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.[b]
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.[7] The results of the vote were celebrated in Britain.[8]
July 9, 1850: President Taylor died and Vice President Millard Fillmore became President.
Senators' party membership by state at the opening of the 31st Congress in March 1849. The green stripes represent Free Soil. California's senators were not seated until September 10, 1850.
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.
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. Incumbent was re-elected October 27, 1849, having by then qualified.
^U.S. Vice President Millard Filmore's term as President of the Senate ended on July 9, 1850 when ascending to the Presidency, President pro tempore William R. King acted his duties as the President of the Senate.
^ ab When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.
ReferencesEdit
^John Macpherson Berrien of Georgia (1781-1856): A Political Biography, Royce Coggins McCrary University of Georgia, 1974
^President Zachary Taylor: The Hero President by Elbert B. Smith
^Who Were the Southern Whigs? by Charles Grier Sellers
^A Reappraisal of Franco-American Relations, 1830-1871 by Henry Blumenthal
^The World: Historical & Actual: What Has Been & what is ... by Frank Gilbert, pg. 681
^Jenkins, Jeffery A.; Stewart III, Charles (April 2001). Sophisticated Behavior and Speakership Elections: The Elections of 1849 and 1855–56. Midwest Political Science Association. Chicago, IL. p. 29. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
^"Voteview | Plot Vote: 31st Congress > Senate > 89".
^Mediation of the Honduran-Guatemalan Boundary Question: Held Under the Good Offices of the Department of State, 1918-1919 ... by United States. Department of State U.S. Government Printing Office, 1919 pg. 211
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 linksEdit
Statutes at Large, 1789-1875
Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of 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.
September 27, 2023
31st, united, states, congress, meeting, legislative, branch, united, states, federal, government, consisting, united, states, senate, united, states, house, representatives, washington, from, march, 1849, march, 1851, during, months, zachary, taylor, presiden. 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 31st United States Congress30th 32ndUnited States Capitol 1846 March 4 1849 March 4 1851Members62 senators233 representatives2 non voting delegatesSenate majorityDemocraticSenate PresidentMillard Fillmore W a until July 9 1850 Vacant from July 9 1850 House majorityDemocratic plurality House SpeakerHowell Cobb CU SessionsSpecial March 5 1849 March 23 18491st December 3 1849 September 30 18502nd December 2 1850 March 4 1851 Contents 1 Major events 2 Major legislation 3 States admitted and territories organized 4 Party summary 4 1 Senate 4 2 House of Representatives 5 Leadership 5 1 Senate 5 2 House of Representatives 6 Members 6 1 Senate 6 1 1 Alabama 6 1 2 Arkansas 6 1 3 California 6 1 4 Connecticut 6 1 5 Delaware 6 1 6 Florida 6 1 7 Georgia 6 1 8 Illinois 6 1 9 Indiana 6 1 10 Iowa 6 1 11 Kentucky 6 1 12 Louisiana 6 1 13 Maine 6 1 14 Maryland 6 1 15 Massachusetts 6 1 16 Michigan 6 1 17 Mississippi 6 1 18 Missouri 6 1 19 New Hampshire 6 1 20 New Jersey 6 1 21 New York 6 1 22 North Carolina 6 1 23 Ohio 6 1 24 Pennsylvania 6 1 25 Rhode Island 6 1 26 South Carolina 6 1 27 Tennessee 6 1 28 Texas 6 1 29 Vermont 6 1 30 Virginia 6 1 31 Wisconsin 6 2 House of Representatives 6 2 1 Alabama 6 2 2 Arkansas 6 2 3 California 6 2 4 Connecticut 6 2 5 Delaware 6 2 6 Florida 6 2 7 Georgia 6 2 8 Illinois 6 2 9 Indiana 6 2 10 Iowa 6 2 11 Kentucky 6 2 12 Louisiana 6 2 13 Maine 6 2 14 Maryland 6 2 15 Massachusetts 6 2 16 Michigan 6 2 17 Mississippi 6 2 18 Missouri 6 2 19 New Hampshire 6 2 20 New Jersey 6 2 21 New York 6 2 22 North Carolina 6 2 23 Ohio 6 2 24 Pennsylvania 6 2 25 Rhode Island 6 2 26 South Carolina 6 2 27 Tennessee 6 2 28 Texas 6 2 29 Vermont 6 2 30 Virginia 6 2 31 Wisconsin 6 2 32 Non voting members 7 Changes in membership 7 1 Senate 7 2 House of Representatives 8 Committees 8 1 Senate 8 2 House of Representatives 8 3 Joint committees 9 Caucuses 10 Employees 10 1 Senate 10 2 House of Representatives 11 See also 12 Notes 13 References 14 External linksMajor events EditSee 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 June 1849 Relations with France broke down as the French ambassador Guillaume Tell de La Vallee 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 b December 3 22 1849 The election for the