John Sevier of Tennessee in 1797....

AURORA GENERAL ADVERTISER, Philadelphia PA, Dec. 19, 1797.
 
* 1st governor of Tennessee
* John Sevier

Page 2 has a report from Knoxville stating that John Sevier took the oath of office as governor of Tennessee in the Representatives Chamber, and delivered his inaugural address. Hereafter is the address, signed in type: John Sevier. Has archival mends to two tears at the spine.

 

Historical Background: When Tennessee became a state in 1796, Sevier was elected her first governor, and held the office through two re-elections to enjoy three two-year terms (the maximum number of consecutive terms allowed by the Tennessee Constitution of 1796). Upon his relinquishment of that post, he sought the semi-elective position of Major-General of volunteer forces for all of Tennessee. The vote was a tie, broken in favor of Sevier's rival, Andrew Jackson, by the new governor, Archibald Roane who was a personal friend of Jackson's. Sevier and Jackson would remain bitter enemies until Sevier's death, and they would even make an attempt at dueling one another in 1803. Sevier and Jackson meet outside the courthouse in Knoxville and Sevier brought up Jackson's marriage to Rachel. Jackson, insulted, requested an interview ; i.e. duel, and the two eventually met outside of Kingston, Tennessee. After a lot of name calling and threats, the two rode off without firing a shot. In that same year, Sevier would be reelected to the governor's chair, defeating Roane. He held the office for six more years. Partially because of the unusually short length of his first term due to the time of the admission of the state to the Union, Sevier served as governor of Tennessee longer than any other person except for fellow six-term governor William Carroll, who served for slightly over twelve full years.