30th United States Congress
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox United States Congress The 30th 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, 1847, to March 4, 1849, during the last two years of the administration of President James K. Polk. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. The Senate had a Democratic majority, and the House had a Whig majority. It was the only Congress in which Abraham Lincoln served. Template:TOClimit
Major events
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- July 1, 1847: United States issued its first postage stamps
- January 24, 1848: Gold found at Sutter's Mill, beginning the California Gold Rush
- January 31, 1848: Washington Monument established
- May 29, 1848: Wisconsin is granted statehood, becoming the 30th state
- February 23, 1848: Former President John Quincy Adams, now a Congressman representing Massachusetts, dies in the Speaker's office after suffering a stroke in the House Chambers.
- July 19, 1848: Seneca Falls Convention
- November 7, 1848: U.S. presidential election, 1848: Whig Zachary Taylor defeated Lewis Cass in the first US presidential election held in every state on the same day.
- 1846–1848: Mexican–American War
Major legislation
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- March 3, 1849: United States Department of the Interior established, sess. 2, ch. 108, 9 Stat. 395
- March 3, 1849: Gold Coinage Act, sess. 2, ch. 109, 9 Stat. 397
Treaty
- February 2, 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed, ending the Mexican–American War and ceding to the United States virtually all of what is today the southwest United States.
States admitted and territories established
- May 29, 1848: Wisconsin admitted as the 30th U.S. state, sess. 1, ch. 50, 9 Stat. 235
- August 14, 1848: Oregon Territory was formed from territory ceded by Great Britain, sess. 1, ch. 177, 9 Stat. 323
- March 3, 1849: Minnesota Territory formed from the Wisconsin Territory, sess. 2, ch. 121, 9 Stat. 403
Party summary
Senate
During this congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of Wisconsin.
Template:US Congress party summary
House of Representatives
During this congress, two House seats were added for the new state of Wisconsin.
| Affiliation | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)
|
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | style="background color:Template:Party color" | | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | | |||
| American | Democratic | Independent Democratic |
Independent | Whig | Vacant | ||
| End of previous Congress | 12 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"| 137 | 0 | 0 | 77 | 226 | 2 |
| Begin | 1 | 107 | 2 | 1 | rowspan=3 style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 116 | 227 | 1 |
| April 27, 1847 | 106 | 226 | 2 | ||||
| December 6, 1847 | 108 | 228 | 0 | ||||
| January 16, 1848 | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 115 | 227 | 1 | ||||
| February 23, 1848 | rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 114 | 226 | 2 | ||||
| March 6, 1848 | 109 | 227 | 1 | ||||
| March 8, 1848 | 113 | 226 | 2 | ||||
| April 3, 1848 | 108 | rowspan=4 style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 114 | 226 | 2 | |||
| April 19, 1848 | 107 | 225 | 3 | ||||
| May 29, 1848 | 225 | 5 | |||||
| June 8, 1848 | 109 | 227 | 3 | ||||
| June 12, 1848 | 110 | 114 | 228 | 2 | |||
| November 22, 1848 | 109 | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 114 | 227 | 3 | |||
| December 4, 1848 | rowspan=2 style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 116 | 229 | 1 | ||||
| February 12, 1849 | 110 | 230 | 0 | ||||
| Final voting share | .5% | 48% | 1% | .5% | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | 50.5% | ||
| Beginning of the next Congress | 1 | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | 113 | 0 | 0 | 107 | 221 | 1 |
Leadership
George M. Dallas
Senate
House of Representatives
Members
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class and representatives are listed by district.
Senate
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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: 11
- Democrats (D): 4 seat net gain
- Whigs (W): no net change
- Deaths: 5
- Resignations: 6
- Interim appointments: 7
- Seats of newly admitted states: 4
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|-
| Tennessee
(2)
| Vacant
| Failure to elect.
Successor elected November 22, 1847.
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John Bell (W)
| Elected November 22, 1847.
|-
| Iowa
(2)
| Vacant
| Iowa had been admitted to the Union December 28, 1846, but the legislature failed to elect due to a three-way split that prevented any candidate from earning the required number of 30 legislators' votes.[1]
First Senator elected December 7, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | George Wallace Jones (D)
| Elected December 7, 1848.
|-
| Iowa
(3)
| Vacant
| Iowa had been admitted to the Union December 28, 1846, but the legislature failed to elect due to a three-way split that prevented any candidate from earning the required number of 30 legislators' votes.[1]
First Senator elected December 7, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Augustus C. Dodge (D)
| Elected December 7, 1848.
|-
| Mississippi
(1)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Jesse Speight (D)
| Incumbent died May 1, 1847.
Successor appointed August 10, 1847, and then elected January 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Jefferson Davis (D)
| Appointed December 5, 1847.
|-
| Connecticut
(1)
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Jabez W. Huntington (W)
| Incumbent died November 1, 1847.
