31st United States Congress

31st United States Congress
30th ← → 32nd
United States Capitol (1846)
March 4, 1849 – March 4, 1851
Members	62 senators 233 representatives 2 non-voting delegates
Senate majority	Democratic
Senate President	Millard Fillmore (W) (until July 9, 1850) Vacant (from July 9, 1850)
House majority	none: Democratic plurality
House Speaker	Howell Cobb (CU)
Sessions
Special: March 5, 1849 – March 23, 1849 1st: December 3, 1849 – September 30, 1850 2nd: December 2, 1850 – March 4, 1851

The Thirty-first 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 Millard Fillmore's. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the Sixth Census of the United States in 1840. The Senate had a Democratic majority, while there was a Democratic plurality in the House.

Major events

See 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
• December 22, 1849: Howell Cobb is elected Speaker after sixty-three ballots, the longest election for the position ever held.
• 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
• July 9, 1850: Taylor died and Millard Fillmore became President.

Major legislation

Main 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. 496

States admitted and territories organized

• September 9, 1850 — As part of the Compromise of 1850:
  • Texas's borders were changed, ch. 49, 9 Stat. 446
  • New Mexico Territory was organized, ch. 49, 9 Stat. 448
  • California was admitted as a state into the Union, ch. 50, 9 Stat. 452
  • Utah Territory was organized, ch. 51, 9 Stat. 453

Party summary

Senate

During this Congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of California.

	Party (shading shows control)				Total	Vacant
	Democratic (D)	Free Soil (FS)	Whig (W)	Other
End of previous congress	36	0	23	1	60	0
Begin	33	2	25	0	60	0
End	36		24		62
Final voting share	58.1%	3.2%	38.7%	0.0%
Beginning of next congress	34	2	21	0	57	5

House of Representatives

During this Congress, two House seats were added for the new state of California.

	Party (shading shows control)						Total	Vacant
	American (A)	Democratic (D)	Free Soil (FS)	Whig (W)	Independent (I)	Other
End of previous congress	1	111	0	114	1	2	229	1
Begin	1	113	9	107	0	0	230	1
End		112		108	1		231
Final voting share	0.4%	48.5%	3.9%	46.8%	0.4%	0.0%
Beginning of next congress	0	128	3	85	0	17	233	0

Leadership

President of the Senate
Millard Fillmore

Senate

• President: Millard Fillmore (W), until July 9, 1850; vacant thereafter.
• President pro tempore: David Atchison (D), until May 5, 1850
  • William R. King (D), from May 6, 1850

House of Representatives

• Speaker: Howell Cobb (D)

Members

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, 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.

Skip to House of Representatives, below

Alabama

• 3. William R. D. King (D)
• 2. Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D), until November 30, 1849
  • Jeremiah Clemens (D), from November 30, 1849

Arkansas

• 3. Solon Borland (D)
• 2. William K. Sebastian (D)

California

• 3. William M. Gwin (D), from September 10, 1850 (newly admitted state)
• 1. John C. Frémont (D), from September 10, 1850 (newly admitted state)

Connecticut

• 1. Roger S. Baldwin (W)
• 3. Truman Smith (W)

Delaware

• 2. Presley Spruance (W)
• 1. John Wales (W)

Florida

• 1. David Levy Yulee (D)
• 3. Jackson Morton (W)

Georgia

• 2. John Macpherson Berrien (W)
• 3. William C. Dawson (W)

Illinois

• 2. Stephen A. Douglas (D)
• 3. James Shields (D), until March 6, 1849
  • James Shields (D), from December 3, 1849

Indiana

• 1. Jesse D. Bright (D)
• 3. James Whitcomb (D)

Iowa

• 3. Augustus C. Dodge (D)
• 2. George W. Jones (D)

Kentucky

• 2. Joseph R. Underwood (W)
• 3. Henry Clay (W)

Louisiana

• 2. Solomon W. Downs (D)
• 3. Pierre Soulé (D)

Maine

• 2. James W. Bradbury (D)
• 1. Hannibal Hamlin (D)

Maryland

• 3. James Pearce (W)
• 1. Reverdy Johnson (W), until March 7, 1849
  • David Stewart (W), from December 6, 1849 until December 12, 1850
  • Thomas Pratt (W), from December 12, 1850

