4th United States Congress

The 4th 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, 1795, to March 4, 1797, during the last two years of George Washington's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the 1790 United States census. The Senate had a Federalist majority, and the House had a Democratic-Republican majority.

Major events

 * September 17, 1796: Washington's Farewell Address warned against partisan politics and foreign entanglements.
 * November 4 - December 7, 1796: 1796 United States presidential election: Incumbent vice president John Adams defeated Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.

Treaties ratified

 * June 24, 1795: Treaty of London ("Jay's Treaty")
 * March 7, 1796: Treaty of Madrid ("Pinckney's Treaty")

States admitted

 * June 1, 1796: Tennessee admitted as a state; formerly the Territory South of the River Ohio, Sess. 1, ch. 47,

Party summary
This was the first Congress to have organized political parties. Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate

 * President: John Adams (F)
 * President pro tempore:
 * Henry Tazewell (F), first elected December 7, 1795
 * Samuel Livermore (F), first elected May 6, 1796
 * William Bingham (F), first elected February 16, 1797

House of Representatives

 * Speaker: Jonathan Dayton (F)

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. In this Congress, Class 1 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring re-election in 1796; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring re-election in 1798; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring re-election in 1800.

Connecticut

 * 1. Oliver Ellsworth (F), until March 8, 1796
 * James Hillhouse (F), from March 12, 1796
 * 3. Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (F), until June 10, 1796
 * Uriah Tracy (F), from October 13, 1796

Delaware

 * 1. Henry Latimer (F)
 * 2. John Vining (F)

Georgia

 * 2. James Jackson (DR), until 1795
 * George Walton (F), November 16, 1795 – February 20, 1796
 * Josiah Tattnall (DR), from February 20, 1796
 * 3. James Gunn (F)

Kentucky

 * 2. John Brown (DR)
 * 3. Humphrey Marshall (F)

Maryland

 * 1. Richard Potts (F), until October 24, 1796
 * John Eager Howard (F), from November 30, 1796
 * 3. John Henry (F)

Massachusetts

 * 1. George Cabot (F), until June 9, 1796
 * Benjamin Goodhue (F), from June 11, 1796
 * 2. Caleb Strong (F), until June 1, 1796
 * Theodore Sedgwick (F), from June 11, 1796

New Hampshire

 * 2. Samuel Livermore (F)
 * 3. John Langdon (DR)

New Jersey

 * 1. John Rutherfurd (F)
 * 2. Frederick Frelinghuysen (F), until November 12, 1796
 * Richard Stockton (F), from November 12, 1796

New York

 * 1. Aaron Burr (DR)
 * 3. Rufus King (F), until May 23, 1796
 * John Laurance (F), from November 9, 1796

North Carolina

 * 2. Alexander Martin (DR)
 * 3. Timothy Bloodworth (DR)

Pennsylvania

 * 1. James Ross (F)
 * 3. William Bingham (F)

Rhode Island

 * 1. Theodore Foster (F)
 * 2. William Bradford (F)

South Carolina

 * 2. Pierce Butler (DR), until October 25, 1796
 * John Hunter (DR), from December 8, 1796
 * 3. Jacob Read (F)

Tennessee

 * 1. William Cocke (DR), from August 2, 1796 (newly admitted state)
 * 2. William Blount (DR), from August 2, 1796 (newly admitted state)

Vermont

 * 1. Moses Robinson (DR), until October 15, 1796
 * Isaac Tichenor (F), from October 18, 1796
 * 3. Elijah Paine (F)

Virginia

 * 1. Stevens Mason (DR)
 * 2. Henry Tazewell (DR)





Connecticut
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Joshua Coit (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Chauncey Goodrich (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Roger Griswold (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. James Hillhouse (F), until July 1, 1796
 * James Davenport (F), from December 5, 1796
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Nathaniel Smith (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Zephaniah Swift (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district. Uriah Tracy (F), until October 13, 1796
 * Samuel W. Dana (F), from January 3, 1797

