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| 24th United States Congress | |
|---|---|
23rd ← → 25th | |
 United States Capitol (1827) | |
March 4, 1835 – March 4, 1837 | |
| Members | 52 senators 242 representatives 3 non-voting delegates |
| Senate majority | National Republican during 1st session, Jacksonian during 2nd session |
| Senate President | Martin Van Buren (J) |
| House majority | Jacksonian |
| House Speaker | James K. Polk (J) |
| Sessions | |
| 1st: December 7, 1835 – July 4, 1836 2nd: December 5, 1836 – March 3, 1837 | |
The24th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of theUnited States federal government, consisting of theUnited States Senate and theUnited States House of Representatives. It met inWashington, D.C. from March 4, 1835, to March 4, 1837, during the seventh and eighth years ofAndrew Jackson'spresidency. The apportionment of seats in theHouse of Representatives was based on the1830 United States census. Both chambers had aJacksonian majority.
Throughout 1835, relations between the United States and France reached an all-time low. Andrew Jackson had America's ambassador to France travel aboard a gunboat and after negotiations broke down had the American ambassador recalled back to the United States and forced the French ambassador to leave. President Jackson and the French government traded threats and insults throughout the duration of the year. In this conflict, President Jackson got support from many members of the House of Representatives.
In late November 1835,Linn Boyd,Albert G. Hawes,Richard M. Johnson,John E. Coffee,Seaton Grantland,Charles Eaton Haynes,Jabez Young Jackson,George Welshman Owens,Thomas Glascock,William Schley,Reuben Chapman,Joshua L. Martin,Joab Lawler,Jesse Atherton Bynum,Jesse Speight,James Iver McKay,Micajah Thomas Hawkins,William Montgomery,Henry William Connor andJames Rogers (congressman) all put in writing that if President Jackson were to ask for a formal declaration of war on France, he would have their full support. Shortly after this when the government of the United Kingdom sought to intervene, the same twenty Congressmen signed a letter stating that they welcomed the "wholesome and moderating influence" of British Prime MinisterWilliam Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne, British foreign secretaryHenry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston and the BritishSecretary of State for War and the ColoniesCharles Grant, 1st Baron Glenelg, who the letter referred to as "our thoughtful cousins." The same document referred to the France's leaderLouis Philippe I as "dastardly and pusinallimous."[1][2]
SenatorsBedford Brown,Robert J. Walker,Felix Grundy,John Pendleton King andAlfred Cuthbert all wrote to President Jackson saying that they felt the same way as the aforementioned twenty members of the house "with respects to our relations with Britain and France" and "any potential war" that might break out between the United States and France.[2] In a series of popular outbursts in July 1836, effigies ofLouis Philippe I were burnt inGeorgia,South Carolina,North Carolina,Kentucky,Tennessee,Alabama andMississippi.[3]
In October 1836, it became known the French were "backing down," celebrations that were "overtly triumphant" and "distinctly anti-French" were held throughoutKentucky,Tennessee,North Carolina,Georgia,Alabama andMississippi during the last two weeks of October 1836.[4]
The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
National Republicans held the Senate in the first Congressional session; Jacksonians flipped the Senate before the start of the second Congressional session and held that Senate majority for the remainder of the Congressional term.
During this congress two Senate seats were added for each of the new states of Arkansas and Michigan.[7][8]
| Party (shading shows control) | Total | Vacant | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Republican (NR) | Jacksonian (J) | Nullifier (N) | |||
| End ofprevious congress | 26 | 20 | 2 | 48 | 0 |
| Begin | 24 | 21 | 2 | 47 | 1 |
| End | 19 | 31 | 52 | 0 | |
| Final voting share | 36.5% | 59.6% | 3.8% | ||
| Beginning ofnext congress | 19[a] | 33[b] | 0 | 52 | 0 |
During this congress one House seat was added for each of the new states of Arkansas and Michigan.[7][8]
| Party (shading shows control) | Total | Vacant | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Republican (NR) | Anti- Masonic (AM) | Jacksonian (J) | Nullifier (N) | States' Rights (SR) | |||
| End ofprevious congress | 64 | 26 | 141 | 8 | 0 | 239 | 1 |
| Begin | 75 | 16 | 140 | 7 | 0 | 238 | 2 |
| End | 79 | 15 | 139 | 1 | 241 | 1 | |
| Final voting share | 32.8% | 6.2% | 57.7% | 2.9% | 0.4% | ||
| Beginning ofnext congress | 100[c] | 7 | 121[d] | 6 | 0 | 234 | 0 |
This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, and representatives are listed by district.
