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1801
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March 4, 1801Thomas Jefferson begins his term as President of the United States. A planter from Virginia, he is trained in law, has served in the Virginia House of Burgesses, Delegate to the 1st Continental Congress, drafter of the Declaration of Independence, Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, Secretary of State under George Washington and Vice President of the United States under John Adams. |
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1804
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| Senator William Branch Giles of Virginia arrives to serve in the U.S. Senate. |
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1809
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March 4, 1809James Madison begins his term as President of the United States. Educated at Princeton, he helped frame the Virginia Constitution in 1776, and had served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress and the Virginia Convention of 1788, author of The Federalist, Virginia Assemblyman, "Father" of the Constitution, framer of the Bill of Rights, and Secretary of State under Thomas Jefferson. |
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1810
January 18, 1810The 17 states in the union on this date include: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia. Senator Phillip Reed of Maryland proposes a "title of nobility" Amendment (History of Congress, Proceedings of the Senate, p. 529-530). The first version of the Titles Of Nobility Amendment (or TONA) is read to the Senate.
January 29, 1810A revised version of the proposed amendment is read to the Senate. The proposed amendment revokes the citizenship of those who violate the prohibition, and renders them ineligible to hold public office.
February 13, 1810The TONA (Titles of Nobility Amendment) is recommitted to a select committee consisting of Senators Phillip Reed (Md.), William Branch Giles (Va.), Michael Leib (Pa.), William H. Crawford (Ga.) and Timothy Pickering (Ma.), for further consideration.
February 15, 1810An amended version of the TONA is reported to the Senate which includes the phrase "title of distinction," but this language is too cumbersome in construction even for these flowery times. The phrase is stricken.
March 5, 1810Thomas Jefferson writes in a letter to Governor Langdon of New Hampshire and referring to the European governments states, "The question whether a measure is moral, is never asked; whether it will nourish the avarice of their merchants, or the piratical spirit of their navy, or produce any other effect which may strengthen them [the aristocrats] in their places."
April 11, 1810The committee again reports an amended proposal of the TONA to the Senate.
April 26, 1810A motion to delay voting on the proposed amendment is defeated, 8 to 20 by the vote.
April 27, 1810The Senate votes to pass the 13th Amendment proposal by a vote of 26 to 1.
May 1, 1810With considerable support both from Federalists in New York and Massachusetts, and Democratic-Republicans in the south, the TONA is approved by a vote of 87- 3 in the House. Eighteen of the 21 members from Virginia vote for it. Seventeen of the 18 members from Pennsylvania vote for it, while those from New York number 7 for it, 6 absent or not voting, and 1 against. The Resolution is sent to the States for ratification. Ratification will now require passage by 13 (three fourths) of the 17 states. The final Amendment reads: [View the Document]
The Resolution is signed by J.B. Varnum, Speaker of the House, John Gaillard, President of the Senate pro tempore, and certified by Sam A. Otis, Secretary of the Senate.
December 25, 1810Maryland ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 1st of 13 states required. Cover letter and Resolution addressed to James Monroe as Secretary of State, cover letter and Resolution transmittal to Edward Lloyd, Esquire, Governor (sic) of Maryland. Resolution signed by Clerk of the House, Clerk of the Senate, certified by a Clerk of the Court of Appeals. [View Table of Notifications] |
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1811
January 31, 1811Kentucky ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 2nd of 13 states required. Ohio unanimously ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 3rd of 13 states required. On that same day, the Resolution is Signed by the Speaker of the Ohio House, Speaker of the Ohio Senate, and certified by the Secretary of State of Ohio, addressed to the President of the Senate of the United States. [View table of Notifications]
February 2, 1811Delaware ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 4th of 13 states required.3 The resolution is signed by the Clerk of the House, but not delivered to the U.S. government. [View Table of Notifications] The Virginia House of Delegates enrolls the 13th Amendment as a pending bill.
February 4, 1811An election is scheduled in the Virginia House of Delegates to replace William Munford, as he has been elected Clerk of the House. An election to fill the governorship vacated by James Monroe is scheduled for December 5. The Virginia House of Delegates sends the 13th Amendment to the Virginia Senate.
February 6, 1811Pennsylvania ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 5th of 13 states required.
February 9, 1811Kentucky notifies Congress it has ratified the 13th Amendment. Cover letter to The Speaker of the U.S. Senate, signed by Ch. Scott, Governor of Kentucky. Accompanying the letter is a resolution dated January 31, 1811, requesting the Governor to communicate the ratification to The Senate and House of the United States, and to the Governor of each of the states, certified by the Secretary of the State of Kentucky. [View Table of Notifications]
February 11, 1811In the U.S. Senate, Secretary of the Senate Sam A. Otis delivers a letter acknowledging receipt of the Ohio Resolution delivered to President Monroe. Postmarked and certified by the Secretary of State of Pennsylvania this day, a cover letter of transmittal and Resolution of ratification by the state of Pennsylvania, addressed to President James Madison from Governor Snyder. [View Table of notifications]
February 13, 1811New Jersey ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 6th of 13 states required.