Successor appointed November 11, 1847, and then elected May 1848.
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Roger S. Baldwin (W)
| Appointed December 5, 1847.
|-
| Maine
(1)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | John Fairfield (D)
| Incumbent died December 24, 1847.
Successor appointed January 5, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Wyman B. S. Moor (D)
| Appointed January 5, 1848.
|-
| Georgia
(3)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Walter T. Colquitt (D)
| Incumbent resigned February 4, 1848.
Successor appointed February 4, 1848, to finish the term.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Herschel V. Johnson (D)
| Appointed February 4, 1848.
|-
| Arkansas
(3)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Ambrose H. Sevier (D)
| Incumbent resigned March 15, 1848.
Successor appointed March 30, 1848, to finish the term.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Solon Borland (D)
| Appointed March 30, 1848.
|-
| Arkansas
(2)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Chester Ashley (D)
| Incumbent died April 29, 1848.
Successor appointed May 12, 1848, and elected sometime thereafter.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William K. Sebastian (D)
| Elected May 12, 1848.
|-
| Wisconsin
(1)
| colspan=2 | Wisconsin admitted to the Union May 29, 1848.
First Senator elected June 8, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Henry Dodge (D)
| Elected June 8, 1848.
|-
| Wisconsin
(3)
| colspan=2 | Wisconsin admitted to the Union May 29, 1848.
First Senator elected June 8, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Isaac P. Walker (D)
| Elected June 8, 1848.
|-
| Michigan
(1)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Lewis Cass (D)
| Incumbent resigned May 29, 1848, to run for U.S. President.
Successor appointed June 8, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Thomas Fitzgerald (D)
| Elected June 8, 1848.
|-
| Maine
(1)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Wyman B. S. Moor (D)
| Interim appointee retired when successor elected June 7, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Hannibal Hamlin (D)
| Elected June 7, 1848.
|-
| Kentucky
(3)
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John J. Crittenden (W)
| Incumbent resigned June 12, 1848, to run for Governor of Kentucky.
Successor appointed June 23, 1848, and elected sometime thereafter.
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Thomas Metcalfe (W)
| Elected June 23, 1848.
|-
| Alabama
(3)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Arthur P. Bagby (D)
| Incumbent resigned June 16, 1848, to become U.S. Minister to Russia.
Successor elected July 1, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William R. King (D)
| Elected July 1, 1848.
|-
| Alabama
(2)
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Dixon H. Lewis (D)
| Incumbent died October 25, 1848.
Successor elected November 25, 1848.
| style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D)
| Elected November 25, 1848.
|-
| Delaware
(1)
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John M. Clayton (W)
| Incumbent resigned February 23, 1849, to become U.S. Secretary of State.
Successor elected February 23, 1849.
| style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John Wales (W)
| Elected February 23, 1849.
|}
House of Representatives
- Replacements: 10
- Democrats (D): no net change
- Whigs (W): no net change
- Deaths: 7
- Resignations: 0
- Contested election: 1
- Seats of newly admitted states: 2
- Total seats with changes: 12
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|- | Template:Ushr | Vacant | Representative Stephen A. Douglas resigned at end of previous congress. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William A. Richardson (D) | Seated December 6, 1847
|- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | George Dromgoole (D) | Incumbent died April 27, 1847. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Richard K. Meade (D) | Seated August 5, 1847
|- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Edward Bradley (D) | Incumbent died August 5, 1847. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Charles E. Stuart (D) | Seated December 6, 1847
|- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John W. Hornbeck (W) | Incumbent died January 16, 1848. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Samuel A. Bridges (D) | Seated March 6, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John Quincy Adams (W) | Incumbent died February 23, 1848. | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Horace Mann (W) | Seated April 3, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John M. Holley (W) | Incumbent died March 8, 1848. | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Esbon Blackmar (W) | Seated December 4, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | James A. Black (D) | Incumbent died April 3, 1848. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Daniel Wallace (D) | Seated June 12, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | David S. Jackson (D) | James Monroe contested seat after which the House declared the seat vacant April 19, 1848. | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | Horace Greeley (W) | Seated December 4, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | colspan=2 | Wisconsin admitted into the Union May 29, 1848, and seat remained vacant until June 8, 1848. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | William P. Lynde (D) | Seated June 8, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | colspan=2 | Wisconsin admitted into the Union May 29, 1848, and seat remained vacant until June 8, 1848. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Mason C. Darling (D) | Seated June 8, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | style="background-color:Template:Party color" | John H. Tweedy (W) | Incumbent was disqualified May 29, 1848, after the portion of territory he resided in achieved statehood. | Henry H. Sibley | Seated October 30, 1848
|- | Template:Ushr | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | Alexander D. Sims (D) | Incumbent died November 22, 1848. | style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading" | John McQueen (D) | Seated February 12, 1849
|}
Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
Senate
- Agriculture (Chairman: Daniel Sturgeon)
- Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate (Chairman: Alpheus Felch then Isaac P. Walker)
- Claims (Chairman: Moses Norris Jr.)