Delaware

 * Delaware's at-large congressional district. John Patten (DR)

Georgia
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. Abraham Baldwin (DR)
 * Georgia's at-large congressional district. John Milledge (DR)

Kentucky

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

Maryland

 * Maryland's 1st congressional district. George Dent (F)
 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district. Gabriel Duvall (DR), until March 28, 1796
 * Richard Sprigg Jr. (DR), from May 5, 1796
 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district. Jeremiah Crabb (F), until June 1, 1796
 * William Craik (F), from December 5, 1796
 * Maryland's 4th congressional district. Thomas Sprigg (DR)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district. Samuel Smith (DR)
 * Maryland's 6th congressional district. Gabriel Christie (DR)
 * Maryland's 7th congressional district. William Hindman (F)
 * Maryland's 8th congressional district. William Vans Murray (F)

Massachusetts

 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district. Theodore Sedgwick (F), until June, 1796
 * Thomson J. Skinner (DR), from January 27, 1797
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district. William Lyman (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district. Samuel Lyman (F)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. Dwight Foster (F)
 * Massachusetts's 5th congressional district. Nathaniel Freeman Jr. (F)
 * Massachusetts's 6th congressional district. John Reed Sr. (F)
 * Massachusetts's 7th congressional district. George Leonard (F)
 * Massachusetts's 8th congressional district. Fisher Ames (F)
 * Massachusetts's 9th congressional district. Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 10th congressional district. Benjamin Goodhue (F), until June 1796
 * Samuel Sewall (F), from December 7, 1796
 * Massachusetts's 11th congressional district. Theophilus Bradbury (F)
 * Massachusetts's 12th congressional district. Henry Dearborn (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 13th congressional district. Peleg Wadsworth (F)
 * Massachusetts's 14th congressional district. George Thatcher (F)

New Hampshire
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Abiel Foster (F)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Nicholas Gilman (F)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. John Sherburne (DR)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district. Jeremiah Smith (F)

New Jersey
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.


 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Jonathan Dayton (F)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Thomas Henderson (F)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Aaron Kitchell (DR)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Isaac Smith (F)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district. Mark Thomson (F)

New York

 * New York's 1st congressional district. Jonathan N. Havens (DR)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district. Edward Livingston (DR)
 * New York's 3rd congressional district. Philip Van Cortlandt (DR)
 * New York's 4th congressional district. John Hathorn (DR)
 * New York's 5th congressional district. Theodorus Bailey (DR)
 * New York's 6th congressional district. Ezekiel Gilbert (F)
 * New York's 7th congressional district. John E. Van Alen (F)
 * New York's 8th congressional district. Henry Glen (F)
 * New York's 9th congressional district. John Williams (DR)
 * New York's 10th congressional district. William Cooper (F)

North Carolina

 * North Carolina's 1st congressional district. James Holland (DR)
 * North Carolina's 2nd congressional district. Matthew Locke (DR)
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Jesse Franklin (DR)
 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district. Absalom Tatom (DR), until June 1, 1796
 * William Strudwick (F), from December 13, 1796
 * North Carolina's 5th congressional district. Nathaniel Macon (DR)
 * North Carolina's 6th congressional district. James Gillespie (DR)
 * North Carolina's 7th congressional district. William Barry Grove (F)
 * North Carolina's 8th congressional district. Dempsey Burges (DR)
 * North Carolina's 9th congressional district. Thomas Blount (DR)
 * North Carolina's 10th congressional district. Nathan Bryan (DR)