House speakership takes 63 ballots 6 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 7 The results of the vote were celebrated in Britain 8 July 9 1850 President Taylor died and Vice President Millard Fillmore became President Major legislation EditMain 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 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 496States admitted and territories organized EditSeptember 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 453Party summary EditSenate Edit During this Congress two Senate seats were added for the new state of California Party shading shows control Total VacantDemocratic D FreeSoil FS Whig W OtherEnd of previous congress38 0 21 1 60 0Begin33 2 25 0 60 0End362462Final voting share58 1 3 2 38 7 0 0 Beginning of next congress34 2 21 0 57 5House of Representatives Edit During this Congress two House seats were added for the new state of California Party shading shows control Total VacantKnowNothing A Democratic D FreeSoil FS Whig W Independent I OtherEnd of previous congress1 111 0 114 1 2 229 1Begin1 113 9 107 0 0 230 1End11410513Final voting share0 4 49 6 3 9 45 7 0 4 0 0 Beginning of next congress0 128 3 85 0 17 233 0Leadership Edit nbsp President of the SenateMillard FillmoreSenate Edit 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 1850House of Representatives Edit Speaker Howell Cobb D elected December 22 1849 after 63 ballots Democratic Caucus Chairman James ThompsonMembers EditThis list is arranged by chamber then by state Senators are listed by class and representatives by district Skip to House of Representatives belowSenate Edit nbsp Senators party membership by state at the opening of the 31st Congress in March 1849 The green stripes represent Free Soil California s senators were not seated until September 10 1850 2 Democrats 1 Democrat and 1 Whig 2 WhigsSenate presidents pro tempore nbsp David R Atchison D until December 2 1849 nbsp William R King D from May 6 1850 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 Alabama Edit 2 Benjamin Fitzpatrick D until November 30 1849 Jeremiah Clemens D from November 30 1849 dd 3 William R King D Arkansas Edit 2 William K Sebastian D 3 Solon Borland D California Edit 1 John C Fremont D from September 10 1850 newly admitted state 3 William M Gwin D from September 10 1850 newly admitted state Connecticut Edit 1 Roger S Baldwin W 3 Truman Smith W Delaware Edit 1 John Wales W 2 Presley Spruance W Florida Edit 1 David Levy Yulee D 3 Jackson Morton W Georgia Edit 2 John Macpherson Berrien W 3 William C Dawson W Illinois Edit 2 Stephen A Douglas D 3 James Shields D until March 6 1849 James Shields D from December 3 1849 dd Indiana Edit 1 Jesse D Bright D 3 James Whitcomb D Iowa Edit 2 George Wallace Jones D 3 Augustus C Dodge D Kentucky Edit 2 Joseph R Underwood W 3 Henry Clay W Louisiana Edit 2 Solomon W Downs D 3 Pierre Soule D Maine Edit 1 Hannibal Hamlin D 2 James W Bradbury D Maryland Edit 1 Reverdy Johnson W until March 7 1849 David Stewart W from December 6 1849 until January 12 1850 Thomas Pratt W from January 12 1850 dd 3 James Pearce W Massachusetts Edit 1 Daniel Webster W until July 22 1850 Robert C Winthrop W from July 30 1850 until February 1 1851 Robert Rantoul Jr D from February 1 1851 dd 2 John Davis W Michigan Edit 1 Lewis Cass D 2 Alpheus Felch D Mississippi Edit 1 Jefferson Davis D 2 Henry S Foote D Missouri Edit 1 Thomas H Benton D 3 David R Atchison D New Hampshire Edit 2 John P Hale FS 3 Moses Norris Jr D New Jersey Edit 1 William L Dayton W 2 Jacob W Miller W New York Edit 1 Daniel S Dickinson D 3 William H Seward W North Carolina Edit 2 Willie P Mangum W 3 George E Badger W Ohio Edit 1 Thomas Corwin W until July 20 1850 Thomas Ewing W from July 20 1850 dd 3 Salmon P Chase FS Pennsylvania Edit 1 Daniel Sturgeon D 3 James Cooper W Rhode Island Edit 1 Albert C Greene W 2 John H Clarke W South Carolina Edit 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 dd 3 Andrew Butler D Tennessee Edit 1 Hopkins Lacy Turney D 2 John Bell W Texas Edit 1 Thomas J Rusk D 2 Samuel Houston D Vermont Edit 1 Samuel S Phelps W 3 William Upham W Virginia Edit 1 James M Mason D 2 Robert M T Hunter D Wisconsin Edit 1 Henry Dodge D 3 Isaac P Walker D House of Representatives Edit The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers Alabama Edit 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 Edit At large Robert W Johnson D California Edit Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket At large Edward Gilbert D from September 11 1850 newly admitted state At large George W Wright I from September 11 1850 