Massachusetts

• 1. Daniel Webster (W), until July 22, 1850
  • Robert C. Winthrop (W), from July 30, 1850 until February 1, 1851
  • Robert J. Rantoul, Jr. (D), from February 1, 1851
• 2. John Davis (W)

Michigan

• 1. Lewis Cass (D)
• 2. Alpheus Felch (D)

Mississippi

• 2. Henry S. Foote (D)
• 1. Jefferson Davis (D)

Missouri

• 1. Thomas H. Benton (D)
• 3. David R. Atchison (D)

New Hampshire

• 2. John P. Hale (FS)
• 3. Moses Norris, Jr. (D)

New Jersey

• 2. Jacob W. Miller (W)
• 1. William L. Dayton (W)

New York

• 1. Daniel S. Dickinson (D)
• 3. William H. Seward (W)

North Carolina

• 2. Willie P. Mangum (W)
• 3. George E. Badger (W)

Ohio

• 1. Thomas Corwin (W), until July 20, 1850
  • Thomas Ewing (W), from July 20, 1850
• 3. Salmon P. Chase (FS)

Pennsylvania

• 1. Daniel Sturgeon (D)
• 3. James Cooper (W)

Rhode Island

• 1. Albert C. Greene (W)
• 2. John H. Clarke (W)

South Carolina

• 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
• 3. Andrew Butler (D)

Tennessee

• 1. Hopkins L. Turney (D)
• 2. John Bell (W)

Texas

• 2. Samuel Houston (D)
• 1. Thomas J. Rusk (D)

Vermont

• 1. Samuel S. Phelps (W)
• 3. William Upham (W)

Virginia

• 1. James M. Mason (D)
• 2. Robert M. T. Hunter (D)

Wisconsin

• 1. Henry Dodge (D)
• 3. Isaac P. Walker (D)

Senate Presidents pro Tempore

David R. Atchison (D)
(until December 2, 1849)

William R. King (D)
(from May 6, 1850)

House of Representatives

Speaker Howell Cobb

The names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.

Alabama

(5-2 Democratic)

• 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

(1 Democrat)

• At-large. Robert W. Johnson (D)

California

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
(1-1 split)

• 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

(2-1 Democratic, 1 Free Soil)

• 1. Loren P. Waldo (D)
• 2. Walter Booth (FS)
• 3. Chauncey F. Cleveland (D)
• 4. Thomas B. Butler (W)

Delaware

(1 Whig)

• At-large. John W. Houston (W)

Florida

(1 Whig)

• At-large. Edward C. Cabell (W)

Georgia

(4-4 split)

• 1. Thomas B. King (W), until March 3, 1850
  • Joseph W. Jackson (D), from March 4, 1850
• 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 Stephens (W)
• 8. Robert Toombs (W)

Illinois

(5-1 Democratic)

• 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

(8-1 Democratic)

• 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

(2 Democrats)

• 1. William Thompson (D), until June 29, 1850
  • Daniel F. Miller (W), from December 20, 1850
• 2. Shepherd Leffler (D)

Kentucky

(6-4 Whig)

• 1. Linn Boyd (D)
• 2. James L. Johnson (W)
• 3. Finis E. McLean (W)
• 4. George 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

(2-1 Democratic)

• 1. Emile La Sére (D)
• 2. Charles M. Conrad (W), until August 17, 1850
  • Henry A. Bullard (W), from December 5, 1850
• 3. John H. Harmanson (D), until October 24, 1850
  • Alexander G. Penn (D), from December 30, 1850
• 4. Isaac E. Morse (D)

Maine

(5-2 Democratic)

• 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

(3-3 split)

• 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

(8-1 Whig)

• 1. Robert C. Winthrop (W), until July 30, 1850
  • Samuel A. Eliot (W), from August 22, 1850
• 2. Daniel P. King (W)
• 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

(2-1 Democratic)

• 1. Alexander W. Buel (D)
• 2. William Sprague (W)
• 3. Kinsley S. Bingham (D)

Mississippi

(4 Democrats)

• 1. Jacob Thompson (D)
• 2. Winfield S. Featherston (D)
• 3. William McWillie (D)
• 4. Albert G. Brown (D)

Missouri

(5 Democrats)

• 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

(2-1 Whig)

• 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
• 4. Harry Hibbard (D)

New Jersey

(4-1 Whig)

• 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

(32-1, 1 Free Soil)

• 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

(6-3 Whig)