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 areSenate class numbers, which indicate the cycle of their election. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1838; Class 2 meant their term began with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1840; and Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1836.
| |
The names of representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
All representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
All representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
The 4th district was a plural district with two representatives.
Both representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
Both representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
All representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
All representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
There were four plural districts, the 8th, 17th, 22nd & 23rd had two representatives each, the 3rd had four representatives.
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There were two plural districts, the 2nd had two representatives, the 4th had three representatives.
Both representatives were elected statewide on ageneral ticket.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
| State (class) | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[e] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (2) | Vacant | Senator-electCharles E.A. Gayarre had resigned on account of ill-health. Successor was elected January 13, 1836. | Robert C. Nicholas (J) | January 13, 1836 |
| Connecticut (1) | Nathan Smith (NR) | Died December 6, 1835 Successor was elected December 21, 1835. | John M. Niles (J) | December 21, 1835. |
| Illinois (3) | Elias Kane (J) | Died December 12, 1835 Successor was appointed December 30, 1835. | William Lee D. Ewing (J) | December 30, 1835 |
| Virginia (1) | John Tyler (NR) | Resigned February 29, 1836 Successor was elected March 4, 1836. | William C. Rives (J) | March 4, 1836 |
| Maine (1) | Ether Shepley (J) | Resigned March 3, 1836 Successor was appointed December 7, 1836. | Judah Dana (J) | December 7, 1836 |
| New Hampshire (3) | Isaac Hill (J) | Resigned May 30, 1836, to becomeGovernor of New Hampshire. Successor was elected June 8, 1836. | John Page (J) | June 8, 1836 |
| Delaware (1) | Arnold Naudain (NR) | Resigned June 16, 1836 Successor was elected June 17, 1836. | Richard H. Bayard (NR) | June 17, 1836 |
| Virginia (2) | Benjamin W. Leigh (NR) | Resigned July 4, 1836 Successor was elected December 12, 1836. | Richard E. Parker (J) | December 12, 1836 |
| Arkansas (2) | New seats | Arkansas was admitted to the Union. Its new senators were elected September 18, 1836. | William S. Fulton (J) | September 18, 1836. |
| Arkansas (3) | Ambrose H. Sevier (J) | September 18, 1836. | ||
| Maryland (3) | Robert H. Goldsborough (NR) | Died October 5, 1836 Successor was elected December 31, 1836. | John S. Spence (NR) | December 31, 1836 |
| North Carolina (3) | Willie P. Mangum (NR) | Resigned November 26, 1836 Successor was elected December 5, 1836. | Robert Strange (J) | December 5, 1836 |
| Delaware (2) | John M. Clayton (NR) | Resigned December 29, 1836 Successor was elected January 9, 1837. | Thomas Clayton (NR) | January 9, 1837 |
| Louisiana (3) | Alexander Porter (NR) | Resigned January 5, 1837, due to ill health. Successor was elected January 12, 1837. | Alexandre Mouton (J) | January 12, 1837 |
| Michigan (1) | New seats | Michigan was admitted to the Union. Its new senators were elected January 6, 1837. | Lucius Lyon (J) | January 26, 1837. |
