March 30, 1855: Elections were held for the first Kansas Territory legislature. Missourians crossed the border in large numbers to elect a pro-slavery body.
July 2, 1855: The Kansas territorial legislature convened in Pawnee and began enacting proslavery laws.
November 21, 1855: Large-scale Bleeding Kansas violence began with events leading to the Wakarusa War between antislavery and proslavery forces.
May 22, 1856: Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacking Senator Charles Sumner, beating him with a cane in the hall of the Senate, for a speech Sumner had made attacking Southerners who sympathized with the pro-slavery violence in Kansas ("Bleeding Kansas"). Sumner was unable to return to duty for 3 years while he recovered; Brooks became a hero across the South.
The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of this Congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
During the elections for this Congress, opponents to the Democrats used the Whig party label inconsistently and not at all in some states. Hence in this Congress, and in accordance with the practice of the Senate and House, representatives not associated with the Democratic Party or the American Party are labeled as "Opposition." This is the first example in U.S. history of a form of coalition government in either house of Congress.
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and representatives are listed by district.
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, requiring reelection in 1856; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1858; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1860.
Senators' party membership by state at the opening of the 34th Congress in March 1855. Pink represents Know-Nothings, green represents Whigs and gray represents Free Soil. The senators from New Hampshire were not seated until July 30, 1855.
2 Democrats
1 Democrat and 1 Republican
2 Republicans
2 Whigs
2 Know-Nothings
House of Representatives
The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
Charles G. Atherton (D) died during the previous Congress. Jared W. Williams (D) was appointed November 29, 1853, to continue the term, but his term was deemed expired July 15, 1854, and the legislature failed to elect a successor. A successor was finally elected July 30, 1855.
Owing to irregularities in the legislative proceedings the Senate declared the seat vacant January 5, 1857. Incumbent was subsequently re-elected January 29, 1857, to fill the vacancy caused by his ouster.
Resigned July 15, 1856, after being censured in his role in the assault on US Senator Charles Sumner. He was subsequently re-elected to fill the vacancy
^ ab When seated or oath administered, not necessarily when service began.
References
^"The longest and most contentious Speaker election in its history". United States House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
^"The Opening of the 34th Congress". United States House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
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
U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists
Congressional Directory for the 34th Congress, 1st Session. 1856.
Congressional Directory for the 34th Congress, 3rd Session.
June 16, 2023
34th, united, states, congress, meeting, legislative, branch, united, states, federal, government, consisting, united, states, senate, united, states, house, representatives, washington, from, march, 1855, march, 1857, during, last, years, franklin, pierce, pr. The 34th 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 1855 to March 4 1857 during the last two years of Franklin Pierce s presidency The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1850 United States census The Whig Party one of the two major parties of the era had largely collapsed although many former Whigs ran as Republicans or as members of the Opposition Party The Senate