newly admitted state Connecticut Edit 1 Loren P Waldo D 2 Walter Booth FS 3 Chauncey F Cleveland D 4 Thomas B Butler W Delaware Edit At large John W Houston W Florida Edit At large Edward C Cabell W Georgia Edit 1 Thomas Butler King W until March 3 1850 Joseph W Jackson D from March 4 1850 dd 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 H Stephens W 8 Robert A Toombs W Illinois Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit 1 William Thompson D until June 29 1850 Daniel F Miller W from December 20 1850 dd 2 Shepherd Leffler D Kentucky Edit 1 Linn Boyd D 2 James L Johnson W 3 Finis E McLean W 4 George A 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 Edit 1 Emile La Sere D 2 Charles M Conrad W until August 17 1850 Henry A Bullard W from December 5 1850 dd 3 John H Harmanson D until October 24 1850 Alexander G Penn D from December 30 1850 dd 4 Isaac E Morse D Maine Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit 1 Robert C Winthrop W until July 30 1850 Samuel Atkins Eliot W from August 22 1850 dd 2 Daniel P King W until July 25 1850 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 Edit 1 Alexander W Buel D 2 William Sprague W 3 Kinsley S Bingham D Mississippi Edit 1 Jacob Thompson D 2 Winfield S Featherston D 3 William McWillie D 4 Albert G Brown D Missouri Edit 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 Edit 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 dd 4 Harry Hibbard D New Jersey Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit 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 dd 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 Edit 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 dd 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 dd 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 Edit 1 George G King W 2 Nathan F Dixon Jr W South Carolina Edit 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 Edit 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 Edit 1 David S Kaufman D until January 31 1851 2 Volney E Howard D Vermont Edit 1 William Henry W 2 William Hebard W 3 George P Marsh W until May 29 1849 James Meacham W from December 3 1849 dd 4 Lucius B Peck D Virginia Edit 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 A 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 dd Wisconsin Edit 1 Charles Durkee FS 2 Orasmus Cole W 3 James D Doty D Non voting members Edit Minnesota Territory Henry H Sibley from July 7 1849 Oregon Territory Samuel Thurston D nbsp House seats by party holding plurality in state 80 to 100 Democratic Up to 60 Whig 60 to 80 Democratic 60 to 80 Whig Up to 60 Democratic 80 to 100 Whig 33 Free Soil Party nbsp Speaker Howell CobbChanges in membership EditThe count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress Senate Edit 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 8See also List of special elections to the United States Senate Senate changes State class Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date of successor sformal installation c 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 Incumbent was re elected October 27 1849 having by then qualified James Shields D Seated December 3 1849Maryland 1 Reverdy Johnson W Resigned March 7 1849 having been appointed United States Attorney General David Stewart W Appointed December 6 1849Alabama 2 Benjamin Fitzpatrick D Sen Dixon Lewis successor elected November 30 1849 Jeremiah Clemens D Elected November 30 1849Maryland 1 David Stewart W Successor elected January 12 1850 Thomas Pratt W Elected January 12 1850South Carolina 2 John C Calhoun D Died March 31 1850 Franklin H Elmore D Appointed April 11 1850South Carolina 2 Franklin H Elmore D Died May 29 1850 Robert W Barnwell D Appointed June 4 1850Ohio 1 Thomas Corwin W Resigned July 20 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of the Treasury Thomas Ewing W Appointed July 20 1850Massachusetts 1 Daniel Webster W Resigned July 22 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of State again Robert C Winthrop W Appointed July 30 1850California 1 New state California admitted to the Union September 9 1850 The first Senator was elected September 10 1850 John C Fremont D Elected September 10 1850California 3 New state California admitted to the Union September 9 1850 The first Senator was elected September 10 1850 William M Gwin D Elected September 10 1850South Carolina 2 Robert W Barnwell D Successor elected December 18 1850 Robert Rhett D Elected December 18 1850Massachusetts 1 Robert C Winthrop W Successor elected February 1 1851 Robert Rantoul Jr D Elected February 1 1851House of