3rd United States Congress

The Third 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 3, 1795, during the fifth and sixth years of George Washington's Presidency.

The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the First Census of the United States in 1790. The Senate had a Pro-Administration majority, and the House had an Anti-Administration majority.

Congress Hall, meeting place of the 1st through 6th Congresses

1 Dates of sessions
2 Major events
3 Major legislation
4 Constitutional amendments
5 Party summary
- 5.1 Senate
- 5.2 House of Representatives
6 Leadership
- 6.1 Senate
- 6.2 House of Representatives
7 Members
- 7.1 Senate
- 7.2 House of Representatives
8 Changes in membership
- 8.1 Senate
- 8.2 House of Representatives
9 Employees
- 9.1 Senate
- 9.2 House of Representatives
10 Notes
11 References
12 External links

Dates of sessions

March 4, 1793 - March 3, 1795

Special session of the Senate: March 4, 1793
First session: December 2, 1793 - June 9, 1794
Second session: November 3, 1794 - March 3, 1795 — a lame duck session

Previous: 2nd Congress • Next: 4th Congress

Major events

Main articles: 1793, 1794, and 1795

April 22, 1793 — George Washington signed the Neutrality Proclamation
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 forced a confederacy of Shawnee Mingo Delaware Wyandot Miami Ottawa Chippewa and Pottawatomie warriors into a disorganized retreat.
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

Senate chamber at Congress Hall

Major legislation

Main article: List of United States federal legislation#3rd United States Congress

March 27, 1794 — Naval Act of 1794, Sess. 1, ch. 12, 1 Stat. 350
January 29, 1795 — Naturalization Act of 1795, Sess. 2, ch. 20, 1 Stat. 414

Constitutional amendments

March 4, 1794 — The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by the U.S. Congress. 1 Stat. 402
February 7, 1795 — The 11th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified by the states, clarifying judicial power over foreign nationals, and limiting the ability of citizens to sue states in federal courts and under federal law.

Party 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. ^[1]

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

Senate

	Pro-Administration	Anti-Administration		Vacant
	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total

Begin (March 4, 1793)	16	13	29	1
July 23, 1793	15		28	2
September 18, 1793	14		27	3
December 2, 1793	15	14	29	1
February 7, 1795	16	14	30	0
February 28, 1794	16	13	29	1
April 24, 1794	17	13	30	0
May 11, 1794		11	28	2
November 18, 1794		13	30	0
Latest voting share	56.7%	43.3%

House of Representatives

	Pro-Administration	Anti-Administration		Vacant
Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)		Total

Begin (March 4, 1793)	50	55	105	0
February 14, 1794	51	54	105	0
April 13, 1794	51	53	104	1
September 15, 1794	50	53	103	2
October 6, 1794	50	52	102	3
November 8, 1794	49	52	101	4
November 11, 1794	49	53	102	3
January 2, 1795	50	53	103	2
January 29, 1795	50	54	104	1
February 7, 1795	49		103	2
February 9, 1795	50		104	1
Latest voting share	47.6%	52.4%
Non-voting members	0	1	1	0

President of the United States Senate John Adams

Leadership

Senate

President: John Adams, (P)
President pro tempore:
- John Langdon, (P), first elected March 4, 1793
- Ralph Izard, (P), first elected May 31, 1794
- Henry Tazewell, (P), first elected February 20, 1795

House of Representatives

Speaker: Frederick Muhlenberg (A)

President pro tempore Ralph Izard

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.

See also: 3rd United States Congress - political parties

See also: 3rd United States Congress - State Delegations

See also: United States House of Representatives elections, 1792

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 began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1796; Class 2 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1798; and Class 3 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1794.

See also: Category:United States Senators

See also: Category:United States Congressional Delegations by state

Connecticut

1: Oliver Ellsworth (P)
3: Roger Sherman (P), until July 23, 1793

Stephen Mitchell (P), December 2, 1793 – End

Delaware

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

Henry Latimer (P), February 7, 1795 – End
2: John Vining (P)

Pennsylvania

3: Robert Morris (P)
1: Vacant until December 2, 1793

Albert Gallatin (A), December 2, 1793 – February 28, 1794

James Ross (P), April 24, 1794 – End

Rhode Island

1: Theodore Foster (P)
2: William Bradford (P)

South Carolina

2: Pierce Butler (A)
3: Ralph Izard (P)

Vermont

1: Moses Robinson (A)
3: Stephen R. Bradley (A)

Virginia

1: James Monroe (A), until May 11, 1794

Stevens Mason (A), November 18, 1794 – End
2: John Taylor (A), until May 11, 1794

Henry Tazewell (A), November 18, 1794 – End

Speaker of the House Frederick Muhlenberg

House of Representatives

The names of members of the House of Representatives elected statewide on the general ticket or otherwise at-large, are preceded by an "A/L," and the names of those elected from districts, whether plural or single member, are preceded by their district numbers.