had a Democratic majority and the House was controlled by a coalition of Representatives led by Nathaniel P Banks a member of the American Party 34th United States Congress33rd 35thUnited States Capitol 1846 March 4 1855 March 4 1857Members62 senators234 representatives7 non voting delegatesSenate majorityDemocratSenate PresidentVacantHouse majorityOpposition coalitionHouse SpeakerNathaniel P Banks A Sessions1st December 3 1855 August 18 18562nd August 21 1856 August 30 18563rd December 1 1856 March 4 1857 Contents 1 Major events 2 Major legislation 3 Treaties 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 Legislative branch agency directors 10 2 Senate 10 3 House of Representatives 11 See also 12 Notes 13 References 14 External linksMajor events EditMain articles 1855 in the United States 1856 in the United States and 1857 in the United States March 30 1855 Elections were held for the first Kansas Territory legislature Missourians crossed the border in large numbers to elect a pro slavery body July 2 1855 The Kansas territorial legislature convened in Pawnee and began enacting proslavery laws November 21 1855 Large scale Bleeding Kansas violence began with events leading to the Wakarusa War between antislavery and proslavery forces December 3 1855 February 2 1856 The election for the House speakership takes 133 ballots the longest speaker election in its history 1 2 January 24 1856 President Franklin Pierce declared the new Free State Topeka government in Bleeding Kansas to be in rebellion January 26 1856 First Battle of Seattle Marines from the USS Decatur drove off Indian attackers after an all day battle with settlers February 1856 Tintic War broke out in Utah February 18 1856 The American Party Know Nothings nominated their first Presidential candidate former President Millard Fillmore May 21 1856 Lawrence Kansas captured and burned by pro slavery forces the Sacking of Lawrence May 22 1856 Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacking Senator Charles Sumner beating him with a cane in the hall of the Senate for a speech Sumner had made attacking Southerners who sympathized with the pro slavery violence in Kansas Bleeding Kansas Sumner was unable to return to duty for 3 years while he recovered Brooks became a hero across the South May 24 1856 Pottawatomie massacre June 2 1856 Battle of Black Jack August 30 1856 Battle of Osawatomie November 4 1856 1856 United States presidential election Democrat James Buchanan defeated former President Millard Fillmore representing a coalition of Know Nothings and Whigs and John C Fremont of the fledgling Republican Party November 17 1856 On the Sonoita River in present day southern Arizona the United States Army established Fort Buchanan to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase January 9 1857 The 7 9 Mw Fort Tejon earthquake affects Central and Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX Violent Major legislation EditMain article Major legislation 34th United States Congress August 18 1856 Guano Islands Act ch 164 11 Stat 119Treaties EditSee also List of United States treaties January 26 1855 Point No Point Treaty signed in the Washington Territory Ratified March 8 1859 Proclaimed April 29 1859 July 1 1855 Quinault Treaty signed Quinault and Quileute ceded their land to the United States Ratified March 8 1859 Proclaimed April 11 1859 President pro temporeJesse D Bright President pro temporeJames M Mason Speaker of the House Nathaniel P BanksParty summary EditThe count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of this Congress Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the Changes in membership section During the elections for this Congress opponents to the Democrats used the Whig party label inconsistently and not at all in some states Hence in this Congress and in accordance with the practice of the Senate and House representatives not associated with the