3rd United States Congress explained

Number:	3rd
Previous:	2nd
Next:	4th
Imagename:	Congress Hall
Imagedate:	2007
Start:	March 4, 1793
End:	March 3, 1795
Vp:	John Adams (P)
Pro Tem:	John Langdon (P) Ralph Izard (P) Henry Tazewell (P)
Speaker:	Frederick Muhlenberg (A)
Senators:	30
Reps:	105
Delegates:	1
S-Majority:	Pro-Administration
H-Majority:	Anti-Administration
Sessionnumber1:	Special
Sessionstart1:	March 4, 1793
Sessionend1:	March 4, 1793
Sessionnumber2:	1st
Sessionstart2:	December 2, 1793
Sessionend2:	June 9, 1794
Sessionnumber3:	2nd
Sessionstart3:	November 3, 1794
Sessionend3:	March 3, 1795

The 3rd 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 at Congress Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from March 4, 1793, to March 4, 1795, during the fifth and sixth years of George Washington's presidency.

The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was governed by the Apportionment Act of 1792 and based on the 1790 census. The Senate had a Pro-Administration majority, and the House had an Anti-Administration majority.

Major events

See main article: 1793 in the United States, 1794 in the United States and 1795 in the United States.

• March 4, 1793: President George Washington begins his second term.
• April 22, 1793: George Washington signed the Neutrality Proclamation
• February 11, 1794: Wishing to avoid charges of being a Star Chamber, the Senate holds its first public session, resolving "That the Senate doors be opened".^{[1] [2]}
• March 14, 1794: Eli Whitney was granted a patent for the cotton gin
• March 27, 1794: The federal government authorized the construction of the original six frigates of the United States Navy
• August 7, 1794: Whiskey Rebellion began: Farmers in the Monongahela Valley of Pennsylvania rebelled against the federal tax on liquor and distilled drinks.
• August 20, 1794: Battle of Fallen Timbers — American troops under General Anthony Wayne forced a confederacy of Shawnee, Mingo, Delaware, Wyandot, Miami, Ottawa, Chippewa and Pottawatomie warriors into a disorganized retreat.

Major legislation

• January 13, 1794: Flag Act of 1794, Sess. 1, ch. 1,
• March 22, 1794: Slave Trade Act of 1794, Sess. 1, ch. 11,
• March 27, 1794: Naval Act of 1794, Sess. 1, ch. 12,
• January 29, 1795: Naturalization Act of 1795, Sess. 2, ch. 20,

Constitutional amendments

• March 4, 1794: Approved an amendment to the United States Constitution clarifying judicial power over foreign nationals, and limiting the ability of citizens to sue states in federal courts and under federal law, and submitted it to the state legislatures for ratification .
  • February 7, 1795: The Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the requisite number of states (then 12) to become part of the Constitution.

Treaties

• November 19, 1794: The United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain signed the Jay Treaty, which attempted to clear up some of the lingering problems left over from the American Revolutionary War

Faction summary

There were no political parties in this Congress. Members are informally grouped into factions of similar interest, based on an analysis of their voting record.^[3]

Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

House of Representatives

Leadership

Senate

• President: John Adams (P)
• President pro tempore: John Langdon (P), until December 2, 1793
  • Ralph Izard (P), May 31, 1794 – November 9, 1794
  • Henry Tazewell (P), from February 20, 1795

House of Representatives

• Speaker: Frederick Muhlenberg (A)

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives are listed by district.

Skip to House of Representatives, below

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.

