31st United States Congress

31st United States Congress

30th ← → 32nd United States Capitol (1846) Duration: March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1851 Senate President: Millard Fillmore (until July 9, 1850) Vacant (from July 9, 1850) Senate Pres. pro tem: David R. Atchison William R. King House Speaker: Howell Cobb Members: 62 Senators 233 Representatives 2 Non-voting members Senate Majority: Democratic House Majority: none: Democratic plurality Sessions Special: March 5, 1849 – March 23, 1849 1st: December 3, 1849 – September 30, 1850 2nd: December 2, 1850 – March 4, 1851

The Thirty-first United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1849 to March 4, 1851, during the 16 months of the Zachary Taylor presidency and the first eight months of Millard Fillmore's. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the Sixth Census of the United States in 1840. The Senate had a Democratic majority, while there was a Democratic plurality in the House.

Major events

See also: 1849 in the United States, 1850 in the United States, and 1851 in the United States

• March 4, 1849: Zachary Taylor became President of the United States
• December 22, 1849: Howell Cobb is elected Speaker after sixty-three ballots, the longest election for the position ever held.
• March 7, 1850: Senator Daniel Webster gave his "Seventh of March" speech in which he endorsed the Compromise of 1850 to prevent a possible civil war
• July 9, 1850: Taylor died and Millard Fillmore became President.

Major legislation

Main article: Major legislation: 31st United States Congress

• September 9, 1850: Compromise of 1850, sess. 1, chs. 48-51, 9 Stat. 446 - 9 Stat. 458
• September 18, 1850: Fugitive Slave Act, sess. 1, ch. 60, 9 Stat. 462
• September 29, 1850: Donation Land Claim Act, sess. 1, ch. 76, 9 Stat. 496

States admitted and territories organized

• September 9, 1850 — As part of the Compromise of 1850:
  • Texas's borders were changed, ch. 48, 9 Stat. 446
  • New Mexico Territory was organized, ch. 49, 9 Stat. 448
  • California was admitted as a state into the Union, ch. 50, 9 Stat. 452
  • Utah Territory was organized, ch. 51, 9 Stat. 453

Party summary

Senate

During this Congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of California.

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)				Total
	Democratic (D)	Free Soil (FS)	Whig (W)	Other		Vacant
End of previous Congress	36	0	23	1	60	0
Begin	32	2	25	0	59	1
End	36		24		62	0
Final voting share	58.1%	3.2%	38.7%	0.0%
Beginning of next Congress	34	4	22	0	60	2

House of Representatives

During this Congress, two House seats were added for the new state of California.

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates plurality caucus)						Total
	American (Know-nothing) (A)	Democratic (D)	Free Soil (FS)	Whig (W)	Independent (I)	Other		Vacant
End of previous Congress	1	111	0	114	1	2	229	1
Begin	1	113	9	107	0	0	230	1
End					1		231	2
Final voting share	0.4%	48.9%	3.9%	46.3%	0.4%	0.0%
Beginning of next Congress	0	128	3	85	0	17	233	0

Leadership

President of the Senate (U.S. Vice President) Millard Fillmore

Senate

• President: Millard Fillmore (W), until July 9, 1850; vacant thereafter.
• President pro tempore: David Atchison (D), until May 5, 1850
  • William R. King (D), May 6, 1850 – End

House of Representatives

• Speaker: Howell Cobb (D)

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.

Senate

President pro tempore
David R. Atchison

President pro tempore
William R. King

Senators were elected by the state legislatures every two years, with one-third beginning new six-year terms with each Congress. Preceding the names in the list below are Senate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1850; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1852; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1854.