Democratic Party or the American Party are labeled as Opposition This is the first example in U S history of a form of coalition government in either house of Congress Senate Edit Affiliation Party Shading indicates control TotalAmerican Know Nothing A Democratic D Opposition coalition VacantFree Soil FS Republican R Whig W End of previous Congress 1 38 5 0 17 61 1Begin 2 35 2 7 9 55 7End 40 1 11 8 62 0Final voting share 3 2 64 5 32 3 Beginning of next Congress 4 37 0 20 0 61 1House of Representatives Edit The parties that opposed the Democrats joined a coalition and formed the majority The Know Nothings caucused with the Opposition coalition Affiliation Party Shading indicates control TotalDemocratic D Opposition Caucus Other VacantAmerican Know Nothing A Opposition O Republican R End of previous Congress 156 0 76 0 2 234 0Begin 82 51 100 0 0 233 1End 96 1 230 4Final voting share 35 7 64 3 0 0 Beginning of next Congress 127 14 0 92 0 233 1Leadership EditSenate Edit President Vacant President pro tempore Jesse D Bright D until June 9 1856 Charles E Stuart D June 9 1856 June 10 1856 Jesse D Bright D June 11 1856 January 6 1857 James M Mason D from January 6 1857House of Representatives Edit Speaker Nathaniel P Banks A elected February 2 1856 on the 133rd ballot Democratic Caucus Chairman George Washington JonesMembers EditThis list is arranged by chamber then by state Senators are listed in order of seniority and representatives are listed by district Senate Edit 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 1856 Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress requiring reelection in 1858 and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress requiring reelection in 1860 Skip to House of Representatives belowAlabama Edit 2 Clement C Clay Jr D 3 Benjamin Fitzpatrick D from November 26 1855Arkansas Edit 2 William K Sebastian D 3 Robert W Johnson D California Edit 1 John B Weller D 3 William M Gwin D from January 13 1857Connecticut Edit 1 Isaac Toucey D 3 Lafayette S Foster R Delaware Edit 1 James A Bayard Jr D 2 John M Clayton W until November 9 1856 Joseph P Comegys W November 19 1856 January 14 1857 Martin W Bates D from January 14 1857 dd Florida Edit 1 Stephen Mallory D 3 David Levy Yulee D Georgia Edit 2 Robert Toombs D 3 Alfred Iverson Sr D Illinois Edit 2 Stephen A Douglas D 3 Lyman Trumbull D Indiana Edit 1 Jesse D Bright D 3 Graham N Fitch D from February 4 1857Iowa Edit 2 George Wallace Jones D 3 James Harlan FS until January 5 1857 James Harlan R from January 29 1857 dd Kentucky Edit 2 John B Thompson A 3 John J Crittenden A Louisiana Edit 2 Judah P Benjamin W 3 John Slidell D Maine Edit 1 Hannibal Hamlin D to R on June 12 1856 until January 7 1857 Amos Nourse R from January 16 1857 dd 2 William P Fessenden W Maryland Edit 3 James Pearce W 1 Thomas Pratt W Massachusetts Edit 1 Charles Sumner FS 2 Henry Wilson R Michigan Edit 1 Lewis Cass D 2 Charles E Stuart D Mississippi Edit 1 Stephen Adams D 2 Albert G Brown D Missouri Edit 1 Henry S Geyer W 3 James S Green D from January 12 1857New Hampshire Edit 2 John P Hale R from July 30 1855 3 James Bell R from July 30 1855New Jersey Edit 1 John R Thomson D 2 William Wright D New York Edit 3 William H Seward R 1 Hamilton Fish W North Carolina Edit 2 David S Reid D 3 Asa Biggs D Ohio Edit 1 Benjamin Wade R 3 George E Pugh D Pennsylvania Edit 1 Richard Brodhead D 3 William Bigler D from January 14 1856Rhode Island Edit 1 Charles T James D 2 Philip Allen D South Carolina Edit 3 Andrew Butler D 2 Josiah J Evans D Tennessee Edit 2 John Bell W 1 James C Jones W Texas Edit 2 Samuel Houston D 1 Thomas J Rusk D Vermont Edit 1 Solomon Foot R 3 Jacob Collamer R Virginia Edit 1 James M Mason D 2 Robert M T Hunter D Wisconsin Edit 1 Henry Dodge D 3 Charles Durkee R Senators party membership by state at the opening of the 34th Congress in March 1855 Pink represents Know Nothings green represents Whigs