• 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

(11-8 Democratic, 2 Free Soils)

• 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
• 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

(13-9 Democratic)

• 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
• 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
• 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

(2 Whigs)

• 1. George G. King (W)
• 2. Nathan F. Dixon, Jr. (W)

South Carolina

(7 Democrats)

• 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

(7-4 Democratic)

• 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

(2 Democrats)

• 1. David S. Kaufman (D), until January 31, 1851
• 2. Volney E. Howard (D)

Vermont

(3-1 Whig)

• 1. William Henry (W)
• 2. William Hebard (W)
• 3. George P. Marsh (W), until ????, 1849
  • James Meacham (W), from December 3, 1849
• 4. Lucius B. Peck (D)

Virginia

(14-1 Democratic)

• 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 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

Wisconsin

(1-1 split, 1 Free Soil)

• 1. Charles Durkee (FS)
• 2. Orsamus Cole (W)
• 3. James D. Doty (D)

Non-voting members

(1 Democrat, 1 Independent)

• Minnesota Territory. Henry H. Sibley, from July 7, 1849
• Oregon Territory. Samuel Thurston (D)

House seats by party holding plurality in state
80.1-100% Democratic	80.1-100% Whig	80.1-100% American
60.1-80% Democratic	60.1-80% Whig	60.1-80% American
Up to 60% Democratic	Up to 60% Whig	Up to 60% American

Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate

• replacements: 5
  • Democrats (D): no net change
  • Whigs (W): no net change
• deaths: 1
• resignations: 3
• seats from newly admitted states: 2
• interim appointments: 4
• Total seats with changes: 8

See also: List of special elections to the United States Senate

|- | Illinois
(3) | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | 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. | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | James Shields (D) | Seated December 3, 1849

|- | Maryland
(1) | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Reverdy Johnson (W) | Resigned March 7, 1849 having been appointed United States Attorney General | style="background-color:#F0C862" | David Stewart (W) | Appointed December 6, 1849

|- | Alabama
(2) | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D) | Sen. Dixon Lewis successor elected November 30, 1849 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Jeremiah Clemens (D) | Elected November 30, 1849

|- | Maryland
(1) | style="background-color:#F0C862" | David Stewart (W) | Successor elected January 12, 1850 | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Thomas Pratt (W) | Elected January 12, 1850

|- | South Carolina
(2) | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | John C. Calhoun (D) | Died March 31, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Franklin H. Elmore (D) | Appointed April 11, 1850

|- | South Carolina
(2) | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Franklin H. Elmore (D) | Died May 29, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Robert W. Barnwell (D) | Appointed June 4, 1850

|- | Ohio
(1) | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Thomas Corwin (W) | Resigned July 20, 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of the Treasury | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Thomas Ewing (W) | Appointed July 20, 1850

|- | Massachusetts
(1) | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Daniel Webster (W) | Resigned July 22, 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of State | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Robert C. Winthrop (W) | Appointed July 30, 1850

|- | California
(1) | New state | California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850.
The first Senator was elected September 10, 1850. | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | John C. Frémont (D) | Elected September 10, 1850

|- | California
(3) | New state | California admitted to the Union September 9, 1850.
The first Senator was elected September 10, 1850. | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | William M. Gwin (D) | Elected September 10, 1850

|- | South Carolina
(2) | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Robert W. Barnwell (D) | Successor elected December 18, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Robert Rhett (D) | Elected December 18, 1850

|- | Massachusetts
(1) | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Robert C. Winthrop (W) | Successor elected February 1, 1851 | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Robert Rantoul, Jr. (W) | Elected February 1, 1851 |}

House of Representatives

• replacements: 11
  • Democrats (D): 2 seat net gain
  • Whigs (W): 2 seat net loss
• deaths: 8
• resignations: 5
• contested election:1
• seats from newly admitted states: 2
• Total seats with changes: 16