Representatives Edit 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 16Main article List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives House changes District Vacated by Reason for change Successor Date of successor sformal installation c Minnesota Territory At large Vacant Seat remained vacant after territory became organized at end of previous congress Henry H Sibley Seated July 7 1849Vermont 3rd George Perkins Marsh W Resigned some time in 1849 James Meacham W Seated December 3 1849Ohio 6th Rodolphus Dickinson D Died March 20 1849 Amos E Wood D Seated December 3 1849Virginia 15th Alexander Newman D Died September 8 1849 Thomas Haymond W Seated November 8 1849Georgia 1st Thomas B King W Resigned March 3 1850 Joseph W Jackson D Seated March 4 1850Massachusetts 2nd Daniel P King W Died July 25 1850 Vacant Not filled this termIowa 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 1850Massachusetts 1st Robert C Winthrop W Resigned July 30 1850 after being appointed to the US Senate Samuel A Eliot W Seated August 22 1850Louisiana 2nd Charles M Conrad W Resigned August 17 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of War Henry A Bullard W Seated December 5 1850New Hampshire 3rd James Wilson W Resigned September 9 1850 George W Morrison D Seated October 8 1850California At large California admitted into the Union September 9 1850 and seat remained vacant until September 11 1850 Edward Gilbert D Seated September 11 1850California 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 1850Pennsylvania 15th Henry Nes W Died September 10 1850 Joel B Danner D Seated December 2 1850Pennsylvania 11th Chester P Butler W Died October 5 1850 John Brisbin D Seated November 13 1850Louisiana 3rd John H Harmanson D Died October 24 1850 Alexander G Penn D Seated December 30 1850Ohio 6th Amos E Wood D Died November 19 1850 John Bell W Seated January 7 1851Texas 1st David S Kaufman D Died January 31 1851 Vacant Not filled this termCommittees EditLists of committees and their party leaders Senate Edit Agriculture Chairman Daniel Sturgeon Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate Chairman Augustus Dodge California s Admission to the Union Select Claims Chairman Moses Norris Jr Commerce Chairman Clement C Clay Disorder in the Senate of April 17 1850 Select Distributing Public Revenue Among the States Select District of Columbia Chairman James M Mason Eligibility of James Shields Special Finance Chairman Daniel S Dickinson then James Pearce Foreign Relations Chairman William R King then Henry S Foote French Spoilations Select Chairman Truman Smith Indian Affairs Chairman David R Atchison Judiciary Chairman Andrew P Butler Manufactures Chairman William K Sebastian Mexican Boundary Commission Select Military Affairs Chairman Jefferson Davis Militia Chairman Sam Houston Naval Affairs Chairman David Levy Yulee Ordnance and War Ships Select Patents and the Patent Office Chairman David S Reid Pensions Chairman George Wallace Jones Post Office and Post Roads Chairman Thomas J Rusk Printing Chairman Solon Borland Private Land Claims Chairman Solomon W Downs Public Buildings and Grounds Chairman Robert M T Hunter Public Lands Chairman Alpheus Felch Retrenchment Chairman James W Bradbury Revolutionary Claims Chairman Isaac P Walker Roads and Canals Chairman Jesse D Bright Seventh Census Select Settlement of the Slavery Question Select Tariff Regulation Select Territories Chairman Stephen A Douglas Whole House of Representatives Edit Accounts Chairman Daniel P King Agriculture Chairman Nathaniel S Littlefield Bounty Land Act of 1850 Select Claims Chairman John Reeves Jones Daniel Commerce Chairman Robert M McLane District of Columbia Chairman Albert G Brown Elections Chairman William Strong Engraving Chairman Edward Hammond Expenditures in the Navy Department Chairman Alexander Holladay Expenditures in the Post Office Department Chairman William Thompson Expenditures in the State Department Chairman Kingsley S Bingham Expenditures in the Treasury Department Chairman George A Caldwell Expenditures in the War Department Chairman Milo M Dimmick Expenditures on Public Buildings Chairman James M H Beale Foreign Affairs Chairman John A McClernand Indian Affairs Chairman Robert W Johnson Invalid Pensions Chairman Shepherd Leffler Judiciary Chairman James Thompson Manufactures Chairman Lucius B Peck Mileage Chairman Graham N Fitch Military Affairs Chairman Armistead Burt Militia Chairman Charles H Peaslee Naval Affairs Chairman Frederick P Stanton Patents Chairman Hiram Walden Post Office and Post Roads Chairman Emery D Potter Private Land Claims