February 14, 1811The Virginia Senate disagrees on the TONA ratification resolution. According to the Rules and Orders of the Senate, the matter may not be heard again in the same session "except where it may be judged proper" after conferring with the House of delegates.
February 18, 1811A letter of transmittal is dated this day from Governor Bloomfield of New Jersey, addressed to Robert Smith Esq., Secretary Department of State. Enclosed is the Resolution of Ratification by New Jersey. It is certified and receipted by James Linn, Secretary of the State of New Jersey, and certified again and sealed by Joseph Bloomfield, Governor of New Jersey. There is no notation that Secretary of State Smith has read the resolution to the Congress. [View Table of Notifications]
February 20, 1811In the Senate, Secretary of the Senate Sam A. Otis acknowledges and certifies receipt of the Resolution of Kentucky from the President of the United States.
February 28, 1811Certified by the Secretary of State of Pennsylvania the previous day, a cover letter of transmittal and Resolution of ratification by the state of Pennsylvania, addressed to the United States Speaker of the Senate George Clinton from Governor Snyder.
March 3, 1811Senator Timothy Pickering of Massachusetts, a former Secretary of War (1775, 1802-1803), and former Secretary of State (1795-1800) leaves office.
March 28, 1811Dated March 13, postmarked March 15, receipted March 28 by Robert Smith Esquire Sec of State (sic), a cover letter transmitting ratified copy of the 13th Amendment from George Clinton of Pennsylvania, writing from New York. The letter carries the text "The enclosed Copy...was forwarded to me at this place after I had left the Senate, and I now take the liberty of transmitting it to you to be deposited in the Office of the Department of State which if my recollection serves me is the usual course..." There is no record of the United States Secretary of State announcing the ratification to Congress.
October 24, 1811Vermont ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 7th of 13 states required. The ratifying Resolution states it has been passed by the Senate and House of Vermont, and directs the Governor to send the Resolution to the "President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to each of our Senators, and Representatives in Congress, and to each of the Governors of the several States in the union. The resolution is certified by a secretary, and by the Secretary of State of Vermont.
November 10, 1811Governor Galusha of Vermont sends a letter of transmittal and Resolution of the State of Vermont to the President of the United States. The Resolution is not announced in Congress.
November 21, 1811Tennessee ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 8th of 13 states required. The Resolution also mentions several other proposed amendments - failing the Massachusetts amendment to prohibit embargoes, failing the Virginia amendment to remove Senators by congressional vote, failing the Pennsylvania amendment to create a tribunal of judges over and above the Supreme Court. The Resolution directs the Governor to transmit the resolution to "the executives of the several states, and also to each of our senators and representatives in Congress." The Resolution is signed by the Tennessee Speaker of the House, Speaker of the Senate, and attested by the House Clerk and Senate Clerk.
November 22, 1811Georgia ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 9th of 13 states required. The resolution is passed unanimously by the General Assembly, and the Governor is requested to transmit copies to "the President of the senate and Speaker of the House of representatives of the United States, and to each of our Senators and representives in Congress, and to each of the Governors of the several States." The Resolution is signed by the President of the Georgia Senate, certified by the Secretary of the Senate, signed by the Speaker of the House, certified by the Clerk, approved by the Governor, and certified by the Secretary of State.
November 26, 1811In an Extract from the journals of the Senate of South Carolina, the proposed 13th Amendment is referred to a committee including Col. May, Mr. Du Bose, and Mr. Reid.
November 29, 1811A report is made by the committee of the Senate of South Carolina recommending the adoption of the amendatory article and recommending it be sent to the State Senate. The report was agreed to by the Senate, and ordered to be sent to the House of Representatives of that state.
December 2, 1811Lieutenant Governor George William Smith of Virginia notifies the General Assembly that New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky have all ratified the 13th Amendment. He further announces that Governor James Monroe is now the Secretary of State of the United States.
December 6, 1811George William Smith is elected Governor of Virginia to replace Monroe.
December 9, 1811The Virginia House of Delegates hears a petition to print a new edition of the revised codes of the state.
December 19, 1811The Resolution of Vermont is noted by the Secretary of State as "Read".9
December 20, 1811Governor George William Smith notifies the General Assembly of Virginia that Maryland and Tennessee have ratified the 13th Amendment.
December 23, 1811North Carolina ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 10th of 13 states required. The resolution is signed by the Speaker of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and certified by the Secretary of State.
December 24, 1811Governor Blount of Tennessee sends a cover letter dated November 27and transmittal of the Tennessee Resolution to James Monroe, Secretary of State. The Resolution is noted with "12th Cong. 1st Sess." dated December 24 and noted as "Read." by Monroe. [View Table of Notifications] The House of Representatives of South Carolina, having taken up the Select Committee report of November 28, 1811 regarding a recommendation to ratify the 13th Amemdnment, postpones the matter without coming to any final decision.