1. Oliver Ellsworth (P)

3. Roger Sherman (P), until July 23, 1793

Stephen Mitchell (P), from December 2, 1793

1. George Read (P), until September 18, 1793

Henry Latimer (P), from February 7, 1795

2. John Vining (P)

2. James Jackson (A)

3. James Gunn (A)

2. John Brown (A)

3. John Edwards (A)

1. Richard Potts (P)

3. John Henry (P)

1. George Cabot (P)

2. Caleb Strong (P)

2. Samuel Livermore (P)

3. John Langdon (A)

1. John Rutherfurd (P)

2. Frederick Frelinghuysen (P)

1. Aaron Burr (A)

3. Rufus King (P)

2. Alexander Martin (A)

3. Benjamin Hawkins (A)

1. Albert Gallatin (A), until February 28, 1794

James Ross (P), from April 24, 1794

3. Robert Morris (P)

1. Theodore Foster (P)

2. William Bradford (P)

2. Pierce Butler (A)

3. Ralph Izard (P)

1. Moses Robinson (A)

3. Stephen R. Bradley (A)

1. James Monroe (A), until May 27, 1794

Stevens Mason (A), from November 18, 1794

2. John Taylor of Caroline (A), until May 11, 1794

Henry Tazewell (A), from December 29, 1794

House of Representatives

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

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. Joshua Coit (P)

. James Hillhouse (P)

. Amasa Learned (P)

. Zephaniah Swift (P)

. Uriah Tracy (P)

. Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (P)

. Jeremiah Wadsworth (P)

. John Patten (A), until February 14, 1794

Henry Latimer (P), February 14, 1794 – February 7, 1795

Vacant thereafter

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. Abraham Baldwin (A)

. Thomas P. Carnes (A)

. Christopher Greenup (A)

. Alexander D. Orr (A)

. George Dent (P)

. John Mercer (A), until April 13, 1794

Gabriel Duvall (A), from November 11, 1794

. Uriah Forrest (P), until November 8, 1794

Benjamin Edwards (P), from January 2, 1795

. Thomas Sprigg (A)

. Samuel Smith (A)

. Gabriel Christie (A)

. William Hindman (P)

. William Vans Murray (P)

There was a single at-large seat along with four plural districts, each of which had multiple representatives elected at-large on a general ticket.

. Fisher Ames (P)

. Samuel Dexter (P)

. Benjamin Goodhue (P)

. Samuel Holten (A)

. Dwight Foster (P)

. William Lyman (A)

. Theodore Sedgwick (P)

. Artemas Ward (P)

. Shearjashub Bourne (P)

. Peleg Coffin Jr. (P)

. Henry Dearborn (A)

. George Thatcher (P)

. Peleg Wadsworth (P)

. David Cobb (P)

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. Nicholas Gilman (P)

. John Sherburne (A)

. Jeremiah Smith (P)

. Paine Wingate (P)

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. John Beatty (P)

. Elias Boudinot (P)

. Lambert Cadwalader (P)

. Abraham Clark (P), until September 15, 1794

Aaron Kitchell (A), from January 29, 1795

. Jonathan Dayton (P)

. Thomas Tredwell (A)

. John Watts (P)

. Philip Van Cortlandt (A)

. Peter Van Gaasbeck (P)

. Theodorus Bailey (A)

. Ezekiel Gilbert (P)

. John E. Van Alen (P)

. Henry Glen (P)

. James Gordon (P)

. Silas Talbot (P), until June 5, 1794

Vacant thereafter

. Joseph McDowell (A)

. Matthew Locke (A)

. Joseph Winston (A)

. Alexander Mebane (A)

. Nathaniel Macon (A)

. James Gillespie (A)

. William Barry Grove (P)

. William Johnston Dawson (A)

. Thomas Blount (A)

. Benjamin Williams (A)

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. James Armstrong (P)

. William Findley (A)

. Thomas Fitzsimons (P)

. Andrew Gregg (A)

. Thomas Hartley (P)

. Daniel Hiester (A)

. William Irvine (A)

. John Wilkes Kittera (P)

. William Montgomery (A)

. Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg (A)

. John Peter G. Muhlenberg (A)

. Thomas Scott (P)

. John Smilie (A)

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

. Benjamin Bourne (P)

. Francis Malbone (P)

. William L. Smith (P)

. John Hunter (A)

. Lemuel Benton (A)

. Richard Winn (A)

. Alexander Gillon (A), until October 6, 1794

Robert Goodloe Harper (P), from February 9, 1795

. Andrew Pickens (A)

. Israel Smith (A)

. Nathaniel Niles (A)

. Robert Rutherford (A)

. Andrew Moore (A)

. Joseph Neville (A)

. Francis Preston (A)

. George Hancock (P)

. Isaac Coles (A)

. Abraham B. Venable (A)

. Thomas Claiborne (A)

. William B. Giles (A)

. Carter B. Harrison (A)

. Josiah Parker (P)

. John Page (A)

. Samuel Griffin (P)

. Francis Walker (A)

. James Madison (A)

. Anthony New (A)

. Richard Bland Lee (P)

. John Nicholas (A)

. John Heath (A)

Non-voting members

("Southwest Territory", later "Tennessee"). James White, seated September 3, 1794

Changes in membership

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

United States Senate

There were 1 death, 3 resigns, 1 late election, and 1 contested election.

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

|-| Connecticut
(3)| | Roger Sherman (P)| Died July 23, 1793.| | Stephen M. Mitchell (P)| Elected December 2, 1793

|-| Delaware
(1)| | George Read (P)| Resigned on September 18, 1793. Kensey Johns was appointed on March 19, 1794, but not permitted to qualify.| | Henry Latimer (P)| Appointed February 7, 1795

|-| Pennsylvania
(1)| | Albert Gallatin (A)| Credentials were contested and the seat was declared vacant February 28, 1794.| | James Ross (P)| Elected April 24, 1794

|-| Virginia
(1)| | James Monroe (A)| Resigned May 11, 1794, to become United States Minister to France.| | Stevens T. Mason (A)| Elected November 18, 1794

|-| Virginia
(2)| | John Taylor (A)| Resigned May 11, 1794.| | Henry Tazewell (A)| Elected November 18, 1794

|}

House of Representatives

There were 2 deaths, 3 resignations, and 1 contested election.

See main article: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives.

|-| nowrap | | | John Patten (A)| Contested election; served until February 14, 1794.| | Henry Latimer (P)| Seated February 14, 1794

|-| nowrap | | Vacant| Delegate seat established.| James White Non-voting delegate| Elected September 3, 1794

|-| nowrap | | | John Francis Mercer (A)| Resigned April 13, 1794.| | Gabriel Duvall (A)| Seated November 11, 1794

|-| nowrap | | | Silas Talbot (P)| Accepted appointment to the U.S. Navy June 5, 1794.| Vacant| Not filled in this Congress

|-| nowrap | | | Abraham Clark (P)| Died September 15, 1794.| | Aaron Kitchell (P)| Seated January 29, 1795

|-| nowrap | | | Alexander Gillon (A)| Died October 6, 1794.| | Robert Goodloe Harper (P)| Seated February 9, 1795

|-| nowrap | | | Uriah Forrest (P)| Resigned November 8, 1794.| | Benjamin Edwards (P)| Seated January 2, 1795

|-| nowrap | | | Henry Latimer (P)| Resigned February 7, 1795, having been elected U.S. Senator.| Vacant| Not filled in this Congress|}

Committees

Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

• Whole

House of Representatives

• Claims (Chairman: Uriah Tracy)
• Elections (Chairman: William Loughton Smith then Jonathan Dayton)
• Rules (Select)
• Ways and Means (Chairman: William Loughton Smith)
• Whole

Joint committees

• Enrolled Bills (Chairman: John Rutherfurd)

Employees

• Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton

Senate

• Chaplain: William White (Episcopalian)
• Doorkeeper: James Mathers
• Secretary: Samuel Allyne Otis

House of Representatives

• Chaplain: Ashbel Green (Presbyterian)
• Clerk: John J. Beckley
• Doorkeeper: Gifford Dalley
• Reading Clerks:
• Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton

See also

• 1792 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
  • 1792 United States presidential election
  • 1792–93 United States Senate elections
  • 1792–93 United States House of Representatives elections
• 1794 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
  • 1794–95 United States Senate elections
  • 1794–95 United States House of Representatives elections

References

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

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

Notes and References

1. Web site: Precedents Relating to the Privileges of the Senate of the United States. 1 January 1893. U.S. Government Printing Office. Google Books.
2. Web site: U.S. Senate: 1787: Senate Opens Its Doors -- December 9, 1795. United States Senate.
3. Book: Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress.