- Source: 31st United States Congress
The 31st 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 the administration of Millard Fillmore's. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. The Senate had a Democratic majority, while there was a Democratic plurality in the House.
Major events
March 4, 1849: Zachary Taylor became President of the United States
June, 1849: Relations with France broke down as the French ambassador Guillaume-Tell de La Vallée Poussin engaged in "insulting and confrontational" behavior towards President Taylor, shortly after this a row erupted with France over reparations which France owed the United States. The president of France, Napoleon III, made this worse by making remarks that led to several members of Congress openly condemning him.
December 3–22, 1849: The election for the House speakership takes 63 ballots.
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
May 22, 1850: Senate votes 42-11 in favor of ratifying the Clayton–Bulwer Treaty after the motion to do so was put forth by William R. King of Alabama. The results of the vote were celebrated in Britain.
July 9, 1850: President Taylor died and Vice President Millard Fillmore became President.
Major legislation
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 20, 1850: "An Act to suppress the Slave Trade in the District of Columbia," sess. 1, ch. 63, 9 Stat. 467
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. 49, 9 Stat. 446
New Mexico Territory was organized, ch. 49, 9 Stat. 448
California was admitted as a state, 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.
= House of Representatives
=During this Congress, two House seats were added for the new state of California.
Leadership
= 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), from May 6, 1850
= House of Representatives
=Speaker: Howell Cobb (D), elected December 22, 1849, after 63 ballots
Democratic Caucus Chairman: James Thompson
Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives by district.
Skip to House of Representatives, below
= Senate
=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, facing re-election in 1850; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1852; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, facing re-election in 1854.
= House of Representatives
=The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
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
= 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
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
= Joint committees
=Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Sen. Thomas J. Rusk then Sen. George Badger)
The Library (Chairman: N/A)
The Printing (Chairman: N/A)
Caucuses
Democratic (House)
Democratic (Senate)
Employees
Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan
= Senate
=Chaplain: Henry Slicer (Methodist), until January 9, 1850
Clement M. Butler (Episcopalian), elected January 9, 1850
Secretary: Asbury Dickins
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
Reading Clerks: [data missing]
Sergeant at Arms: Nathan Sargent, until January 15, 1850
Adam J. Glossbrenner, from January 15, 1850
See also
1848 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
1848 United States presidential election
1848–49 United States Senate elections
1848–49 United States House of Representatives elections
1850 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
1850–51 United States Senate elections
1850–51 United States House of Representatives elections
Notes
References
Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
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
Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session. Force's Picture of the city of Washington and its vicinity. William Q. Force. 1850.
Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session (1st Revision). U.S. Govt. Print. Off., etc. 1850.
Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session (2nd Revision). 1850.
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- 31st United States Congress
- List of United States Congresses
- List of United States federal legislation
- Party divisions of United States Congresses
- List of United States senators in the 31st Congress
- 1848 United States elections
- 1848–49 United States Senate elections
- California Statehood Act
- List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
- United States congressional delegations from Oregon