Benjamin Watkins Leigh, an attorney, is elected to the Virginia State Legislature.
1812
January 2, 1812 Governor George William Smith of Virginia dies, having been in office less than 30 days.
January 4, 1812 James Barbour is elected Governor of Virginia to replace Smith. Cover letters and copies of the Georgia Resolution are sent from the Governor to the President of the U.S. Senate and to Secretary of State James Monroe.
January 17, 1812 Cover letters to James Madison Esq (sic) and The Hon Jesse Franklin (sic) are sent with certified copies of the North Carolina Resolution from Governor William Hawkins.
January 22, 1812 Letter of transmittal and authenticated act from North Carolina are noted by the Secretary of State as "12 Cong. 1 Sess." and also noted as "Read."[See Table of Notifications]
January 23, 1812 Governor Barbour of Virginia notifies the Virginia Assembly that North Carolina has ratified the 13th Amendment.
January 24,1812 Governor Barbour of Virginia sends supporting documents to the House regarding North Carolina's ratification of the 13th Amendment.
February 6, 1812 Governor Barbour notifies the Virginia House that Georgia has ratified the 13th Amendment.
February 7, 1812 The Virginia House of delegates sends a bill to the Virginia Senate to approve the republishing of the existing 'Revised Code of the Law of this Commonwealth' [an edition prior to the 1819 Revised Code]. Andrew Stevenson, William Munford and William Hay, Jr. supervised the effort. Samuel Pleasants, Jr. was the printer. It was enacted because there were insufficient editions available to officers of the Commonwealth.
February 10, 1812 Secretary of the Senate Sam A. Otis notes in a cover letter to the Resolution of the Senate that the Georgia Resolution and Resolutions of other states which have ratified be sent to the Secretary of State. There is no notification to the House of Representatives or President noted by Otis or Monroe.
February 12, 1812 Governor Barbour sends documentation regarding Georgia's ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Virginia House. The Virginia Senate votes to revise the Codes of the State of Virginia.
March 12, 1812 New York fails ratification of the 13th Amendment.
April 30, 1812 Louisiana becomes the 18th state in the Union, but is not consulted on the pending constitutional amendment.
June 12, 1812 The War of 1812 begins.
December 10, 1812 New Hampshire ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 11th of 13 states required. The resolution is signed by the Speaker, President, approved by the Governor, and certified by the Secretary. The Resolution directs the Governor to transmit copies to "the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representaives in Congress, and to each of the Governors of the several States."
December 12, 1812 Cover letter and Resolution of New Hampshire are sent to "The Hon William H. Crawford Esq (sic) President of the Senate of the United States".
December 21, 1812 An order of the Senate of the U.S., attested by Sam A. Otis, Secretary, directing him to forward the letter from the Governor and Resolution of New Hampshire to the Secretary of the Department of State. There is no note that the Resolution was read back to the House by the Secretary.
December 27, 1812 Massachusetts ratifies the 13th Amendment, the 12th of 13 states required.
1813
February 6, 1813 William Waller Hening is authorized by the Virginia Legislature to publish The Statutes at Large of the State of Virginia. The Full title is: The Statutes at Large ; Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature, In the Year 1619.
March 4, 1813 Former Senator Timothy Pickering returns to office, this time as a Representative for Massachusetts.
March 23, 1813 Senator Crawford of Georgia leaves office, becomes the U.S. Minister to France.
April 22, 1813 Connecticut Secretary of State John Cotton Smith writes to Secretary of State James Monroe that the legislature has received the Amendment, but has made no decision and will reconvene early in May, at which time the letter from Adams will be laid before them.
May 8, 1813 Governor Tompkins of New York notifies Secretary of State James Monroe that ratification of the 13th Amendment has failed. The State Senate directs the Clerk of the Senate on April 3 to respond on this to the Governor's letter of April 1. There is no note in Monroe's file that the rejection is ever read in the Congress. [See Table of Notifications]
May 13, 1813 Connecticut fails ratification of the 13th Amendment. The Governor is requested to transmit copies to The Secretary of State of the United States, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House. The Resolution is signed by the Secretary of State of Connecticut. One copy is certified on May 29, and another on August 12.
September, 1813 The Governor of South Carolina sends a message to the House of Representatives enclosing New Hampshire's Resolution approving the 13th amendment, and reminding them that no decision had been made on it in South Carolina's House. A Committee, with Benjamin Huger as Chairman, was appointed to examine the proceedings of the preceding legislature. Both the Select Committee report of November 28, 1811, and the Resolution from the U.S. Congress were ordered to lie on the table, and no further action was taken. The Committee examining the previous proceedings recommends that that out of respect for Congress and the other states, the amendment should be disposed of in the current session, and further that it should be rejected. The committee explains that it feels Congress is already empowered to refuse permission to individuals to accept presents from foreign powers and has done so, and that the new amendment might later lead to negative consequences presently unforeseen. This report was ordered to be considered on the following Thursday, but nothing was done again.
Benjamin Watkins Leigh leaves the Virginia State Legislature.
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