and gray represents Free Soil The senators from New Hampshire were not seated until July 30 1855 2 Democrats 1 Democrat and 1 Republican 2 Republicans 2 Whigs 2 Know Nothings House of Representatives Edit The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers Alabama Edit 1 Percy Walker A 2 Eli S Shorter D 3 James F Dowdell D 4 William R Smith A 5 George S Houston D 6 Williamson R W Cobb D 7 Sampson W Harris D Arkansas Edit 1 Alfred B Greenwood D 2 Albert Rust D California Edit Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket At large James W Denver D At large Philemon T Herbert D Connecticut Edit 1 Ezra Clark Jr A 2 John Woodruff A 3 Sidney Dean A 4 William W Welch A Delaware Edit At large Elisha D Cullen A Florida Edit At large Augustus Maxwell D Georgia Edit 1 James L Seward D 2 Martin J Crawford D 3 Robert P Trippe A 4 Hiram B Warner D 5 John H Lumpkin D 6 Howell Cobb D 7 Nathaniel G Foster A 8 Alexander Stephens D Illinois Edit 1 Elihu B Washburne O 2 James H Woodworth O 3 Jesse O Norton O 4 James Knox O 5 William A Richardson D until August 25 1856 Jacob C Davis D from November 4 1856 dd 6 Thomas L Harris D 7 James C Allen D until July 18 1856 and from November 4 1856 8 James L D Morrison D from November 4 1856 9 Samuel S Marshall D Indiana Edit 1 Smith Miller D 2 William H English D 3 George G Dunn O 4 William Cumback O 5 David P Holloway O 6 Lucien Barbour O 7 Harvey D Scott O 8 Daniel Mace O 9 Schuyler Colfax O 10 Samuel Brenton O 11 John U Pettit O Iowa Edit 1 Augustus Hall D 2 James Thorington O Kentucky Edit 1 Henry C Burnett D 2 John P Campbell Jr A 3 Warner L Underwood A 4 Albert G Talbott D 5 Joshua Jewett D 6 John M Elliott D 7 Humphrey Marshall A 8 Alexander K Marshall A 9 Leander Cox A 10 Samuel F Swope A Louisiana Edit 1 George Eustis Jr A 2 Miles Taylor D 3 Thomas G Davidson D 4 John M Sandidge D Maine Edit 1 John M Wood O 2 John J Perry O 3 Ebenezer Knowlton O 4 Samuel P Benson O 5 Israel Washburn Jr O 6 Thomas J D Fuller D Maryland Edit 1 James A Stewart D 2 James B Ricaud A 3 J Morrison Harris A 4 Henry Winter Davis A 5 Henry William Hoffman A 6 Thomas F Bowie D Massachusetts Edit 1 Robert B Hall A 2 James Buffington A 3 William S Damrell A 4 Linus B Comins A 5 Anson Burlingame A 6 Timothy Davis A 7 Nathaniel P Banks A 8 Chauncey L Knapp A 9 Alexander De Witt A 10 Calvin C Chaffee A 11 Mark Trafton A Michigan Edit 1 William A Howard O 2 Henry Waldron O 3 David S Walbridge O 4 George W Peck D Mississippi Edit 1 Daniel B Wright D 2 Hendley S Bennett D 3 William Barksdale D 4 William A Lake A 5 John A Quitman D Missouri Edit 1 Luther M Kennett O 2 Gilchrist Porter O 3 James J Lindley O 4 Mordecai Oliver O 5 John G Miller O until May 11 1856 Thomas P Akers A from August 18 1856 dd 6 John S Phelps D 7 Samuel Caruthers O New Hampshire Edit 1 James Pike A 2 Mason Tappan A 3 Aaron H Cragin A New Jersey Edit 1 Isaiah D Clawson O 2 George R Robbins O 3 James Bishop O 4 George Vail D 5 Alexander C M Pennington O New York Edit 1 William Valk A 2 James S T Stranahan O 3 Guy R Pelton O 4 John Kelly D 5 Thomas R Whitney A 6 John Wheeler D 7 Thomas Child Jr O 8 Abram Wakeman O 9 Bayard Clarke O 10 Ambrose S Murray O 11 Rufus H King O 12 Killian Miller O 13 Russell Sage O 14 Samuel Dickson O 15 Edward Dodd O 16 George A Simmons O 17 Francis E Spinner D 18 Thomas R Horton O 19 Jonas A Hughston O 20 Orsamus B Matteson O until February 27 1857 21 Henry Bennett O 22 Andrew Z McCarty O 23 William A Gilbert O until February 27 1857 24 Amos P Granger O 25 Edwin B Morgan O 26 Andrew Oliver D 27 John M Parker O 28 William H Kelsey O 29 John Williams D 30 Benjamin Pringle O 31 Thomas T Flagler O 32 Solomon G Haven O 33 Francis S Edwards A until February 28 1857North Carolina Edit 1 Robert T Paine A 2 Thomas H Ruffin D 3 Warren Winslow D 4 Lawrence O Bryan Branch D 5 Edwin G Reade A 6 Richard C Puryear A 7 F Burton Craige D 8 Thomas L Clingman D Ohio Edit 