3rd United States Congress

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

 * 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".
 * 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 11th 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.

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

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.

Connecticut

 * 1. Oliver Ellsworth (P)
 * 3. Roger Sherman (P), until July 23, 1793
 * Stephen Mitchell (P), from December 2, 1793

Delaware

 * 1. George Read (P), until September 18, 1793
 * Henry Latimer (P), from February 7, 1795
 * 2. John Vining (P)

Georgia

 * 2. James Jackson (A)
 * 3. James Gunn (A)

Kentucky

 * 2. John Brown (A)
 * 3. John Edwards (A)

Maryland

 * 1. Richard Potts (P)
 * 3. John Henry (P)

Massachusetts

 * 1. George Cabot (P)
 * 2. Caleb Strong (P)

New Hampshire

 * 2. Samuel Livermore (P)
 * 3. John Langdon (A)

New Jersey

 * 1. John Rutherfurd (P)
 * 2. Frederick Frelinghuysen (P)

New York

 * 1. Aaron Burr (A)
 * 3. Rufus King (P)

North Carolina

 * 2. Alexander Martin (A)
 * 3. Benjamin Hawkins (A)

Pennsylvania

 * 1. Albert Gallatin (A), until February 28, 1794
 * James Ross (P), from April 24, 1794
 * 3. Robert Morris (P)

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 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.

Connecticut
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Joshua Coit (P)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. James Hillhouse (P)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Amasa Learned (P)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Zephaniah Swift (P)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Uriah Tracy (P)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (P)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Jeremiah Wadsworth (P)

Delaware

 * Delaware's at-large congressional district. John Patten (A), until February 14, 1794
 * Henry Latimer (P), February 14, 1794 – February 7, 1795
 * Vacant thereafter

Georgia
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. Abraham Baldwin (A)
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. Thomas P. Carnes (A)

Kentucky

 * Kentucky's 1st congressional district. Christopher Greenup (A)
 * Kentucky's 2nd congressional district. Alexander D. Orr (A)

Maryland

 * Maryland's 1st congressional district. George Dent (P)
 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district. John Mercer (A), until April 13, 1794
 * Gabriel Duvall (A), from November 11, 1794
 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district. Uriah Forrest (P), until November 8, 1794
 * Benjamin Edwards (P), from January 2, 1795
 * Maryland's 4th congressional district. Thomas Sprigg (A)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district. Samuel Smith (A)
 * Maryland's 6th congressional district. Gabriel Christie (A)
 * Maryland's 7th congressional district. William Hindman (P)
 * Maryland's 8th congressional district. 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.
 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Fisher Ames (P)
 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Samuel Dexter (P)
 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Benjamin Goodhue (P)
 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Samuel Holten (A)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. Dwight Foster (P)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. William Lyman (A)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. Theodore Sedgwick (P)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. Artemas Ward (P)
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. Shearjashub Bourne (P)
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. Peleg Coffin Jr. (P)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. Henry Dearborn (A)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. George Thatcher (P)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. Peleg Wadsworth (P)
 * Massachusetts's at-large congressional district. David Cobb (P)

New Hampshire
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Nicholas Gilman (P)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. John Sherburne (A)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Jeremiah Smith (P)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Paine Wingate (P)

New Jersey
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. John Beatty (P)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Elias Boudinot (P)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Lambert Cadwalader (P)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Abraham Clark (P), until September 15, 1794
 * Aaron Kitchell (A), from January 29, 1795
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Jonathan Dayton (P)

New York

 * New York's 1st congressional district. Thomas Tredwell (A)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district. John Watts (P)
 * New York's 3rd congressional district. Philip Van Cortlandt (A)
 * New York's 4th congressional district. Peter Van Gaasbeck (P)
 * New York's 5th congressional district. Theodorus Bailey (A)
 * New York's 6th congressional district. Ezekiel Gilbert (P)
 * New York's 7th congressional district. John E. Van Alen (P)
 * New York's 8th congressional district. Henry Glen (P)
 * New York's 9th congressional district. James Gordon (P)
 * New York's 10th congressional district. Silas Talbot (P), until June 5, 1794
 * Vacant thereafter

North Carolina

 * North Carolina's 1st congressional district. Joseph McDowell (A)
 * North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. Matthew Locke (A)
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Joseph Winston (A)
 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district. Alexander Mebane (A)
 * North Carolina's 5th congressional district. Nathaniel Macon (A)
 * North Carolina's 6th congressional district. James Gillespie (A)
 * North Carolina's 7th congressional district. William Barry Grove (P)
 * North Carolina's 8th congressional district. William Johnston Dawson (A)
 * North Carolina's 9th congressional district. Thomas Blount (A)
 * North Carolina's 10th congressional district. Benjamin Williams (A)