Many of the congressional district numbers are linked to articles describing the district itself. Since the boundaries of the districts have changed often and substantially, the linked article may only describe the district as it exists today, and not as it was at the time of this Congress.

See also: Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives

See also: Category:United States Congressional Delegations by state

Connecticut

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

Delaware

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

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

Vacant, February 7, 1795 – End

Georgia

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket,

A/L. Abraham Baldwin (A)
A/L. Thomas P. Carnes (A)

Kentucky

1. Christopher Greenup (A)
2. Alexander D. Orr (A)

Maryland

1. George Dent (P)
2. John Mercer (A), until April 13, 1794

Gabriel Duvall (A), November 11, 1794 – End
3. Uriah Forrest (P), until November 8, 1794

Benjamin Edwards (P), January 2, 1795 – End
4. Thomas Sprigg (A)
5. Samuel Smith (A)
6. Gabriel Christie (A)
7. William Hindman (P)
8. William Vans Murray (P)

Massachusetts

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.

New Hampshire

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

New Jersey

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

A/L. John Beatty (P)
A/L. Elias Boudinot (P)
A/L. Lambert Cadwalader (P)
A/L. Abraham Clark (P), until September 15, 1794

Aaron Kitchell (P), January 29, 1795 – End
A/L. Jonathan Dayton (P)

New York

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

Rhode Island

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

A/L. Benjamin Bourne (P)
A/L. Francis Malbone (P)

South Carolina

1. William L. Smith (P)
2. John Hunter (A)
3. Lemuel Benton (A)
4. Richard Winn (A)
5. Alexander Gillon (A), until October 6, 1794

Robert Goodloe Harper (P), February 9, 1795 – End
6. Andrew Pickens (A)

Vermont

1. Israel Smith (A)
2. Nathaniel Niles (A)

Virginia

Non-voting members

Southwest Territory A/L. James White (A)

Changes in membership

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

Senate

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

State	Vacator	Reason for Vacancy	Successor	Date of Successor's Installation
Pennsylvania class 1	Vacant	Pennsylvania failed to elect a new Senator on time.	Albert Gallatin (A)	Elected December 2, 1793
Connecticut class 3	Roger Sherman (P)	Died July 23, 1793	Stephen M. Mitchell (P)	Elected December 2, 1793
Delaware class 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 class 1	Albert Gallatin (A)	Credentials were contested and the seat was declared vacant February 28, 1794	James Ross (P)	Elected April 24, 1794
Virginia class 1	James Monroe (A)	Resigned May 11, 1794, to become United States Minister to France	Stevens T. Mason (A)	Elected November 18, 1794
Virginia class 2	John Taylor (A)	Resigned May 11, 1794	Henry Tazewell (A)	Elected November 18, 1794

House of Representatives

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

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

District	Vacator	Reason for Vacancy	Successor	Date of successor's taking office
Delaware at-large	John Patten (A)	Contested election; served until February 14, 1794	Henry Latimer (P)	Seated February 14, 1794
Maryland 2nd	John Francis Mercer (A)	Resigned April 13, 1794	Gabriel Duvall (A)	Seated November 11, 1794
New Jersey at-large	Abraham Clark (P)	Died September 15, 1794	Aaron Kitchell (A)	Seated January 29, 1795
South Carolina 3rd	Alexander Gillon (A)	Died October 6, 1794	Robert Goodloe Harper (P)	Seated February 9, 1795
Maryland 3rd	Uriah Forrest (P)	Resigned November 8, 1794	Benjamin Edwards (P)	Seated January 2, 1795
Delaware at-large	Henry Latimer (P)	Resigned February 7, 1795, having been elected U.S. Senator	Vacant	Not filled in this Congress

Employees

Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton

Senate

Secretary: Samuel A. Otis of Massachusetts, elected April 8, 1789
Doorkeeper: James Mathers of New York, elected April 7, 1789
Chaplain: William White, Episcopalian, elected December 9, 1790

House of Representatives

Clerk: John Beckley of Virginia, elected December 2, 1793
Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton of Rhode Island, elected December 2, 1793
Doorkeeper: Gifford Dalley, elected December 2, 1793
Chaplain: Ashbel Green, Presbyterian, elected December 2, 1793

Notes

^ Martis, Kenneth C.. The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress.

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.