See also: United States Senate elections, 1848

Alabama

• 3. William R. D. King (D)
• 2. Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D), until November 30, 1849
  • Jeremiah Clemens (D), from November 30, 1849

Arkansas

• 3. Solon Borland (D)
• 2. William K. Sebastian (D)

California

• 3. William M. Gwin (D), from September 10, 1850
• 1. John C. Frémont (D), from September 10, 1850

Connecticut

• 1. Roger S. Baldwin (W)
• 3. Truman Smith (W)

Delaware

• 2. Presley Spruance (W)
• 1. John Wales (W)

Florida

• 1. David Levy Yulee (D)
• 3. Jackson Morton (W)

Georgia

• 2. John Macpherson Berrien (W)
• 3. William C. Dawson (W)

Illinois

• 2. Stephen A. Douglas (D)
• 3. James Shields (D), until March 6, 1849
  • James Shields (D), from December 3, 1849

Indiana

• 1. Jesse D. Bright (D)
• 3. James Whitcomb (D)

Iowa

• 3. Augustus C. Dodge (D)
• 2. George W. Jones (D)

Kentucky

• 2. Joseph R. Underwood (W)
• 3. Henry Clay (W)

Louisiana

• 2. Solomon W. Downs (D)
• 3. Pierre Soulé (D)

Maine

• 2. James W. Bradbury (D)
• 1. Hannibal Hamlin (D)

Maryland

• 3. James Pearce (W)
• 1. Reverdy Johnson (W), until March 7, 1849
  • David Stewart (W), from December 6, 1849 until December 12, 1850
  • Thomas Pratt (W), from December 12, 1850

Massachusetts

• 1. Daniel Webster (W), until July 22, 1850
  • Robert C. Winthrop (W), from July 30, 1850 until February 1, 1851
  • Robert J. Rantoul, Jr. (D), from February 1, 1851
• 2. John Davis (W)

Michigan

• 1. Lewis Cass (D)
• 2. Alpheus Felch (D)

Mississippi

• 2. Henry S. Foote (D)
• 1. Jefferson Davis (D)

Missouri

• 1. Thomas H. Benton (D)
• 3. David R. Atchison (D)

New Hampshire

• 2. John P. Hale (FS)
• 3. Moses Norris, Jr. (D)

New Jersey

• 2. Jacob W. Miller (W)
• 1. William L. Dayton (W)

New York

• 1. Daniel S. Dickinson (D)
• 3. William H. Seward (W)

North Carolina

• 2. Willie P. Mangum (W)
• 3. George E. Badger (W)

Ohio

• 1. Thomas Corwin (W), until July 20, 1850
  • Thomas Ewing (W), from July 20, 1850
• 3. Salmon P. Chase (FS)

Pennsylvania

• 1. Daniel Sturgeon (D)
• 3. James Cooper (W)

Rhode Island

• 1. Albert C. Greene (W)
• 2. John H. Clarke (W)

South Carolina

• 2. John C. Calhoun (D), until March 31, 1850
  • Franklin H. Elmore (D), from April 11, 1850 until May 29, 1850
  • Robert W. Barnwell (D), from June 4, 1850 until December 18, 1850
  • R. Barnwell Rhett (D), from December 18, 1850
• 3. Andrew Butler (D)

Tennessee

• 1. Hopkins L. Turney (D)
• 2. John Bell (W)

Texas

• 2. Samuel Houston (D)
• 1. Thomas J. Rusk (D)

Vermont

• 1. Samuel S. Phelps (W)
• 3. William Upham (W)

Virginia

• 1. James M. Mason (D)
• 2. Robert M. T. Hunter (D)

Wisconsin

• 1. Henry Dodge (D)
• 3. Isaac P. Walker (D)

House of Representatives

Speaker Howell Cobb

The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

See also: United States House of Representatives elections, 1848

Alabama

• 1. William J. Alston (W)
• 2. Henry W. Hilliard (W)
• 3. Sampson W. Harris (D)
• 4. Samuel W. Inge (D)
• 5. David Hubbard (D)
• 6. Williamson R. W. Cobb (D)
• 7. Franklin W. Bowdon (D)

Arkansas

• At-large. Robert W. Johnson (D)

California

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

• At-large. Edward Gilbert (D), from September 11, 1850
• At-large. George W. Wright (I), from September 11, 1850