Pennsylvania
The 4th district was a plural district with two representatives.
 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district. John Swanwick (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district. Frederick Muhlenberg (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district. Richard Thomas (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. Vacant until January 18, 1796
 * John Richards (DR), from January 18, 1796
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. Samuel Sitgreaves (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district. Daniel Hiester (DR), until July 1, 1796
 * George Ege (F), from December 8, 1796
 * Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district. Samuel Maclay (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. John Wilkes Kittera (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 8th congressional district. Thomas Hartley (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 9th congressional district. Andrew Gregg (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 10th congressional district. David Bard (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 11th congressional district. William Findley (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. Albert Gallatin (DR)

Rhode Island
Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district. Benjamin Bourne (F), until October 13, 1796
 * Elisha R. Potter (F), from December 19, 1796
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district. Francis Malbone (F)

South Carolina

 * South Carolina's 1st congressional district. William L. Smith (F)
 * South Carolina's 2nd congressional district. Wade Hampton (DR)
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district. Lemuel Benton (DR)
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district. Richard Winn (DR)
 * South Carolina's 5th congressional district. Robert Goodloe Harper (F)
 * South Carolina's 6th congressional district. Samuel Earle (DR)

Tennessee

 * Tennessee's at-large congressional district. Andrew Jackson (DR), from December 5, 1796 (newly admitted state)

Vermont

 * Vermont's 1st congressional district. Israel Smith (DR)
 * Vermont's 2nd congressional district. Daniel Buck (F)

Virginia

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

Non-voting members

 * Southwest Territory's at-large congressional district ("Southwest Territory," later "Tennessee") James White (DR), until June 1, 1796



Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of this Congress

Senate
There were 10 resignations, 2 new seats, and 1 election to replace an appointee. There was a 1-seat gain for both the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.


 * Georgia (2)
 * | James Jackson (DR)
 * Resigned sometime in 1795
 * | George Walton (F)
 * Appointed November 16, 1795
 * Georgia (2)
 * | George Walton (F)
 * Interim appointment expired February 20, 1796, with an election
 * | Josiah Tattnall (DR)
 * Elected February 20, 1796
 * Connecticut (1)
 * | Oliver Ellsworth (F)
 * Resigned March 8, 1796
 * | James Hillhouse (F)
 * Elected March 12, 1796
 * New York (2)
 * | Rufus King (F)
 * Resigned May 23, 1796, having been appointed Minister to England
 * | John Laurance (F)
 * Elected November 9, 1796
 * Massachusetts (2)
 * | Caleb Strong (F)
 * Resigned June 1, 1796
 * | Theodore Sedgwick (F)
 * Elected June 11, 1796
 * Massachusetts (1)
 * | George Cabot (F)
 * Resigned June 9, 1796
 * | Benjamin Goodhue (F)
 * Elected June 11, 1796
 * Connecticut (3)
 * | Jonathan Trumbull Jr. (F)
 * Resigned June 10, 1796
 * | Uriah Tracy (F)
 * Elected October 13, 1796
 * Tennessee (1)
 * rowspan=2 | New seat
 * rowspan=2 | Tennessee was admitted to the Union
 * | William Cocke (DR)
 * rowspan=2 | Elected August 2, 1796
 * Tennessee (2)
 * | William Blount (DR)
 * Vermont (1)
 * | Moses Robinson (DR)
 * Resigned October 15, 1796
 * | Isaac Tichenor (F)
 * Elected October 18, 1796
 * Maryland (1)
 * | Richard Potts (F)
 * Resigned October 24, 1796
 * | John E. Howard (F)
 * Elected November 30, 1796
 * South Carolina (2)
 * | Pierce Butler (DR)
 * Resigned October 25, 1796
 * | John Hunter (DR)
 * Elected December 8, 1796
 * New Jersey (2)
 * | Frederick Frelinghuysen (F)
 * Resigned November 12, 1796
 * | Richard Stockton (F)
 * Elected November 12, 1796
 * }
 * South Carolina (2)
 * | Pierce Butler (DR)
 * Resigned October 25, 1796
 * | John Hunter (DR)
 * Elected December 8, 1796
 * New Jersey (2)
 * | Frederick Frelinghuysen (F)
 * Resigned November 12, 1796
 * | Richard Stockton (F)
 * Elected November 12, 1796
 * }
 * Elected November 12, 1796
 * }

House of Representatives
There were 9 resignations, 1 death of a Representative-elect, and 1 new seat. There was a 1-seat gain for both the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.


