Xrthnty

34th United States Congress
	; ; 33rd ←; → 35th; ;
	; ; United States Capitol (1846);
March 4, 1855 – March 4, 1857
Senate President	Vacant
Senate Pres. pro tem	; Jesse D. Bright (D); Charles E. Stuart (D); James M. Mason (D)
House Speaker	; Nathaniel P. Banks (KN)
Members	62 senators; 234 representatives; 7 non-voting delegates
Senate Majority	Democratic
House Majority	; Opposition coalition
Sessions
	; 1st: December 3, 1855 – August 18, 1856; 2nd: August 21, 1856 – August 30, 1856; 3rd: December 1, 1856 – March 4, 1857

The Thirty-fourth 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 Seventh Census of the United States in 1850. 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.

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 appointments

9 Caucuses

10 Employees
- 10.1 Senate
- 10.2 House of Representatives

11 See also

12 References

13 External links

Major events

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 Speaker of the House was "the longest and most contentious Speaker election in its history," due to "Sectional conflict over slavery and a rising anti-immigrant mood in the nation contributed to a poisoned and deteriorating political climate." No party had controlled a majority of the seats, and more than 21 members vied for the post of Speaker. The election took 133 ballots and two months with Nathaniel P. Banks winning over William Aiken Jr. by 103 to 100 votes. "Banks, a member of both the nativist American (or 'Know-Nothing') Party and the Free Soil Party, served a term as Speaker before Democrats won control of the chamber in the 35th Congress."^[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: U.S. presidential election, 1856: Democrat James Buchanan defeated former President Millard Fillmore, representing a coalition of "Know-Nothings" and Whigs, and John C. Frémont 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

August 18, 1856: Guano Islands Act, ch. 164, 11 Stat. 119

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 tempore
Jesse D. Bright

President pro tempore
James M. Mason

Speaker of the House
Nathaniel P. Banks

Party summary

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.

Senate

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)					Total

	American (Know-nothing) (A)	Democratic (D)	Opposition coalition				Vacant

			Free Soil (FS)	Republican (R)	Whig (W)
End of previous Congress	1	38	5	0	17	61	1

Begin	1	35	2	9	8	55	7
End	1	40	1	13	7	62	0
Final voting share	1.6%	62.9%	33.9%

Beginning of next Congress	4	37	0	20	0	61	1

House of Representatives

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 majority caucus)					Total

	Democratic (D)	American (Know-nothing) (A)	Opposition (O)	Republican (R)	Other		Vacant
End of previous Congress	156	0	76	0	2	234	0

Begin	81	52	100	0	0	233	1
End	81	52	96	1	0	230	4
Final voting share	35.2%	64.8%			0.0%

Beginning of next Congress	127	14	0	92	0	233	1

Leadership

Senate

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, 1857

House of Representatives

Speaker: Nathaniel P. Banks (A)

Democratic Caucus Chairman: George Washington Jones

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, 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, below

Alabama

2. Clement C. Clay Jr. (D)

3. Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D), from November 26, 1855