Connecticut

• 1. Loren P. Waldo (D)
• 2. Walter Booth (FS)
• 3. Chauncey F. Cleveland (D)
• 4. Thomas B. Butler (W)

Delaware

• At-large. John W. Houston (W)

Florida

• At-large. Edward C. Cabell (W)

Georgia

• 1. Thomas B. King (W), until March 3, 1850
  • Joseph W. Jackson (D), from March 4, 1850
• 2. Marshall J. Wellborn (D)
• 3. Allen F. Owen (W)
• 4. Hugh A. Haralson (D)
• 5. Thomas C. Hackett (D)
• 6. Howell Cobb (D)
• 7. Alexander Stephens (W)
• 8. Robert Toombs (W)

Illinois

• 1. William H. Bissell (D)
• 2. John A. McClernand (D)
• 3. Timothy R. Young (D)
• 4. John Wentworth (D)
• 5. William A. Richardson (D)
• 6. Edward D. Baker (W)
• 7. Thomas L. Harris (D)

Indiana

• 1. Nathaniel Albertson (D)
• 2. Cyrus L. Dunham (D)
• 3. John L. Robinson (D)
• 4. George W. Julian (FS)
• 5. William J. Brown (D)
• 6. Willis A. Gorman (D)
• 7. Edward W. McGaughey (W)
• 8. Joseph E. McDonald (D)
• 9. Graham N. Fitch (D)
• 10. Andrew J. Harlan (D)

Iowa

• 1. William Thompson (D), until June 29, 1850
  • Daniel F. Miller (W), from December 20, 1850
• 2. Shepherd Leffler (D)

Kentucky

• 1. Linn Boyd (D)
• 2. James L. Johnson (W)
• 3. Finis E. McLean (W)
• 4. George Caldwell (D)
• 5. John B. Thompson (W)
• 6. Daniel Breck (W)
• 7. Humphrey Marshall (W)
• 8. Charles S. Morehead (W)
• 9. John C. Mason (D)
• 10. Richard H. Stanton (D)

Louisiana

• 1. Emile La Sére (D)
• 2. Charles M. Conrad (W), until August 17, 1850
  • Henry A. Bullard (W), from December 5, 1850
• 3. John H. Harmanson (D), until October 24, 1850
  • Alexander G. Penn (D), from December 30, 1850
• 4. Isaac E. Morse (D)

Maine

• 1. Elbridge Gerry (D)
• 2. Nathaniel Littlefield (D)
• 3. John Otis (W)
• 4. Rufus K. Goodenow (W)
• 5. Cullen Sawtelle (D)
• 6. Charles Stetson (D)
• 7. Thomas J. D. Fuller (D)

Maryland

• 1. Richard Bowie (W)
• 2. William T. Hamilton (D)
• 3. Edward Hammond (D)
• 4. Robert M. McLane (D)
• 5. Alexander Evans (W)
• 6. John B. Kerr (W)

Massachusetts

• 1. Robert C. Winthrop (W), until July 30, 1850
  • Samuel A. Eliot (W), from August 22, 1850
• 2. Daniel P. King (W)
• 3. James H. Duncan (W)
• 4: vacant
• 5. Charles Allen (FS)
• 6. George Ashmun (W)
• 7. Julius Rockwell (W)
• 8. Horace Mann (W)
• 9. Orin Fowler (W)
• 10. Joseph Grinnell (W)

Michigan

• 1. Alexander W. Buel (D)
• 2. William Sprague (W)
• 3. Kinsley S. Bingham (D)

Mississippi

• 1. Jacob Thompson (D)
• 2. Winfield S. Featherston (D)
• 3. William McWillie (D)
• 4. Albert G. Brown (D)

Missouri

• 1. James B. Bowlin (D)
• 2. William V. Bay (D)
• 3. James S. Green (D)
• 4. Willard P. Hall (D)
• 5. John S. Phelps (D)