 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district
 * Vacant
 * Election was contested and then the apparent winner, James Morris, died July 10, 1795. The House then declared the seat won by the challenger.
 * | John Richards (DR)
 * Seated January 18, 1796
 * Seated January 18, 1796


 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district
 * | Jeremiah Crabb (F)
 * Resigned sometime in 1796.
 * | William Craik (F)
 * Seated December 5, 1796
 * Seated December 5, 1796


 * Rhode Island At-large
 * | Benjamin Bourne (F)
 * Resigned sometime in 1796.
 * | Elisha Potter (F)
 * Seated December 19, 1796
 * Seated December 19, 1796


 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district
 * | Theodore Sedgwick (F)
 * Resigned sometime in June, 1796, having been elected U.S. Senator.
 * | Thomson Skinner (DR)
 * Seated January 27, 1797
 * Seated January 27, 1797


 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district
 * | Gabriel Duvall (DR)
 * Resigned March 28, 1796, having been elected judge of the Supreme Court of Maryland.
 * | Richard Sprigg Jr. (DR)
 * Seated May 5, 1796
 * Seated May 5, 1796


 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district
 * | Absalom Tatom (DR)
 * Resigned June 1, 1796.
 * | William Strudwick (F)
 * Seated December 13, 1796
 * Seated December 13, 1796


 * Massachusetts's 10th congressional district
 * | Benjamin Goodhue (F)
 * Resigned sometime in June 1796, having been elected U.S. Senator.
 * | Samuel Sewall (F)
 * Seated December 7, 1796
 * Seated December 7, 1796


 * Connecticut At-large
 * | James Hillhouse (F)
 * Resigned July 1, 1796, having been elected U.S. Senator.
 * | James Davenport (F)
 * Seated December 5, 1796
 * Seated December 5, 1796


 * Southwest Territory's at-large congressional district
 * James White
 * Served until June 1, 1796, when Tennessee was admitted to the Union.
 * colspan=2 | District eliminated
 * colspan=2 | District eliminated


 * Tennessee At-large
 * New seat
 * Tennessee was admitted to the Union June 1, 1796. Seat remained vacant until December 5, 1796.
 * | Andrew Jackson (DR)
 * Seated December 5, 1796
 * Seated December 5, 1796


 * Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district
 * | Daniel Hiester (DR)
 * Resigned July 1, 1796.
 * | George Ege (F)
 * Seated December 8, 1796
 * Seated December 8, 1796


 * Connecticut At-large
 * | Uriah Tracy (F)
 * Resigned October 13, 1796, having been elected U.S. Senator.
 * | Samuel Dana (F)
 * Seated January 3, 1797
 * Seated January 3, 1797


 * }

Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.

Senate

 * Whole

House of Representatives

 * Claims (Chairman: Uriah Tracy then Dwight Foster)
 * Commerce and Manufactures (Chairman: Benjamin Goodhue then John Swanwick)
 * Elections (Chairman: Abraham B. Venable)
 * Revisal and Unfinished Business (Chairman: Nicholas Gilman)
 * Rules (Select)
 * Ways and Means (Chairman: William Loughton Smith)
 * Whole

Joint committees

 * Enrolled Bills (Chairman: N/A then Richard Stockton)

Officers

 * Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton

Senate

 * Chaplain: William White, Episcopalian
 * Doorkeeper: James Mathers
 * Secretary: Samuel A. Otis

House of Representatives

 * Chaplain: Ashbel Green, Presbyterian
 * Clerk: John Beckley
 * Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton
 * Reading Clerks:
 * Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton