tudor

Dear Sir Boston 27 May 1796

I have to regret that I was out of Town the Morning that You called upon me. At the Time Doctor Welsh acquainted me with it, he added that You had returned to Braintree, or I should have endeavoured immediately to have seen You, to have thanked You for so kind a Visit, as well as for those many Acts of Friendship from which, in early Life, I derived so much Advantage. The Voyage and subsequent Tour I propose making have always been interesting & desirable Objects. As Life properly consists only in the Multiplication of our Ideas, & as I can better at this Period leave my Family than at any future Day, I think myself excusable in gratifying a favourite, & at my Time of Life I presume not a useless Wish. But I cannot leave my Country without rejoicing in its present Prospects, in so great a Degree attributable to the Firmness & Prudence of the efficient individual Members of our Government. Anxious as I must ever feel for it’s Prosperity I should dread the Resignation of our fortunate & glorious President, if I did not with ardent Satisfaction anticipate that the good Sense of my Countrymen, & the guardian Genius of America, will place in his Seat the Man among her Citizens whose long, energetic & successful Labours coequal in the Cabinet with those of the immortal Washington in the Field of our Revolution merit & I hope will meet their supreme Reward.

But whether at the Head of the american Nation you shall be destined to dignify her Councils, or direct the Energy of her Measures, or aloof from the Turbulence of Politicks, & beyond the Reach of the Malignancy of Party you retire to philosophic Life, may You long live to enjoy the Prosperity of our common Country annually increasing.

Adieu! my dear Sir, and be assured that I shall ever retain Sentiments of Respect & grati[. . .] under a deep Impression of which / I remain / Your obliged Friend / & / most faithfull hble Servant

Wm Tudor 477

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “The Vice President / of the United States / at / Quincy”; endorsed: “Mr Wm. Tudor. 27 May / 1796.” Some loss of text due to a torn manuscript.