New Hampshire

• 1. Amos Tuck (FS)
• 2. Charles H. Peaslee (D)
• 3. James Wilson (W), until September 9, 1850
  • George W. Morrison (D), from October 8, 1850
• 4. Harry Hibbard (D)

New Jersey

• 1. Andrew K. Hay (W)
• 2. William A. Newell (W)
• 3. Isaac Wildrick (D)
• 4. John Van Dyke (W)
• 5. James G. King (W)

New York

• 1. John A. King (W)
• 2. David A. Bokee (W)
• 3. J. Phillips Phoenix (W)
• 4. Walter Underhill (W)
• 5. George Briggs (W)
• 6. James Brooks (W)
• 7. William Nelson (W)
• 8. Ransom Halloway (W)
• 9. Thomas McKissock (W)
• 10. Herman D. Gould (W)
• 11. Peter H. Silvester (W)
• 12. Gideon Reynolds (W)
• 13. John L. Schoolcraft (W)
• 14. George R. Andrews (W)
• 15. John R. Thurman (W)
• 16. Hugh White (W)
• 17. Henry P. Alexander (W)
• 18. Preston King (FS)
• 19. Charles E. Clarke (W)
• 20. Orsamus B. Matteson (W)
• 21. Hiram Walden (D)
• 22. Henry Bennett (W)
• 23. William Duer (W)
• 24. Daniel Gott (W)
• 25. Harmon S. Conger (W)
• 26. William T. Jackson (W)
• 27. William A. Sackett (W)
• 28. Abraham M. Schermerhorn (W)
• 29. Robert L. Rose (W)
• 30. David Rumsey, Jr. (W)
• 31. Elijah Risley (W)
• 32. Elbridge G. Spaulding (W)
• 33. Harvey Putnam (W)
• 34. Lorenzo Burrows (W)

North Carolina

• 1. Thomas L. Clingman (W)
• 2. Joseph P. Caldwell (W)
• 3. Edmund Deberry (W)
• 4. Augustine H. Shepperd (W)
• 5. Abraham W. Venable (D)
• 6. John R. J. Daniel (D)
• 7. William S. Ashe (D)
• 8. Edward Stanly (W)
• 9. David Outlaw (W)

Ohio

• 1. David T. Disney (D)
• 2. Lewis D. Campbell (W)
• 3. Robert C. Schenck (W)
• 4. Moses B. Corwin (W)
• 5. Emery D. Potter (D)
• 6. Rodolphus Dickinson (D), until March 20, 1849
  • Amos E. Wood (D), from December 3, 1849 until November 19, 1850
  • John Bell (W), from January 7, 1851
• 7. Jonathan D. Morris (D)
• 8. John L. Taylor (W)
• 9. Edson B. Olds (D)
• 10. Charles Sweetser (D)
• 11. John K. Miller (D)
• 12. Samuel F. Vinton (W)
• 13. William A. Whittlesey (D)
• 14. Nathan Evans (W)
• 15. William F. Hunter (W)
• 16. Moses Hoagland (D)
• 17. Joseph Cable (D)
• 18. David K. Cartter (D)
• 19. John Crowell (W)
• 20. Joshua R. Giddings (FS)
• 21. Joseph M. Root (FS)

Pennsylvania

• 1. Lewis C. Levin (A)
• 2. Joseph R. Chandler (W)
• 3. Henry D. Moore (W)
• 4. John Robbins, Jr. (D)
• 5. John Freedley (W)
• 6. Thomas Ross (D)
• 7. Jesse C. Dickey (W)
• 8. Thaddeus Stevens (W)
• 9. William Strong (D)
• 10. Milo M. Dimmick (D)
• 11. Chester P. Butler (W), until October 5, 1850
  • John Brisbin (D), from November 13, 1850
• 12. David Wilmot (D)
• 13. Joseph Casey (W)
• 14. Charles W. Pitman (W)
• 15. Henry Nes (W), until September 10, 1850
  • Joel B. Danner (D), from December 2, 1850
• 16. James X. McLanahan (D)
• 17. Samuel Calvin (W)
• 18. Andrew J. Ogle (W)
• 19. Job Mann (D)
• 20. Robert R. Reed (W)
• 21. Moses Hampton (W)
• 22. John W. Howe (FS)
• 23. James Thompson (D)
• 24. Alfred Gilmore (D)