Pennsylvania
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. James Armstrong (P)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. William Findley (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. Thomas Fitzsimons (P)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. Andrew Gregg (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. Thomas Hartley (P)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. Daniel Hiester (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. William Irvine (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. John Wilkes Kittera (P)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. William Montgomery (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. John Peter G. Muhlenberg (A)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. Thomas Scott (P)
 * Pennsylvania's at-large congressional district. John Smilie (A)

Rhode Island
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district. Benjamin Bourne (P)
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district. Francis Malbone (P)

South Carolina

 * South Carolina's 1st congressional district. William L. Smith (P)
 * South Carolina's 2nd congressional district. John Hunter (A)
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Lemuel Benton (A)
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district. Richard Winn (A)
 * South Carolina's 5th congressional district. Alexander Gillon (A), until October 6, 1794
 * Robert Goodloe Harper (P), from February 9, 1795
 * South Carolina's 6th congressional district. Andrew Pickens (A)

Vermont

 * Vermont's 1st congressional district. Israel Smith (A)
 * Vermont's 2nd congressional district. Nathaniel Niles (A)

Virginia

 * Virginia's 1st congressional district. Robert Rutherford (A)
 * Virginia's 2nd congressional district. Andrew Moore (A)
 * Virginia's 3rd congressional district. Joseph Neville (A)
 * Virginia's 4th congressional district. Francis Preston (A)
 * Virginia's 5th congressional district. George Hancock (P)
 * Virginia's 6th congressional district. Isaac Coles (A)
 * Virginia's 7th congressional district. Abraham B. Venable (A)
 * Virginia's 8th congressional district. Thomas Claiborne (A)
 * Virginia's 9th congressional district. William B. Giles (A)
 * Virginia's 10th congressional district. Carter B. Harrison (A)
 * Virginia's 11th congressional district. Josiah Parker (P)
 * Virginia's 12th congressional district. John Page (A)
 * Virginia's 13th congressional district. Samuel Griffin (P)
 * Virginia's 14th congressional district. Francis Walker (A)
 * Virginia's 15th congressional district. James Madison (A)
 * Virginia's 16th congressional district. Anthony New (A)
 * Virginia's 17th congressional district. Richard Bland Lee (P)
 * Virginia's 18th congressional district. John Nicholas (A)
 * Virginia's 19th congressional district. John Heath (A)

Non-voting members

 * Southwest Territory's at-large congressional district ("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.


 * Connecticut (3)
 * | Roger Sherman (P)
 * Died July 23, 1793.
 * | Stephen M. Mitchell (P)
 * Elected December 2, 1793
 * 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
 * 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
 * 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
 * Elected November 18, 1794


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


 * }

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


 * nowrap | Delaware's at-large congressional district
 * | John Patten (A)
 * Contested election; served until February 14, 1794.
 * | Henry Latimer (P)
 * Seated February 14, 1794
 * Seated February 14, 1794


 * nowrap | Southwest Territory's at-large congressional district
 * Vacant
 * Delegate seat established.
 * James White Non-voting delegate
 * Elected September 3, 1794
 * Elected September 3, 1794


 * nowrap | Maryland's 2nd congressional district
 * | John Francis Mercer (A)
 * Resigned April 13, 1794.
 * | Gabriel Duvall (A)
 * Seated November 11, 1794
 * Seated November 11, 1794


 * nowrap | New York's 10th congressional district
 * | Silas Talbot (P)
 * Accepted appointment to the U.S. Navy June 5, 1794.
 * Vacant
 * Not filled in this Congress
 * Not filled in this Congress


 * nowrap | New Jersey's at-large congressional district
 * | Abraham Clark (P)
 * Died September 15, 1794.
 * | Aaron Kitchell (P)
 * Seated January 29, 1795
 * Seated January 29, 1795


 * nowrap | South Carolina's 5th congressional district
 * | Alexander Gillon (A)
 * Died October 6, 1794.
 * | Robert Goodloe Harper (P)
 * Seated February 9, 1795
 * Seated February 9, 1795


 * nowrap | Maryland's 3rd congressional district
 * | Uriah Forrest (P)
 * Resigned November 8, 1794.
 * | Benjamin Edwards (P)
 * Seated January 2, 1795
 * Seated January 2, 1795


 * nowrap | Delaware's at-large congressional district
 * | 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