29th United States Congress
Template:Short description Template:No footnotes Template:Infobox United States Congress The 29th 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, 1845, to March 4, 1847, during the first two years of James Polk's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. Both chambers had a Democratic majority. Template:TOClimit
Major events
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- March 4, 1845: James K. Polk became President of the United States
- October 10, 1845: The Naval School (later renamed the United States Naval Academy) opened in Annapolis, Maryland
- December 2, 1845: President Polk announced to Congress that the Monroe Doctrine should be strictly enforced and that the United States should aggressively expand into the West.
- April 25, 1846: Open conflict over border disputes of Texas's boundaries began the Mexican–American War
Major legislation
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- May 13, 1846: Mexican–American War declared, ch. 16, 9 Stat. 9
- July 9, 1846: District of Columbia retrocession, ch. 35, 9 Stat. 35
- July 30, 1846: Walker tariff, ch. 74, 9 Stat. 42
Treaties
- June 15, 1846: Oregon Treaty established the 49th parallel as the border between the United States and Canada, from the Rocky Mountains to the Strait of Juan de Fuca
- January 13, 1847: Treaty of Cahuenga ended the fighting in the Mexican–American War in California (not a formal treaty between nations but an informal agreement between rival military forces)
States admitted
- December 29, 1845: Texas admitted as the 28th state
- December 28, 1846: Iowa admitted as the 29th state
Party summary
Senate
During this congress, two Senate seats were added for each of the new states of Texas and Iowa.
Template:US Congress party summary
House of Representatives
During this congress, two House seats were added for each of the new states of Texas and Iowa.
Template:US Congress party summary
Leadership
George M. Dallas (D)
Senate
- President: George M. Dallas (D)
- President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum (W), until March 4, 1845
- Ambrose Hundley Sevier (D), only on December 27, 1845
- David R. Atchison (D), from August 8, 1846
House of Representatives
- Speaker: John W. Davis (D)
Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class and representatives are listed by district.
Senate
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". 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 began with this Congress, facing re-election in 1850; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, facing re-election in 1846; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, facing re-election in 1848. Template:Col begin
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Alabama
Arkansas
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
- Template:Party stripe1. David Levy Yulee (D), from July 1, 1845
- Template:Party stripe3. James Westcott (D), from July 1, 1845
Georgia
- Template:Party stripe2. John M. Berrien (W), until May, 1845; from November 13, 1845
- Template:Party stripe3. Walter T. Colquitt (D)
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
- 2. Vacant after being admitted to the Union December 28, 1846
- 3. Vacant after being admitted to the Union December 28, 1846
Kentucky
Louisiana
- Template:Party stripe2. Alexander Barrow (W), until December 29, 1846
- Template:Party stripePierre Soulé (D), from January 21, 1847
- Template:Party stripe3. Henry Johnson (W)
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
- Template:Party stripe1. Daniel Webster (W)
- Template:Party stripe2. Isaac C. Bates (W), until March 16, 1845
- Template:Party stripeJohn Davis (W), from March 24, 1845
Michigan
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Mississippi
- Template:Party stripe1. Jesse Speight (D)
- Template:Party stripe2. Robert J. Walker (D), until March 5, 1845
- Template:Party stripeJoseph W. Chalmers (D), from November 3, 1845
Missouri
New Hampshire
- Template:Party stripe2. Levi Woodbury (D), until September 20, 1845
- Template:Party stripeBenning W. Jenness (D), from December 1, 1845, until June 13, 1846
- Template:Party stripeJoseph Cilley (L), from June 13, 1846
- Template:Party stripe3. Charles G. Atherton (D)
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
- Template:Party stripe2. Willie P. Mangum (W)
- Template:Party stripe3. William H. Haywood Jr. (D), until July 25, 1846
- Template:Party stripeGeorge E. Badger (W), from November 26, 1846