- Commerce (Chairman: John Adams Dix)
- Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)
- District of Columbia (Chairman: Herschel V. Johnson)
- Expedition of John C. Fremont (Select)
- Enrolled Bills (Chairman: Thomas J. Rusk)
- Finance (Chairman: Charles G. Atherton)
- Foreign Relations (Chairman: Ambrose H. Sevier then Edward A. Hannegan then Thomas Hart Benton)
- Indian Affairs (Chairman: David R. Atchison)
- Judiciary (Chairman: Andrew P. Butler)
- Library (Chairman: James A. Pearce)
- Manufactures (Chairman: Daniel S. Dickinson)
- Memorial of Certain Cherokee Claimants (Select)
- Military Affairs (Chairman: Lewis Cass then Thomas Hart Benton)
- Militia (Chairman: Thomas J. Rusk)
- Monuments to Deceased Senators (Select)
- Naval Affairs (Chairman: David Levy Yulee)
- Oregon Railroad (Select)
- Ordnance and War Ships (Select)
- Patents and the Patent Office (Chairman: James D. Westcott)
- Pensions (Chairman: Henry Johnson)
- Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: John M. Niles)
- Printing (Chairman: Simon Cameron)
- Private Land Claims (Chairman: Solomon W. Downs)
- Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: Robert M.T. Hunter)
- Public Lands (Chairman: Sidney Breese then Alpheus Felch)
- Retired List for the Army and the Navy (Select)
- Retrenchment (Chairman: Hopkins L. Turney)
- Seventh Census (Select)
- Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Jesse D. Bright)
- Rivers and Harbors Convention in Chicago (Select)
- Roads and Canals (Chairman: Edward A. Hannegan)
- Tariff Bill of 1828 (Special)
- Tariff Regulation (Select)
- Territories (Chairman: Stephen A. Douglas)
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Accounts (Chairman: Daniel P. King)
- Agriculture (Chairman: Hugh White)
- Claims (Chairman: Joseph R. Ingersoll)
- Commerce (Chairman: Washington Hunt)
- District of Columbia (Chairman: John G. Chapman)
- Elections (Chairman: Richard W. Thompson)
- Engraving (Chairman: Lewis Charles Levin)
- Enrolled Bills (Chairman: James G. Hampton)
- Expenditures in the Navy Department (Chairman: Patrick W. Tompkins)
- Expenditures in the Post Office Department (Chairman: James Wilson)
- Expenditures in the State Department (Chairman: Daniel M. Barringer)
- Expenditures in the Treasury Department (Chairman: Joseph M. Root)
- Expenditures in the War Department (Chairman: John H. Crozier)
- Expenditures on Public Buildings (Chairman: Edward Carrington Cabell)
- Foreign Affairs (Chairman: John A. McClernand)
- Indian Affairs (Chairman: Daniel M. Barringer)
- Invalid Pensions (Chairman: Andrew S. Fulton)
- Judiciary (Chairman: Joseph R. Ingersoll)
- Manufactures (Chairman: Andrew Stewart)
- Mileage (Chairman: Hiram Belcher)
- Military Affairs (Chairman: John M. Botts)
- Militia (Chairman: John B. Thompson)
- Naval Affairs (Chairman: Thomas Butler King)
- Patents (Chairman: John W. Farrelly)
- Printing (Chairman: Harmon S. Conger)
- Private Land Claims (Chairman: John Gayle)
- Post Office and Post Roads (Chairman: William L. Goggin)
- Public Buildings and Grounds (Chairman: John W. Houston)
- Public Expenditures (Chairman: Thomas L. Clingman)
- Public Lands (Chairman: Jacob Collamer)
- Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Henry Nes)
- Revolutionary Claims (Chairman: Daniel P. King)
- Revolutionary Pensions (Chairman: William M. Cocke)
- Roads and Canals (Chairman: Robert C. Schenck)
- Rules (Select)
- Standards of Official Conduct
- Territories (Chairman: Caleb B. Smith)
- Ways and Means (Chairman: Samuel F. Vinton)
- Whole
Joint committees
Employees
Senate
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: William T.S. Sprole (Presbyterian), until December 6, 1847
- Ralph Gurley (Presbyterian), elected December 6, 1847
- Clerk: Benjamin B. French, until December 8, 1847
- Thomas J. Campbell, elected December 8, 1847
- Doorkeeper: Robert E. Horner, elected December 8, 1847
- Postmaster: John M. Johnson
- Reading Clerks: Template:Dm
- Sergeant at Arms: Newton Lane, until December 8, 1847
- Nathan Sergeant, elected December 8, 1847
See also
- 1846 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
- 1848 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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