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September 5, 1797 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in Vermont |
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The Vermont gubernatorial election of 1797 took place on September 5, 1797. [1] It resulted in the election of Isaac Tichenor to a one-year term. [2]
The Vermont General Assembly met in Windsor on October 12. [2] The Vermont House of Representatives appointed a committee to examine the votes of the freemen of Vermont for governor, lieutenant governor, treasurer, and members of the governor's council. [2]
Thomas Chittenden, who had been governor from 1778 to 1789, and again starting in 1790, died in August 1797. [2] Paul Brigham, the incumbent lieutenant governor, served as governor from Chittenden's death until the election of a successor. [2]
In the popular election, no candidate received a majority. [2] In keeping with the Vermont Constitution, the Vermont General Assembly was required to make a selection. [2] On October 13, the Assembly chose Isaac Tichenor and a committee was appointed to notify him. [2] Tichenor indicated that he would notify the General Assembly the following day as to whether he would accept the position. [2] On October 14, Tichenor indicated his acceptance. [2] He appeared before the Assembly on October 15 and took his oath of office. [2]
In the election for lieutenant governor, the voters selected Paul Brigham for a second one-year term. [2] The freemen also re-elected Samuel Mattocks as treasurer, his eleventh one-year term. [2] The balloting totals for governor were given as indicated below. [3] In the general assembly election for governor, the totals were recorded as: Tichenor, 94; Moses Robinson, 41; Israel Smith, 17; Gideon Olin 4; Elijah Paine, 1; Noah Smith, 1. [3]