1 Timothy C Day O 2 John Scott Harrison O 3 Lewis D Campbell O 4 Matthias H Nichols O 5 Richard Mott O 6 Jonas R Emrie O 7 Aaron Harlan O 8 Benjamin Stanton O 9 Cooper K Watson O 10 Oscar F Moore O 11 Valentine B Horton O 12 Samuel Galloway O 13 John Sherman O 14 Philemon Bliss O 15 William R Sapp O 16 Edward Ball O 17 Charles J Albright O 18 Benjamin F Leiter O 19 Edward Wade O 20 Joshua R Giddings O 21 John Bingham O Pennsylvania Edit 1 Thomas B Florence D 2 Job R Tyson O 3 William Millward O 4 Jacob Broom A 5 John Cadwalader D 6 John Hickman D 7 Samuel C Bradshaw O 8 J Glancey Jones D 9 Anthony E Roberts O 10 John C Kunkel O 11 James H Campbell O 12 Henry M Fuller O 13 Asa Packer D 14 Galusha A Grow D 15 John J Pearce O 16 Lemuel Todd O 17 David F Robison O 18 John R Edie O 19 John Covode O 20 Jonathan Knight O 21 David Ritchie O 22 Samuel A Purviance O 23 John Allison O 24 David Barclay D 25 John Dick O Rhode Island Edit 1 Nathaniel B Durfee A 2 Benjamin B Thurston A South Carolina Edit 1 John McQueen D 2 William Aiken Jr D 3 Laurence M Keitt D until July 15 1856 and from August 6 1856 4 Preston Brooks D until July 15 1856 and from August 1 1856 until January 27 1857 5 James L Orr D 6 William W Boyce D Tennessee Edit 1 Albert G Watkins D 2 William H Sneed A 3 Samuel A Smith D 4 John H Savage D 5 Charles Ready A 6 George W Jones D 7 John V Wright D 8 Felix K Zollicoffer A 9 Emerson Etheridge A 10 Thomas Rivers A Texas Edit 1 Lemuel D Evans A 2 Peter H Bell D Vermont Edit 1 James Meacham O until August 23 1856 George T Hodges R from December 1 1856 dd 2 Justin S Morrill O 3 Alvah Sabin O Virginia Edit 1 Thomas H Bayly D until June 23 1856 Muscoe R H Garnett D from December 1 1856 dd 2 John S Millson D 3 John Caskie D 4 William Goode D 5 Thomas S Bocock D 6 Paulus Powell D 7 William Smith D 8 Charles J Faulkner D 9 John Letcher D 10 Zedekiah Kidwell D 11 John S Carlile A 12 Henry A Edmundson D 13 LaFayette McMullen D Wisconsin Edit 1 Daniel Wells Jr D 2 Cadwallader C Washburn O 3 Charles Billinghurst O Non voting members Edit Kansas Territory John W Whitfield D until August 1 1856 and from December 9 1856 Minnesota Territory Henry M Rice D Nebraska Territory Bird B Chapman D New Mexico Territory Jose Manuel Gallegos D until July 23 1856 Miguel A Otero D from July 23 1856 dd Oregon Territory Joseph Lane D Utah Territory John M Bernhisel Washington Territory James P Anderson D House seats by party holding plurality in state Up to 60 Democratic Up to 60 Whig Up to 60 American Up to 60 Republican 60 to 80 Democratic 60 to 80 Whig 60 to 80 American 60 to 80 Republican 80 to 100 Democratic 80 to 100 American 80 to 100 RepublicanChanges in membership EditThe count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress Senate Edit See 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 a New Hampshire 2 Vacant Charles G Atherton D died during the previous Congress Jared W Williams D was appointed November 29 1853 to continue the term but his term was deemed expired July 15 1854 and the legislature failed to elect a successor A successor was finally elected July 30 1855 John Parker Hale R July 30 1855New Hampshire 3 Vacant Legislature failed to elect on time Successor was elected James Bell R July 30 1855Alabama 3 Vacant Legislature failed to elect on time Incumbent was then re elected November 26 1855 Benjamin Fitzpatrick D November 26 1855Pennsylvania 3 Vacant Legislature failed to elect on time Successor elected January 14 1856 William Bigler D January 14 1856Missouri 3 Vacant Elected but took seat late on January 12 1857 James S Green D January 12 1857California 3 Vacant Legislature failed to elect on time Incumbent was then re elected January 13 1857 William M Gwin D January 13 1857Indiana 3 Vacant Legislature failed to elect on time Senator elected February 4 1857 Graham N Fitch D February 4 1857Delaware 2 John M Clayton W Died November 9 1856 Successor was