Arkansas

2. William K. Sebastian (D)

3. Robert W. Johnson (D)

California

1. John B. Weller (D)

3. William M. Gwin (D), from January 13, 1857

Connecticut

1. Isaac Toucey (D)

3. Lafayette S. Foster (R)

Delaware

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

Florida

1. Stephen Mallory (D)

3. David Levy Yulee (D)

Georgia

2. Robert Toombs (D)

3. Alfred Iverson, Sr. (D)

Illinois

2. Stephen A. Douglas (D)

3. Lyman Trumbull (D)

Indiana

1. Jesse D. Bright (D)

3. Graham N. Fitch (D), from February 4, 1857

Iowa

2. George Wallace Jones (D)

3. James Harlan (FS), until January 5, 1857
- James Harlan (R), from January 29, 1857

Kentucky

2. John B. Thompson (A)

3. John J. Crittenden (W)

Louisiana

2. Judah P. Benjamin (W)

3. John Slidell (D)

Maine

1. Hannibal Hamlin (D), until January 7, 1857
- Amos Nourse (R), from January 16, 1857

2. William P. Fessenden (W)

Maryland

3. James Pearce (W)

1. Thomas Pratt (W)

Massachusetts

1. Charles Sumner (FS)

2. Henry Wilson (R)

Michigan

1. Lewis Cass (D)

2. Charles E. Stuart (D)

Mississippi

1. Stephen Adams (D)

2. Albert G. Brown (D)

Missouri

1. Henry S. Geyer (W)

3. James S. Green (D), from January 12, 1857

New Hampshire

2. John P. Hale (R), from July 30, 1855

3. James Bell (R), from July 30, 1855

New Jersey

1. John R. Thomson (D)

2. William Wright (D)

New York

3. William H. Seward (R)

1. Hamilton Fish (W)

North Carolina

2. David S. Reid (D)

3. Asa Biggs (D)

Ohio

1. Benjamin Wade (R)

3. George E. Pugh (D)

Pennsylvania

1. Richard Brodhead (D)

3. William Bigler (D), from January 14, 1856

Rhode Island

1. Charles T. James (D)

2. Philip Allen (D)

South Carolina

3. Andrew Butler (D)

2. Josiah J. Evans (D)

Tennessee

2. John Bell (W)

1. James C. Jones (W)

Texas

2. Samuel Houston (D)

1. Thomas J. Rusk (D)

Vermont

1. Solomon Foot (R)

3. Jacob Collamer (R)

Virginia

1. James M. Mason (D)

2. Robert M. T. Hunter (D)

Wisconsin

1. Henry Dodge (D)

3. Charles Durkee (R)

House of Representatives

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

Alabama

1. Percy Walker (A)

2. Eli S. Shorter (D)

3. James F. Dowdell (D)

4. William Russell Smith (A)

5. George S. Houston (D)

6. Williamson R. W. Cobb (D)

7. Sampson W. Harris (D)

Arkansas

1. Alfred B. Greenwood (D)

2. Albert Rust (D)

California

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

At-large. James W. Denver (D)

At-large. Philemon T. Herbert (D)

Connecticut

1. Ezra Clark Jr. (A)

2. John Woodruff (A)

3. Sidney Dean (A)

4. William W. Welch (A)

Delaware

At-large. Elisha D. Cullen (A)

Florida

At-large. Augustus Maxwell (D)

Georgia

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

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

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

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

1. Augustus Hall (D)

2. James Thorington (O)

Kentucky

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

1. George Eustis Jr. (A)

2. Miles Taylor (D)

3. Thomas G. Davidson (D)

4. John M. Sandidge (D)

Maine

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

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

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

1. William A. Howard (O)

2. Henry Waldron (O)

3. David S. Walbridge (O)

4. George W. Peck (D)

Mississippi

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

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

6. John S. Phelps (D)

7. Samuel Caruthers (O)

New Hampshire

1. James Pike (A)

2. Mason Tappan (A)

3. Aaron H. Cragin (A)

New Jersey

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

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, 1857

North Carolina

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

1. Timothy C. Day (O)

2. John Scott Harrison (O)

3. Lewis D. Campbell (A)

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

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

1. Nathaniel B. Durfee (A)

2. Benjamin B. Thurston (A)

South Carolina

1. John McQueen (D)

2. William Aiken (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

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

1. Lemuel D. Evans (A)

2. Peter H. Bell (D)

Vermont

1. James Meacham (O), until August 23, 1856
- George T. Hodges (R), from December 1, 1856

2. Justin S. Morrill (O)

3. Alvah Sabin (O)

Virginia

1. Thomas H. Bayly (D), until June 23, 1856
- Muscoe R. H. Garnett (D), from December 1, 1856

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

1. Daniel Wells Jr. (D)

2. Cadwallader C. Washburn (O)

3. Charles Billinghurst (O)

Non-voting members

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. José Manuel Gallegos (D), until July 23, 1856
- Miguel A. Otero (D), from July 23, 1856

Oregon Territory. Joseph Lane (D)

Utah Territory. John M. Bernhisel

Washington Territory. James P. Anderson (D)

House seats by party holding plurality in state
80+% to 100% Democratic	80+% to 100% Whig	80+% to 100% American	80+% to 100% Republican
60+% to 80% Democratic	60+% to 80% Whig	60+% to 80% American	60+% to 80% Republican
Up to 60% Democratic	Up to 60% Whig	Up to 60% American	Up to 60% Republican

Changes in membership

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

Senate

State (class)	Vacator	Reason for change	Successor	Date of successor's formal installation
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, 1855
New Hampshire (3)	Vacant	Legislature failed to elect on time. Successor was elected.	James Bell (R)	July 30, 1855
Alabama (3)	Vacant	Legislature failed to elect on time. Incumbent was then re-elected November 26, 1855.	Benjamin Fitzpatrick (D)	November 26, 1855
Pennsylvania (3)	Vacant	Legislature failed to elect on time. Successor elected January 14, 1856.	William Bigler (D)	January 14, 1856
Missouri (3)	Vacant	Elected but took seat late on January 12, 1857.	James S. Green (D)	January 12, 1857
California (3)	Vacant	Legislature failed to elect on time. Incumbent was then re-elected January 13, 1857.	William M. Gwin (D)	January 13, 1857
Indiana (3)	Vacant	Legislature failed to elect on time. Successor elected February 4, 1857.	Graham N. Fitch (D)	February 4, 1857
Delaware (2)	John M. Clayton (W)	Died November 9, 1856. Successor was appointed.	Joseph P. Comegys (W)	November 19, 1856
Maine (1)	Hannibal Hamlin (D)	Resigned January 7, 1857, to become Governor of Maine. Successor was elected January 16, 1857.	Amos Nourse (R)	January 16, 1857
Delaware (2)	Joseph P. Comegys (W)	Appointment expired January 14, 1857, upon successor's election.	Martin W. Bates (D)	January 14, 1857
Iowa (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.	James Harlan (R)	January 29, 1857