Main article: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

|- | Minnesota Territory At-large | Vacant | style="font-size:80%" | Seat remained vacant after territory became organized at end of previous congress | Henry H. Sibley | Seated July 7, 1849 |- | Vermont 3rd | style="background-color:#F0C862" | George Perkins Marsh (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned some time in 1849 | style="background-color:#F0C862" | James Meacham (W) | Seated December 3, 1849 |- | Ohio 6th | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Rodolphus Dickinson (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died March 20, 1849 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Amos E. Wood (D) | Seated December 3, 1849 |- | Virginia 15th | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Alexander Newman (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died September 8, 1849 | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Thomas Haymond (W) | Seated November 8, 1849 |- | Georgia 1st | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Thomas B. King (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned March 3, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Joseph W. Jackson (D) | Seated March 4, 1850 |- | Iowa 1st | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | William Thompson (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Seat declared vacant June 29, 1850 after contested election. House ruled neither candidate entitled to seat and forced special election | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Daniel F. Miller (W) | Seated December 20, 1850 |- | Massachusetts 1st | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Robert C. Winthrop (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned July 30, 1850 after being appointed to the US Senate | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Samuel A. Eliot (W) | Seated August 22, 1850 |- | Louisiana 2nd | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Charles M. Conrad (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned August 17, 1850 after being appointed United States Secretary of War | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Henry A. Bullard (W) | Seated December 5, 1850 |- | New Hampshire 3rd | style="background-color:#F0C862" | James Wilson (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Resigned September 9, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | George W. Morrison (D) | Seated October 8, 1850 |- | California At-large | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850 and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Edward Gilbert (D) | Seated September 11, 1850 |- | California At-large | colspan=2 style="font-size:80%" | California admitted into the Union September 9, 1850 and seat remained vacant until September 11, 1850 | style="background-color:#DCDCDC" | George W. Wright (I) | Seated September 11, 1850 |- | Pennsylvania 15th | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Henry Nes (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died September 10, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Joel B. Danner (D) | Seated December 2, 1850 |- | Pennsylvania 11th | style="background-color:#F0C862" | Chester P. Butler (W) | style="font-size:80%" | Died October 5, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | John Brisbin (D) | Seated November 13, 1850 |- | Louisiana 3rd | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | John H. Harmanson (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died October 24, 1850 | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Alexander G. Penn (D) | Seated December 30, 1850 |- | Ohio 6th | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | Amos E. Wood (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died November 19, 1850 | style="background-color:#F0C862" | John Bell (W) | Seated January 7, 1851 |- | Texas 1st | style="color:black;background-color:#B0CEFF" | David S. Kaufman (D) | style="font-size:80%" | Died December 31, 1851 | Vacant | Not filled this term |}

Committees

Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

• Agriculture
• Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate
• California's Admission to the Union (Select)
• Claims
• Commerce
• Disorder in the Senate of April 17, 1850 (Select)
• Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)
• District of Columbia
• Eligibility of James Shields (Special)
• French Spoilations (Select)
• Indian Affairs
• Manufactures
• Mexican Boundary Commission (Select)
• Military Affairs
• Militia
• Naval Affairs
• Ordnance and War Ships (Select)
• Patents and the Patent Office
• Pensions
• Post Office and Post Roads
• Printing
• Private Land Claims
• Public Buildings and Grounds
• Public Lands
• Retrenchment
• Revolutionary Claims
• Roads and Canals
• Seventh Census (Select)
• Settlement of the Slavery Question (Select)
• Tariff Regulation (Select)
• Territories
• Whole

House of Representatives

• Accounts
• Bounty Land Act of 1850 (Select)
• Claims
• Commerce
• District of Columbia
• Elections
• Whole

Employees

• Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan

Senate

• Chaplain: Henry Slicer (Methodist)
  • Clement M. Butler (Episcopalian), elected January 9, 1850
• Secretary: Asbury Dickens
• Sergeant at Arms: Robert Beale

House of Representatives

• Chaplain: Ralph Gurley (Presbyterian)
• Clerk: Thomas J. Campbell, died April 13, 1850
  • Richard M. Young, elected April 17, 1850
• Doorkeeper: Robert E. Horner
• Postmaster: John M. Johnson
• Sergeant at Arms: Adam J. Glossbrenner

See also

• United States elections, 1848 (elections leading to this Congress)
  • United States presidential election, 1848
  • United States Senate elections, 1848 and 1849
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 1848
• United States elections, 1850 (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
  • United States Senate elections, 1850 and 1851
  • United States House of Representatives elections, 1850

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
• Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.

External links

• Statutes at Large, 1789-1875
• Senate Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
• House Journal, First Forty-three Sessions of Congress
• Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress
• U.S. House of Representatives: House History
• U.S. Senate: Statistics and Lists
• Congressional Directory for the 31st Congress, 1st Session.