28th United States Congress

The 28th 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, 1843, to March 4, 1845, during the third and fourth years of John Tyler's presidency. The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the 1840 United States census. The Senate had a Whig majority, and the House had a Democratic majority.

Major events

• May 24, 1844: The first electrical telegram was sent by Samuel F. B. Morse from the U.S. Capitol to the B&O Railroad "outer depot" in Baltimore, Maryland, saying "What hath God wrought".
• December 4, 1844: U.S. presidential election, 1844: James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay

Major legislation

• January 23, 1845: Presidential Election Day Act, ch. 1, 5 Stat. 721
• March 3, 1845: For the first time, Congress overrode a Presidential veto. An act relating to revenue cutters and steamers was thereby enacted as the last Act of the 28th Congress: session II, ch. 78, 5 Stat. 795.

Treaties

• July 3, 1844: Treaty of Wanghia which was signed with the Qing Empire. The treaty established five U.S. treaty ports in China with extraterritoriality and was the first unequal treaty that the country imposed on the dynasty.

States admitted

• March 1, 1845: Resolution for the Annexation of Texas, 5 Stat. 797 (Admitted in the next Congress, December 29, 1845.)
• March 3, 1845: Florida admitted, 5 Stat. 742. The statute also allowed for the provisional admission of Iowa, pending a referendum in that state. (Admitted in the next Congress, December 28, 1846.)

Party summary

Senate

During this congress, two Senate seats were added for the new state of Florida.

House of Representatives

Following the 1840 United States Census, Congress reapportioned the House to include 223 seats. During this congress, one House seat was added for the new state of Florida.

Leadership

Senate

• President: Vacant
• President pro tempore: Willie P. Mangum (W)

House of Representatives

• Speaker: John W. Jones (D)

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed by class, 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 1844; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1846; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1848.

Skip to House of Representatives, below

House of Representatives

Representatives are listed by their district numbers.

Changes in membership

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

Senate

• Replacements: 7
  • Democrats (D): no net change
  • Whigs (W): 1 seat net loss
  • Law and Order (LO): 1 seat net gain
• Deaths: 3
• Resignations: 5
• Interim appointments: 1
• Total seats with changes: 10

House of Representatives

• Replacements: 14
  • Democrats (D): 6 seat net loss
  • Whigs (W): 6 seat net gain
• Deaths: 7
• Resignations: 7
• Contested election: 0
• Total seats with changes: 16

Committees

Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

House of Representatives

Joint committees

• Enrolled Bills
• The Library
• Smithsonian Bequest

Employees

• Librarian of Congress: John Silva Meehan

Senate

• Chaplain: Septimus Tustin (Presbyterian)
• Secretary: Asbury Dickins
• Sergeant at Arms: Edward Dyer

House of Representatives

• Chaplain: Isaac S. Tinsley (Baptist), elected December 16, 1843
  • William M. Daily (Methodist), from December 4, 1844
• Clerk: Matthew St. Clair Clarke, until December 7, 1843
  • Caleb J. McNulty, elected December 7, 1843
  • Benjamin B. French, elected January 18, 1845
• Doorkeeper: Jesse E. Dow, elected December 7, 1843
• Postmaster: William J. McCormick, until January 4, 1844
  • John M. Johnson, from January 4, 1844
• Reading Clerks: [data missing]
• Sergeant at Arms: Eleazor M. Townsend, until December 8, 1843
  • Newton Lane, from December 8, 1843

See also

• 1842 United States elections (elections leading to this Congress)
  • 1842–43 United States Senate elections
  • 1842–43 United States House of Representatives elections
• 1844 United States elections (elections during this Congress, leading to the next Congress)
  • 1844 United States presidential election
  • 1844–45 United States Senate elections
  • 1844–45 United States House of Representatives elections

Notes

References

• 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
• Congress, United States (1844). Congressional Directory for the 28th Congress, 1st Session.
• Force, William Quereau (1845). Congressional Directory for the 28th Congress, 2nd Session.

1. List of United States Congresses
2. List of United States federal legislation
3. List of United States senators in the 28th Congress
4. List of members of the United States House of Representatives in the 28th Congress by seniority
5. Illinois's 5th congressional district
6. 1842–43 United States Senate elections
7. Party divisions of United States Congresses
8. List of United States federal legislation, 1789–1901
9. Woodrow Wilson
10. 1842–43 United States House of Representatives elections
11. 28th International Eucharistic Congress
12. 1843 United States Senate special elections in Tennessee
13. An act relating to revenue cutters and steamers
14. 29th United States Congress
15. 118th United States Congress
16. List of Speaker of the United States House of Representatives elections
17. Presidential Election Day Act
18. 105th United States Congress
19. List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
20. 27th United States Congress