Ohio
Pennsylvania
- Template:Party stripe1. Daniel Sturgeon (D)
- Template:Party stripe3. James Buchanan (D), until March 5, 1845
- Template:Party stripeSimon Cameron (D), from March 13, 1845
Rhode Island
South Carolina
- Template:Party stripe2. John C. Calhoun (D), from November 26, 1845
- Template:Party stripe3. George McDuffie (D), until August 17, 1846
- Template:Party stripeAndrew Butler (D), from December 4, 1846
Tennessee
Texas
- Template:Party stripe1. Thomas J. Rusk (D), from February 21, 1846 (newly admitted state)
- Template:Party stripe2. Samuel Houston (D), from February 21, 1846 (newly admitted state)
Vermont
Virginia
- Template:Party stripe1. Isaac S. Pennybacker (D), December 3, 1845 – January 12, 1847
- Template:Party stripeJames M. Mason (D), from January 21, 1847
- Template:Party stripe2. William S. Archer (W)
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House of Representatives
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Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
Senate
- Replacements: 8
- Democrats (D): no net change
- Whigs (W): no net change
- Deaths: 3
- Resignations: 6
- Interim appointments: 1
- Seats of newly admitted states: 4
- Total seats with changes: 14
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| Florida
(1)
| Vacant
| Florida admitted to the Union at end of previous congress
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | David L. Yulee (D)
| Elected July 1, 1845
|-
| Florida
(3)
| Vacant
| Florida admitted to the Union at end of previous congress
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James Westcott (D)
| Elected July 1, 1845
|-
| South Carolina
(2)
| Vacant
| Senator Daniel E. Huger resigned in previous congress.
Successor elected November 26, 1845.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | John C. Calhoun (D)
| Elected November 26, 1845
|-
| Virginia
(1)
| Vacant
| Failure to elect
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Isaac S. Pennybacker (D)
| Elected December 3, 1845
|-
| Mississippi
(2)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Robert J. Walker (D)
| Resigned March 5, 1845, after being appointed U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.
Successor appointed November 3, 1845.
Appointee was later elected on an unknown date.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Joseph W. Chalmers (D)
| Appointed November 3, 1845
|-
| Pennsylvania
(3)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James Buchanan (D)
| Resigned March 5, 1845, after being appointed U.S. Secretary of State
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Simon Cameron (D)
| Elected March 13, 1845
|-
| Massachusetts
(2)
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Isaac C. Bates (W)
| Died March 16, 1845
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John Davis (W)
| Elected March 24, 1845
|-
| Georgia
(2)
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John M. Berrien (W)
| Resigned May, 1845 when appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John M. Berrien (W)
| Elected November 13, 1845
|-
| New Hampshire
(2)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Levi Woodbury (D)
| Resigned November 20, 1845, to become Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Benning W. Jenness (D)
| Appointed December 1, 1845
|-
| Texas
(1)
| colspan=2 | Texas admitted to the Union December 29, 1845, and remained vacant until February 21, 1846
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Thomas J. Rusk (D)
| Elected February 21, 1846
|-
| Texas
(2)
| colspan=2 | Texas admitted to the Union December 29, 1845, and remained vacant until February 21, 1846
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Sam Houston (D)
| Elected February 21, 1846
|-
| New Hampshire
(2)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Benning W. Jenness (D)
| Lost election to finish the term.
Winner elected June 13, 1846.
| Template:Party shading/Liberty | Joseph Cilley (L)
| Elected June 13, 1846
|-
| North Carolina
(3)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William H. Haywood Jr. (D)
| Resigned July 25, 1846, after having refused to be instructed by the North Carolina state legislature on a tariff question
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | George E. Badger (W)
| Elected November 25, 1846
|-
| South Carolina
(3)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | George McDuffie (D)
| Resigned August 17, 1846.