House of Representatives

replacements: 6
- Democrats: 2 seat net loss
- Opposition: 4 seat net gain

deaths: 4

resignations: 5

contested election: 1

Total seats with changes: 10

District	Vacator	Reason for change	Successor	Date of successor's formal installation
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, 1856
Missouri 5th	John G. Miller (O)	Died May 11, 1856	Thomas P. Akers (KN)	Seated August 18, 1856
Virginia 1st	Thomas H. Bayly (D)	Died June 23, 1856	Muscoe R. H. Garnett (D)	Seated December 1, 1856
South 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, 1856
South 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, 1856
Illinois 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, 1856
New Mexico Territory At-large	José M. Gallegos (D)	Contested election July 23, 1856	Miguel A. Otero (D)	Seated July 23, 1856
Kansas 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, 1856
Vermont 1st	James Meacham (O)	Died August 23, 1856	George T. Hodges (R)	Seated December 1, 1856
Illinois 5th	William A. Richardson (D)	Resigned August 25, 1856	Jacob C. Davis (D)	Seated November 4, 1856
South Carolina 4th	Preston Brooks (D)	Died January 27, 1857	Vacant	Not filled this term
New York 20th	Orsamus B. Matteson (O)	Resigned February 27, 1857	Vacant	Not filled this term
New York 23rd	William A. Gilbert (O)	Resigned February 27, 1857	Vacant	Not filled this term
New York 33rd	Francis S. Edwards (KN)	Resigned February 28, 1857	Vacant	Not filled this term

Committees

Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

Agriculture

Assault on Charles Sumner (Select)

Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate

Claims

Commerce

Distributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)

District of Columbia

Finance

Foreign Relations

Indian Affairs

Judiciary

Military Affairs

Militia

Naval Affairs

Ordnance and War Ships (Select)

Pacific Railroad (Select)

Patents and the Patent Office

Pensions

Post Office and Post Roads

Printing

Private Land Claims

Public Lands

Retrenchment

Revolutionary Claims

Roads and Canals

Tariff Regulation (Select)

Territories

Whole

House of Representatives

Accounts

Alleged Assault on Charles Sumner (Select)

Agriculture

Claims

Commerce

District of Columbia

Elections

Engraving

Expenditures in the Navy Department

Expenditures in the Post Office Department

Expenditures in the State Department

Expenditures in the Treasury Department

Expenditures in the War Department

Expenditures on Public Buildings

Foreign Affairs

Indian Affairs

Invalid Pensions

Manufactures

Mileage

Military Affairs

Militia

Naval Affairs

Patents

Post Office and Post Roads

Public Buildings and Grounds

Public Expenditures

Public Lands

Revisal and Unfinished Business

Revolutionary Claims

Roads and Canals

Rules (Select)

Standards of Official Conduct

Territories

Ways and Means

Whole

Joint appointments

Enrolled Bills

Caucuses

Democratic (House)

Democratic (Senate)

Employees

Architect of the Capitol: Thomas U. Walter

Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan

Senate

Chaplain: Henry C. Dean (Methodist)
- Stephen P. Hill (Baptist), elected December 8, 1856

Secretary: Asbury Dickens

Sergeant at Arms: Dunning R. McNair

House of Representatives

Chaplain: William H. Milburn (Methodist)

Clerk: John W. Forney of Pennsylvania
- William Cullom of Tennessee, elected February 4, 1856

Doorkeeper: Nathan Darling

Messenger: Thaddeus Morrice

Postmaster: Robert Morris

Sergeant at Arms: Adam J. Glossbrenner

Reading Clerks: [Data unknown/missing.]

References

^ "The longest and most contentious Speaker election in its history". February 2, 1856. Archived from the original on 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-06-16..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em

^ "The Opening of the 34th Congress". December 3, 1855. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2012-06-16.

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 34th Congress, 3rd Session.

[1] "The longest and most contentious Speaker election in its history". February 2, 1856. Archived from the original on 2012-06-20. Retrieved 2012-06-16..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em

[2] "The Opening of the 34th Congress". December 3, 1855. Archived from the original on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2012-06-16.

34th United States Congress
33rd ← → 35th
United States Capitol (1846)
March 4, 1855 – March 4, 1857
Senate President	Vacant
Senate Pres. pro tem	Jesse D. Bright (D) Charles E. Stuart (D) James M. Mason (D)
House Speaker	Nathaniel P. Banks (KN)
Members	62 senators 234 representatives 7 non-voting delegates
Senate Majority	Democratic
House Majority	Opposition coalition
Sessions
1st: December 3, 1855 – August 18, 1856 2nd: August 21, 1856 – August 30, 1856 3rd: December 1, 1856 – March 4, 1857

34th United States Congress

Contents

Major events

Major legislation

Treaties

Party summary

Senate

House of Representatives

Leadership

Senate

House of Representatives

Members

Senate

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

House of Representatives

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New York

North Carolina

Ohio

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Virginia

Wisconsin

Non-voting members

Changes in membership

Senate

House of Representatives