Rhode Island

• 1. George G. King (W)
• 2. Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. (W)

South Carolina

• 1. Daniel Wallace (D)
• 2. James L. Orr (D)
• 3. Joseph A. Woodward (D)
• 4. John McQueen (D)
• 5. Armistead Burt (D)
• 6. Isaac E. Holmes (D)
• 7. William F. Colcock (D)

Tennessee

• 1. Andrew Johnson (D)
• 2. Albert G. Watkins (W)
• 3. Josiah M. Anderson (W)
• 4. John H. Savage (D)
• 5. George W. Jones (D)
• 6. James H. Thomas (D)
• 7. Meredith P. Gentry (W)
• 8. Andrew Ewing (D)
• 9. Isham G. Harris (D)
• 10. Frederick P. Stanton (D)
• 11. Christopher H. Williams (W)

Texas

• 1. David S. Kaufman (D), until January 31, 1851
• 2. Volney E. Howard (D)

Vermont

• 1. William Henry (W)
• 2. William Hebard (W)
• 3. George P. Marsh (W), until ????, 1849
  • James Meacham (W), from December 3, 1849
• 4. Lucius B. Peck (D)

Virginia

• 1. John S. Millson (D)
• 2. Richard K. Meade (D)
• 3. Thomas H. Averett (D)
• 4. Thomas S. Bocock (D)
• 5. Paulus Powell (D)
• 6. James Seddon (D)
• 7. Thomas H. Bayly (D)
• 8. Alexander Holladay (D)
• 9. Jeremiah Morton (W)
• 10. Richard Parker (D)
• 11. James McDowell (D)
• 12. Henry A. Edmundson (D)
• 13. LaFayette McMullen (D)
• 14. James M. H. Beale (D)
• 15. Alexander Newman (D), until September 8, 1849
  • Thomas Haymond (W), from November 8, 1849

Wisconsin

• 1. Charles Durkee (FS)
• 2. Orsamus Cole (W)
• 3. James D. Doty (D)

Non-voting members

• Minnesota Territory. Henry H. Sibley, from July 7, 1849
• Oregon Territory. Samuel Thurston (D)

Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate

• replacements: 5
  • Democrats (D): no net change
  • Whigs (W): no net change
• deaths: 1
• resignations: 3
• seats from newly admitted states: 2
• interim appointments: 4
• Total seats with changes: 8

See also: List of special elections to the United States Senate

State (class)	Vacator	Reason for change	Successor	Date of successor's formal installation
Illinois (3)	James Shields (D)	Senate voided election March 6, 1849 as Sen. Shields was determined not to have been a US citizen for the number of years required by the Constitution	James Shields (D)	Elected December 3, 1849
Maryland (1)	Reverdy Johnson (W)	Resigned March 7, 1849 having been appointed United States Attorney General	David Stewart (W)	Appointed December 6, 1849
Alabama (2)	Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D)	Sen. Dixon Lewis successor elected November 30, 1849	Jeremiah Clemens (D)	Elected November 30, 1849
Maryland (1)	David Stewart (W)	Successor elected January 12, 1850	Thomas Pratt (W)	Elected January 12, 1850
South Carolina (2)	John C. Calhoun (D)	Died March 31, 1850	Franklin H. Elmore (D)	Appointed April 11, 1850
South Carolina (2)	Franklin H. Elmore (D)	Died May 29, 1850	Robert W. Barnwell (D)	Appointed June 4, 1850
Ohio (1)	Thomas Corwin (W)	Resigned July 20, 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of the Treasury	Thomas Ewing (W)	Appointed July 20, 1850
Massachusetts (1)	Daniel Webster (W)	Resigned July 22, 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of State	Robert C. Winthrop (W)	Appointed July 30, 1850
California (1)	California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850 and remained vacant until September 10, 1850		John C. Frémont (D)	Elected September 10, 1850
California (3)	California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850 and remained vacant until September 10, 1850		William M. Gwin (D)	Elected September 10, 1850
South Carolina (2)	Robert W. Barnwell (D)	Successor elected December 18, 1850	Robert Rhett (D)	Elected December 18, 1850
Massachusetts (1)	Robert C. Winthrop (W)	Successor elected February 1, 1851	Robert Rantoul, Jr. (W)	Elected February 1, 1851

