The Thirty-fourth 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, 1855 to March 4, 1857, during the last two years of Franklin Pierce's presidency. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Seventh Census of the United States in 1850. The Whig Party, one of the two major parties of the era, had largely collapsed, although many former Whigs ran as Republicans or as members of the "Opposition Party." The Senate had a Democratic majority, and the House was controlled by a coalition of Representatives led by Nathaniel P. Banks, a member of the American Party.
March 30, 1855: Elections were held for the first Kansas Territory legislature. Missourians crossed the border in large numbers to elect a pro-slavery body.July 2, 1855: The Kansas territorial legislature convened in Pawnee and began enacting proslavery laws.November 21, 1855: Large-scale Bleeding Kansas violence began with events leading to the Wakarusa War between antislavery and proslavery forces.December 3, 1855 – February 2, 1856: The election for Speaker of the House was "the longest and most contentious Speaker election in its history," due to "Sectional conflict over slavery and a rising anti-immigrant mood in the nation contributed to a poisoned and deteriorating political climate." No party had controlled a majority of the seats, and more than 21 members vied for the post of Speaker. The election took 133 ballots and two months with Nathaniel P. Banks winning over William Aiken, Jr. by 103 to 100 votes. "Banks, a member of both the nativist American (or 'Know-Nothing') Party and the Free Soil Party, served a term as Speaker before Democrats won control of the chamber in the 35th Congress."January 24, 1856: President Franklin Pierce declared the new Free-State Topeka government in Bleeding Kansas to be in rebellion.January 26, 1856: First Battle of Seattle: Marines from the USS Decatur drove off Indian attackers after an all-day battle with settlers.February, 1856: Tintic War broke out in UtahFebruary 18, 1856: The American Party (Know-Nothings) nominated their first Presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore.May 21, 1856: Lawrence, Kansas captured and burned by pro-slavery forces (the "Sacking of Lawrence").May 22, 1856: Representative Preston Brooks of South Carolina attacking Senator Charles Sumner, beating him with a cane in the hall of the Senate, for a speech Sumner had made attacking Southerners who sympathized with the pro-slavery violence in Kansas ("Bleeding Kansas"). Sumner was unable to return to duty for 3 years while he recovered; Brooks became a hero across the South.May 24, 1856: Pottawatomie massacreJune 2, 1856: Battle of Black JackAugust 30, 1856: Battle of OsawatomieNovember 4, 1856: U.S. presidential election, 1856: Democrat James Buchanan defeated former President Millard Fillmore, representing a coalition of "Know-Nothings" and Whigs, and John C. Frémont of the fledgling Republican Party, to become the 15th President of the United States.November 17, 1856: On the Sonoita River in present-day southern Arizona, the United States Army established Fort Buchanan to help control new land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase.January 9, 1857: The 7.9 Mw Fort Tejon earthquake affects Central and Southern California with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent).August 18, 1856: Guano Islands Act, ch. 164, 11 Stat. 119January 26, 1855: Point No Point Treaty signed in the Washington Territory. (Ratified March 8, 1859. Proclaimed April 29, 1859)July 1, 1855: Quinault Treaty signed, Quinault and Quileute ceded their land to the United States. (Ratified March 8, 1859. Proclaimed April 11, 1859)The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of this Congress. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
During the elections for this Congress, opponents to the Democrats used the Whig party label inconsistently and not at all in some states. Hence in this Congress, and in accordance with the practice of the Senate and House, representatives not associated with the Democratic Party or the American Party are labeled as "Opposition." This is the first example in U.S. history of a form of coalition government in either house of Congress.
The parties that opposed the Democrats joined a coalition and formed the majority. The Know-nothings caucused with the Opposition coalition.
President: VacantPresident pro tempore: Jesse D. Bright (D), until June 9, 1856Charles E. Stuart (D, June 9, 1856 – June 10, 1856Jesse D. Bright (D), June 11, 1856 – January 6, 1857James M. Mason (D), from January 6, 1857Speaker: Nathaniel P. Banks (A)Democratic Caucus Chairman: George Washington JonesThis list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, 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 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 1856; Class 2 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1858; and Class 3 meant their term began in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1860.
Skip to House of Representatives, belowThe names of members of the House of Representatives are preceded by their district numbers.
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.
replacements: 6Democrats: 2 seat net lossOpposition: 4 seat net gaindeaths: 4resignations: 5contested election: 1Total seats with changes: 10Lists of committees and their party leaders.
AgricultureAssault on Charles Sumner (Select)Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the SenateClaimsCommerceDistributing Public Revenue Among the States (Select)District of ColumbiaFinanceForeign RelationsIndian AffairsJudiciaryMilitary AffairsMilitiaNaval AffairsOrdnance and War Ships (Select)Pacific Railroad (Select)Patents and the Patent OfficePensionsPost Office and Post RoadsPrintingPrivate Land ClaimsPublic LandsRetrenchmentRevolutionary ClaimsRoads and CanalsTariff Regulation (Select)TerritoriesWholeAccountsAlleged Assault on Charles Sumner (Select)AgricultureClaimsCommerceDistrict of ColumbiaElectionsEngravingExpenditures in the Navy DepartmentExpenditures in the Post Office DepartmentExpenditures in the State DepartmentExpenditures in the Treasury DepartmentExpenditures in the War DepartmentExpenditures on Public BuildingsForeign AffairsIndian AffairsInvalid PensionsManufacturesMileageMilitary AffairsMilitiaNaval AffairsPatentsPost Office and Post RoadsPublic Buildings and GroundsPublic ExpendituresPublic LandsRevisal and Unfinished BusinessRevolutionary ClaimsRoads and CanalsRules (Select)Standards of Official ConductTerritoriesWays and MeansWholeEnrolled BillsArchitect of the Capitol: Thomas U. WalterLibrarian of Congress: John Silva MeehanChaplain: Henry C. Dean (Methodist)Stephen P. Hill (Baptist), elected December 8, 1856Secretary: Asbury DickensSergeant at Arms: Dunning R. McNairChaplain: William H. Milburn (Methodist)Clerk: John W. Forney of PennsylvaniaWilliam Cullom of Tennessee, elected February 4, 1856Doorkeeper: Nathan DarlingMessenger: Thaddeus MorricePostmaster: Robert MorrisSergeant at Arms: Adam J. Glossbrenner 