appointed Joseph P Comegys W November 19 1856Maine 1 Hannibal Hamlin D Resigned January 7 1857 to become Governor of Maine Successor was elected January 16 1857 Amos Nourse R January 16 1857Delaware 2 Joseph P Comegys W Appointment expired January 14 1857 upon successor s election Martin W Bates D January 14 1857Iowa 3 James Harlan FS Owing to irregularities in the legislative proceedings the Senate declared the seat vacant January 5 1857 Incumbent was subsequently re elected January 29 1857 to fill the vacancy caused by his ouster James Harlan R January 29 1857House of Representatives Edit Replacements 6 Democrats 2 seat net loss Opposition 4 seat net gain Deaths 4 Resignations 5 Contested election 1 Total seats with changes 10Main 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 a Illinois 8th Vacant Rep elect Lyman Trumbull resigned in previous congress after being elected to the US Senate James L D Morrison D Seated November 4 1856Missouri 5th John G Miller O Died May 11 1856 Thomas P Akers A Seated August 18 1856Virginia 1st Thomas H Bayly D Died June 23 1856 Muscoe R H Garnett D Seated December 1 1856South Carolina 3rd Laurence M Keitt D Resigned July 15 1856 after being censured in his role in the assault on US Senator Charles Sumner He was subsequently re elected to fill the vacancy Laurence M Keitt D Seated August 6 1856South Carolina 4th Preston Brooks D Resigned July 15 1856 after assaulting US Senator Charles Sumner He was subsequently re elected to fill the vacancy Preston Brooks D Seated August 1 1856Illinois 7th James C Allen D House declared on July 18 1856 he was not entitled to seat He was subsequently re elected to fill the vacancy James C Allen D Seated November 4 1856New Mexico Territory At large Jose M Gallegos D Contested election July 23 1856 Miguel A Otero D Seated July 23 1856Kansas Territory At large John W Whitfield D House declared August 1 1856 the seat vacant He was subsequently re elected to fill the vacancy John W Whitfield D Seated December 9 1856Vermont 1st James Meacham O Died August 23 1856 George T Hodges R Seated December 1 1856Illinois 5th William A Richardson D Resigned August 25 1856 Jacob C Davis D Seated November 4 1856South Carolina 4th Preston Brooks D Died January 27 1857 Vacant Not filled this termNew York 20th Orsamus B Matteson O Resigned February 27 1857 Vacant Not filled this termNew York 23rd William A Gilbert O Resigned February 27 1857 Vacant Not filled this termNew York 33rd Francis S Edwards A Resigned February 28 1857 Vacant Not filled this termCommittees EditList of committees and their party leaders Senate Edit Agriculture Chairman Philip Allen American Association for the Promotion of Science Select Atmospheric Telegraph Between Washington and Baltimore Select Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate Chairman Josiah J Evans Claims Chairman Richard Brodhead Commerce Chairman Hannibal Hamlin then Henry Dodge Distributing Public Revenue Among the States Select District of Columbia Chairman Albert G Brown Engrossed Bills Chairman Jacob Collamer Finance Chairman Robert M T Hunter Foreign Relations Chairman James M Mason French Spoilations Select Indian Affairs Chairman William K Sebastian Judiciary Chairman Andrew P Butler Library Chairman James A Pearce Loss of Original Papers of Mark and Richard Bean Select Mexican Claims Commission Select Manufactures Chairman William Wright Military Affairs Chairman John B Weller Militia Chairman Sam Houston Naval Affairs Chairman Stephen Mallory Ordnance and War Ships Select Pacific Railroad Select Patents and the Patent Office Chairman Charles T James Pensions Chairman George Wallace Jones Post Office and Post Roads Chairman Thomas J Rusk Printing Chairman Robert W Johnson Private Claims Commission Select Private Land Claims Chairman Judah P Benjamin Protection of Life and Health in Passenger Ships Select Public Buildings Chairman James A Bayard Public Lands Chairman Charles E Stuart Retrenchment Chairman Stephen Adams Revolutionary Claims Chairman Josiah J Evans Roads and Canals Chairman John Slidell Sickness on Emigrant Ships Select Tariff Regulation Select Territories Chairman Stephen A Douglas WholeHouse of Representatives Edit Accounts Chairman Benjamin B Thurston Agriculture Chairman David P Holloway Claims Chairman John Hickman Commerce Chairman Elihu B Washburne District of Columbia Chairman Orsamus B Matteson Elections Chairman Israel Washburn Jr Engraving Chairman William H Kelsey Expenditures in the Navy Department Chairman Thomas L Harris Expenditures in the Post Office Department Chairman John Pettit Expenditures in the State Department Chairman Preston S Brooks Expenditures in the Treasury Department Chairman Henry Waldron Expenditures in the War Department Chairman Joshua H Jewett Expenditures on Public Buildings Chairman Fayette McMullen Foreign Affairs Chairman Alexander C M Pennington Indian Affairs Chairman Benjamin Pringle Invalid Pensions Chairman Andrew Oliver Judiciary Chairman George A Simmons Manufactures Chairman Ezra Clark Jr Mileage Chairman William H Sneed Military Affairs Chairman John A Quitman Militia Chairman John C Kunkel Naval Affairs Chairman Samuel P Benson Patents Chairman Edwin B Morgan Post Office and Post Roads Chairman Daniel Mace Private Land Claims Chairman Gilchrist Porter Public Buildings and Grounds Chairman Edward Ball Public Expenditures Chairman Sidney Dean Public Lands Chairman Henry Bennett Revisal and Unfinished Business Chairman Alvah Sabin Revolutionary Claims Chairman David Ritchie Revolutionary Pensions Chairman Jacob Broom Roads and Canals Chairman James Knox Rules Select Standards of Official Conduct Territories Chairman Galusha A Grow Ways and Means Chairman J Glancy Jones then John S Phelps WholeJoint committees Edit Amending the Constitution on Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections Enrolled Bills Chairman Rep James Pike The Library Chairman Rep William Aiken Printing Chairman Rep Matthias H Nichols San Francisco DisasterCaucuses EditDemocratic House Democratic Senate Employees EditLegislative branch agency directors Edit Architect of the Capitol Thomas U Walter Librarian of Congress John Silva MeehanSenate Edit Chaplain Henry Slicer Methodist until December 4 1855 Henry C Dean Methodist until December 8 1856 Stephen P Hill Baptist elected December 8 1856 Secretary Asbury Dickins Sergeant at Arms Dunning R McNairHouse of Representatives Edit Chaplain None Clerk John W Forney until February 4 1856 William Cullom elected February 4 1856 Doorkeeper Nathan Darling Messenger Thaddeus Morrice Postmaster Robert Morris Sergeant at Arms Adam J Glossbrenner Reading Clerks data unknown missing See also Edit1854 United States elections elections leading to this Congress 1854 55 United States Senate elections 1854 55 United States House of Representatives elections 1856 United States elections elections during this Congress leading to the next Congress 1856 United States presidential election 1856 57 United States Senate elections 1856 57 United States House of Representatives electionsNotes Edit a b When seated or oath administered not necessarily when service began References Edit The longest and most contentious Speaker election in its history United States House of Representatives History Art amp Archives Archived from the original on June 20 2012 Retrieved January 4 2023 The Opening of the 34th Congress United States House of Representatives History Art amp Archives Archived from the original on September 15 2012 Retrieved January 4 2023 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 34th Congress 1st Session 1856 Congressional Directory for the 34th Congress 3rd Session Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 34th United States Congress amp oldid 1137646798, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