House of Representatives

• replacements: 11
  • Democrats (D): 2 seat net gain
  • Whigs (W): 2 seat net loss
• deaths: 8
• resignations: 5
• contested election:1
• seats from newly admitted states: 2
• Total seats with changes: 16

Main article: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

District	Vacator	Reason for change	Successor	Date successor seated
Minnesota Territory At-large	Vacant	Seat remained vacant after territory became organized at end of previous congress	Henry H. Sibley	Seated July 7, 1849
Vermont 3rd	George Perkins Marsh (W)	Resigned some time in 1849	James Meacham (W)	Seated December 3, 1849
Ohio 6th	Rodolphus Dickinson (D)	Died March 20, 1849	Amos E. Wood (D)	Seated December 3, 1849
Virginia 15th	Alexander Newman (D)	Died September 8, 1849	Thomas Haymond (W)	Seated November 8, 1849
Georgia 1st	Thomas B. King (W)	Resigned March 3, 1850	Joseph W. Jackson (D)	Seated March 4, 1850
Iowa 1st	William Thompson (D)	Seat declared vacant June 29, 1850 after contested election. House ruled neither candidate entitled to seat and forced special election	Daniel F. Miller (W)	Seated December 20, 1850
Massachusetts 1st	Robert C. Winthrop (W)	Resigned July 30, 1850 after being appointed to the US Senate	Samuel A. Eliot (W)	Seated August 22, 1850
Louisiana 2nd	Charles M. Conrad (W)	Resigned August 17, 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of War	Henry A. Bullard (W)	Seated December 5, 1850
New Hampshire 3rd	James Wilson (W)	Resigned September 9, 1850	George W. Morrison (D)	Seated October 8, 1850
California At-large	California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850 and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850		Edward Gilbert (D)	Seated September 11, 1850
California At-large	California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850 and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850		George W. Wright (I)	Seated September 11, 1850
Pennsylvania 15th	Henry Nes (W)	Died September 10, 1850	Joel B. Danner (D)	Seated December 2, 1850
Pennsylvania 11th	Chester P. Butler (W)	Died October 5, 1850	John Brisbin (D)	Seated November 13, 1850
Louisiana 3rd	John H. Harmanson (D)	Died October 24, 1850	Alexander G. Penn (D)	Seated December 30, 1850
Ohio 6th	Amos E. Wood (D)	Died November 19, 1850	John Bell (W)	Seated January 7, 1851
Texas 1st	David S. Kaufman (D)	Died December 31, 1851	Vacant	Not filled this term

Employees

Senate

• Chaplain: Henry Slicer (Methodist)
  • Clement M. Butler (Episcopalian), elected January 9, 1850
• Secretary: Asbury Dickens
• Sergeant at Arms: Robert Beale

House of Representatives

• Chaplain: Ralph Gurley (Presbyterian)
• Clerk: Thomas J. Campbell, died April 13, 1850
  • Richard M. Young, elected April 17, 1850
• Doorkeeper: Robert E. Horner
• Postmaster: John M. Johnson
• Sergeant at Arms: Adam J. Glossbrenner

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Statutes at Large, 1789-1875
• Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
• House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• U.S. House of Representatives: House History
• U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists