Partly-printed vellum DS as president, one page, 12 x 8.25, May 21, 1800. President Adams appoints Gersham R. Jacques as “a Surgeon’s Mate in the Navy of the United States.” Signed at the conclusion by President Adams and countersigned by Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert. The white paper seal affixed to the upper left remains intact and crisply embossed. Intersecting folds (two vertical folds passing through single letters of the signature), heavy overall soiling, and signatures very light but legible, otherwise very good condition. Soon to come was the bitter campaign for the 1800 presidential election, which placed the Democratic-Republican Adams against Federalists Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The three-fifths clause gave the southern states an advantage in the electoral vote, resulting in a Federalist victory; if the disenfranchised slaves had not counted in the appropriation of electoral votes, Adams would have won. Even more unusual, Jefferson and Burr tied in electoral votes and the House of Representatives determined the winner. Jefferson went on to promote Gersham R. Jacques to surgeon in the Navy in 1807. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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