| Michigan (2) | John Norvell (J) | January 26, 1837. |
| District | Vacated by | Reason for change | Successor | Date of successor's formal installation[e] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina 6 | Vacant | Rep.Warren R. Davis died during previous congress | Waddy Thompson Jr. (NR) | Seated September 10, 1835 |
| Georgia at-large | Vacant | Rep.James M. Wayne resigned in previous congress | Jabez Y. Jackson (J) | Seated October 5, 1835 |
| Georgia at-large | William Schley (J) | Resigned July 1, 1835 when nominated forGovernor of Georgia. | Jesse F. Cleveland (J) | Seated October 5, 1835 |
| Georgia at-large | James C. Terrell (J) | Resigned July 8, 1835, due to ill health | Hopkins Holsey (J) | Seated October 5, 1835 |
| Georgia at-large | John W. A. Sanford (J) | Resigned July 25, 1835, to assist in the CherokeeIndian removal | Thomas Glascock (J) | Seated October 5, 1835 |
| New York 3 | Campbell P. White (J) | Resigned October 2, 1835 | Gideon Lee (J) | Seated November 4, 1835 |
| Connecticut at-large | Zalmon Wildman (J) | Died December 10, 1835 | Thomas T. Whittlesey (J) | Seated April 29, 1836 |
| South Carolina 4 | James H. Hammond (N) | Resigned February 26, 1836, because of ill health | Franklin H. Elmore (N) | Seated December 10, 1836 |
| New York 17 | Samuel Beardsley (J) | Resigned March 29, 1836 | Rutger B. Miller (J) | Seated November 9, 1836 |
| North Carolina 12 | James Graham (NR) | Seat declared vacant March 29, 1836 | James Graham (NR) | Seated December 5, 1836 |
| Pennsylvania 24 | John Banks (AM) | Resigned March 31, 1836 | John J. Pearson (NR) | Seated December 5, 1836 |
| South Carolina 8 | Richard I. Manning (J) | Died May 1, 1836 | John P. Richardson (J) | Seated December 19, 1836 |
| Arkansas Territory at-large | Ambrose H. Sevier (J) | Seat was eliminated when Arkansas achieved statehood June 15, 1836 | ||
| Connecticut at-large | Andrew T. Judson (J) | Resigned July 4, 1836 to become judge of theUnited States District Court for the District of Connecticut. | Orrin Holt (J) | Seated December 5, 1836 |
| Mississippi at-large | David Dickson (NR) | Died July 31, 1836 | Samuel J. Gholson (J) | Seated December 1, 1836 |
| Arkansas at-large | Vacant | Arkansas was admitted to the Union on June 15, 1836 | Archibald Yell (J) | Seated August 1, 1836 |
| Georgia at-large | George W. Towns (J) | Resigned September 1, 1836 | Julius C. Alford (NR) | Seated January 2, 1837 |
| New York 30 | Philo C. Fuller (NR) | Resigned September 2, 1836 | John Young (NR) | Seated November 9, 1836 |
| Georgia at-large | John E. Coffee (J) | Died September 25, 1836 | William C. Dawson (NR) | Seated November 7, 1836 |
| Pennsylvania 13 | Jesse Miller (J) | Resigned October 30, 1836 | James Black (J) | Seated December 5, 1836 |
| New Jersey at-large | Philemon Dickerson (J) | Resigned November 3, 1836 to becomeGovernor of New Jersey. | William Chetwood (NR) | Seated December 5, 1836 |
| Indiana 6 | George L. Kinnard (J) | Died November 26, 1836 | William Herod (NR) | Seated January 25, 1837 |
| Virginia 2 | John Y. Mason (J) | Resigned January 11, 1837 | Vacant | Not filled this congress |
| Michigan Territory at-large | George Wallace Jones (J) | Seat was eliminated when Michigan achieved statehood January 26, 1837 | ||
| Michigan at-large | Vacant | Michigan was admitted to the Union on January 26, 1837 | Isaac E. Crary (J) | Seated January 26, 1837 |
| Wisconsin Territory at-large | Vacant | Wisconsin Territory was organized on April 3, 1836 | George Wallace Jones (J) | Seated January 26, 1837 |
Lists of committees and their party leaders.