Successor appointed December 4, 1846, and subsequently elected to finish the term.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Andrew Butler (D)
| Seated December 4, 1846
|-
| Iowa
(2)
| colspan=2 | Iowa admitted to the Union December 28, 1846
| Vacant
| Not filled this term
|-
| Iowa
(3)
| colspan=2 | Iowa admitted to the Union December 28, 1846
| Vacant
| Not filled this term
|-
| Louisiana
(2)
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Alexander Barrow (W)
| Died December 29, 1846
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Pierre Soulé (D)
| Elected January 21, 1847
|-
| Virginia
(1)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Isaac S. Pennybacker (D)
| Died January 12, 1847
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James M. Mason (D)
| Elected January 21, 1847
|}
House of Representatives
- Replacements: 12
- Democrats (D): 1 seat net gain
- Whigs (W): 1 seat net loss
- Deaths: 5
- Resignations: 6
- Contested election: 1
- Seats of newly admitted states: 4
- Total seats with changes: 17
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|- | Template:Ushr | Vacant | style="font-size:80%" | Florida admitted to the Union at end of previous congress | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Edward C. Cabell (W) | Seated October 6, 1845 |- | Template:Ushr | Vacant | style="font-size:80%" | Rep-elect Washington Poe declined the seat | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | George W. Towns (D) | Seated January 5, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | Texas admitted into the Union December 29, 1845, and seat remained vacant until March 30, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | David S. Kaufman (D) | Seated March 30, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | Texas admitted into the Union December 29, 1845, and seat remained vacant until March 30, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Timothy Pilsbury (D) | Seated March 30, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Samuel G. Wright (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died July 30, 1845 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | George Sykes (D) | Seated November 4, 1845 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | John Slidell (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned November 10, 1845, after being appointed Minister to Mexico, but government refused to accept him | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Emile La Sére (D) | Seated January 29, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Joseph H. Peyton (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died November 11, 1845 | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Edwin H. Ewing (W) | Seated January 2, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William Taylor (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died January 17, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James McDowell (D) | Seated March 6, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Edward C. Cabell (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Lost contested election January 24, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William H. Brockenbrough (D) | Seated January 24, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Jefferson Davis (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned some time in June, 1846 in order to take part in the Mexican War | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Henry T. Ellett (D) | Seated January 26, 1847 |- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Richard P. Herrick (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died June 20, 1846 | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Thomas C. Ripley (W) | Seated December 17, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Archibald Yell (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned July 1, 1846, in order to take part in the Mexican War | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Thomas W. Newton (W) | Seated February 6, 1847 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Sterling Price (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned August 12, 1846, in order to take part in the Mexican War | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William McDaniel (D) | Seated December 7, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William L. Yancey (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned September 1, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James L. Cottrell (D) | Seated December 7, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Felix G. McConnell (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died September 10, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Franklin W. Bowdon (D) | Seated December 7, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Augustus C. Dodge (D) | colspan=3 style="font-size:80%" | Territory was dissolved after Iowa was admitted to the Union December 28, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | Iowa admitted into the Union December 28, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | S. Clinton Hastings (D) | Seated December 28, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | Iowa admitted into the Union December 28, 1846 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Shepherd Leffler (D) | Seated December 28, 1846 |- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Edward D. Baker (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned January 15, 1847, in order to take part in the Mexican War | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John Henry (W) | Seated February 5, 1847 |- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Stephen A. Douglas (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned March 3, 1847, at close of congress after being elected to the US Senate | Vacant | Not filled this term |}
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Senate
- Agriculture (Chairman: Daniel Sturgeon)
- Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: Jesse Speight)
- Charges of Corruption Contained in the Daily Times (Select)
- Claims (Chairman: Isaac S. Pennybacker)
- Commerce (Chairman: William Haywood then John Adams Dix)
- Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)
- District of Columbia (Chairman: William Haywood then Simon Cameron)
- Finance (Chairman: John C. Calhoun then Dixon H. Lewis)
- Foreign Relations (Chairman: William Allen then Ambrose H. Sevier)
- French Spoilations (Select) (Chairman: Daniel Webster)
- Indian Affairs (Chairman: Ambrose H. Sevier then Arthur P. Bagby)
- International Copyright Law (Select) (Chairman: Lewis Cass)
- Judiciary (Chairman: Chester Ashley)
- Manufactures (Chairman: Daniel S. Dickinson)
- Memorial on W.T.G. Morton (Select)
- Memphis Convention (Select) (Chairman: John C. Calhoun)
- Military Affairs (Chairman: Thomas H. Benton)
- Militia (Chairman: David R. Atchison)
- Naval Affairs (Chairman: John Fairfield)
- Ordnance and War Ships (Select)
- Patents and the Patent Office (Chairman: Simon Cameron then Walter Colquitt)
- Pensions (Chairman: Henry Johnson)
- Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: John M. Niles)
- Printing (Chairman: Charles G. Atherton)
- Private Land Claims (Chairman: David Levy Yulee)
- Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Simon Cameron)
- Public Lands (Chairman: Sidney Breese)
- Retrenchment (Chairman: Dixon H. Lewis)
- Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Thomas Clayton)
- Roads and Canals (Chairman: Edward A. Hannegan)
- Tariff Regulation (Select)
- Territories (Chairman: James Westcott)
- Smithsonian Institution (Select) (Chairman: John Adams Dix)
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Accounts (Chairman: Daniel P. King)
- Agriculture (Chairman: Joseph H. Anderson)
- Claims (Chairman: John Reeves Jones Daniel)
- Commerce (Chairman: Robert McClelland)
- District of Columbia (Chairman: Robert M.T. Hunter)
- Elections (Chairman: Hannibal Hamlin)
- Engraving (Chairman: Jacob S. Yost)
- Expenditures in the Navy Department (Chairman: John F. Collin)
- Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Chairman: John H. Harmanson)
- Expenditures in the State Department (Chairman: Stephen Strong)
- Expenditures in the Treasury Department (Chairman: John F. Scammon)
- Expenditures in the War Department (Chairman: Owen D. Leib)
- Expenditures on Public Buildings (Chairman: Orlando B. Ficklin)
- Foreign Affairs (Chairman: Charles J. Ingersoll)
- Indian Affairs (Chairman: John A. McClernand)
- Invalid Pensions (Chairman: Preston King)
- Judiciary (Chairman: George O. Rathbun)
- Manufactures (Chairman: John Quincy Adams)
- Mileage (Chairman: John P. Martin)
- Military Affairs (Chairman: Hugh A. Haralson)
- Militia (Chairman: James A. Black)
- Naval Affairs (Chairman: Isaac E. Holmes)
- Patents (Chairman: Thomas J. Henley)
- Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: George W. Hopkins)
- Private Land Claims (Chairman: James B. Bowlin)
- Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Orlando B. Ficklin)
- Public Expenditures (Chairman: Robert P. Dunlap)
- Public Lands (Chairman: John A. McClernand)
- Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Cullen Sawtelle)
- Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Joseph Johnson)
- Revolutionary Pensions (Chairman: Richard Brodhead)
- Roads and Canals (Chairman: Robert Smith)
- Rules (Select)
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Territories (Chairman: Stephen A. Douglas)
- Ways and Means (Chairman: James I. McKay)
- Whole
Joint committees
- Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Sen. Jesse D. Bright)
- The Library (Chairman: N/A)
- Printing (Chairman: N/A)
- Smithsonian Bequest
Employees
Senate
- Chaplain: Septimus Tustin (Presbyterian), until December 16, 1846
- Henry Slicer (Methodist), elected December 16, 1846
- Secretary: Asbury Dickins
- Sergeant at Arms: Edward Dyer, died September 8, 1845
- Robert Beale, elected December 9, 1845
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: William H. Milburn (Methodist), elected December 3, 1845
- William T.S. Sprole (Presbyterian), elected December 7, 1846
- Clerk: Benjamin B. French
- Doorkeeper: Cornelius C. Whitney, elected December 3, 1845
- Postmaster: John M. Johnson
- Reading Clerks: Template:Dm
- Sergeant at Arms: Newton Lane
See also
- 1844 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
- 1846 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
Notes
References
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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
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