Chairman Isaac E Morse Public Buildings and Grounds Chairman Franklin W Bowdon Public Expenditures Chairman Andrew Johnson Public Lands Chairman James B Bowlin Revisal and Unfinished Business Chairman Williamson R W Cobb Revolutionary Claims Chairman Cullen Sawtelle Revolutionary Pensions Chairman Loren P Waldo Roads and Canals Chairman John L Robinson Rules Chairman David S Kaufman Standards of Official Conduct Territories Chairman Linn Boyd Ways and Means Chairman Thomas H Bayly Whole Joint committees Edit Enrolled Bills Chairman Sen Thomas J Rusk then Sen George Badger The Library Chairman N A The Printing Chairman N A Caucuses EditDemocratic House Democratic Senate Employees EditLibrarian of Congress John Silva MeehanSenate Edit Chaplain Henry Slicer Methodist until January 9 1850 Clement M Butler Episcopalian elected January 9 1850 Secretary Asbury Dickins Sergeant at Arms Robert BealeHouse of Representatives Edit 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 1850See also Edit1848 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 electionsNotes Edit U S Vice President Millard Filmore s term as President of the Senate ended on July 9 1850 when ascending to the Presidency President pro tempore William R King acted his duties as the President of the Senate A group of senators consisting of John Macpherson Berrien William C Dawson Benjamin Fitzpatrick William R King James M Mason Robert M T Hunter Jesse D Bright James Whitcomb Thomas Corwin Salmon P Chase Joseph R Underwood and Henry Clay as well as a group of representatives from the House consisting of Linn Boyd James L Johnson Finis E McLean George Caldwell John B Thompson Daniel Breck Humphrey Marshall Charles S Morehead John C Mason Richard H Stanton Thomas B King Marshall J Wellborn Allen F Owen Hugh A Haralson Thomas C Hackett Howell Cobb Alexander Stephens Robert Toombs John S Millson Richard K Meade Thomas H Averett Thomas S Bocock Paulus Powell James Seddon Thomas H Bayly Alexander Holladay Jeremiah Morton Richard Parker James McDowell Henry A Edmundson LaFayette McMullen James M H Beale Alexander Newman Nathaniel Albertson Cyrus L Dunham John L Robinson George W Julian William J Brown Willis A Gorman Edward W McGaughey Joseph E McDonald Graham N Fitch Andrew J Harlan David T Disney Lewis D Campbell Robert C Schenck Moses B Corwin Emery D Potter Jonathan D Morris John L Taylor Edson B Olds Charles Sweetser John K Miller Samuel F Vinton William A Whittlesey Nathan Evans William F Hunter Moses Hoagland Joseph Cable David K Cartter John Crowell Joshua R Giddings and Joseph M Root all condemned France s President Napoleon III on the floor of the House and Senate and put in writing that they expressed solidarity with President Taylor in his diplomatic clash with the French This breakdown in relations with France was considered a potential diplomatic disaster in France and it only calmed down when the French ambassador was removed and replaced by his own government President Taylor refused to budge and remained openly hostile to the French However Vice President Millard Fillmore was outspokenly sympathetic to the French causing the French ambassador to remark we have in this country the United States a president who hates France and Vice President who loves France Our interests are with Fillmore Before being removed the French ambassador wrote With this President this Congress and this Senate the United States is a hostile country to us 1 2 3 4 5 a b When seated or oath administered not necessarily when service began References Edit John Macpherson Berrien of Georgia 1781 1856 A Political Biography Royce Coggins McCrary University of Georgia 1974 President Zachary Taylor The Hero President by Elbert B Smith Who Were the Southern Whigs by Charles Grier Sellers A Reappraisal of Franco American Relations 1830 1871 by Henry Blumenthal The World Historical amp Actual What Has Been amp what is by Frank Gilbert pg 681 Jenkins Jeffery A Stewart III Charles April 2001 Sophisticated Behavior and Speakership Elections The Elections of 1849 and 1855 56 Midwest Political Science Association Chicago IL p 29 Retrieved January 8 2013 Voteview Plot Vote 31st Congress gt Senate gt 89 Mediation of the Honduran Guatemalan Boundary Question Held Under the Good Offices of the Department of State 1918 1919 by United States Department of State U S Government Printing Office 1919 pg 211 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 EditStatutes 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 31st United States Congress amp oldid 1167227087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
