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The 17th Congress

An Examination of the United States Legislature, 1821-1823

Congress Overview 👇 Party Breakdown 📊

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Congressional Overview

Term and Presidency

The 17th United States Congress convened from March 4, 1821, to March 4, 1823. This period fell within the second term of President James Monroe's administration, often referred to as the "Era of Good Feelings," characterized by a period of relative political harmony and national unity.

Legislative Context

The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was determined by the 1810 United States census. Both the Senate and the House were dominated by a significant majority of the Democratic-Republican Party, reflecting the political landscape of the time.

Sessions Convened

While the official term began in March 1821, the legislative sessions commenced later. The First Session ran from December 3, 1821, to May 8, 1822. The Second Session followed, beginning December 2, 1822, and concluding on March 3, 1823.

Key Occurrences

Presidential Inauguration

March 5, 1821, marked the Second Inauguration of James Monroe as President of the United States, underscoring the continuity of leadership during this period.

Florida Sovereignty Transfer

In accordance with the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, the official transfer of sovereignty over Spanish Florida from Spain to the United States occurred on July 10, 1821, integrating this territory into the nation.

House Speakership Election

The election for the Speaker of the House proved contentious, requiring twelve ballots before Philip P. Barbour was successfully elected on December 4, 1821, highlighting the dynamics within the chamber.

Legislative Actions

Landmark Bills

While specific landmark legislation details are not enumerated in the primary source, the 17th Congress was responsible for enacting laws pertinent to the nation's governance, territorial expansion, and administrative functions during this era.

The legislative agenda typically included appropriations, matters related to the judiciary, military affairs, and the management of public lands and territories. The political climate, influenced by the preceding War of 1812 and the subsequent nationalistic sentiment, shaped the debates and outcomes of proposed legislation.

Party Composition

Senate Dynamics

The Senate comprised 48 members at the start, with two additional seats added for Missouri. The Democratic-Republican Party held a commanding majority, with 38 seats initially, expanding to 43 by the end of the Congress. The Federalist Party maintained a small presence, starting with 8 seats and declining to 3.

The Senate experienced significant turnover, with 12 seats changing hands due to deaths, resignations, and the admission of new states. Notably, Missouri's admission added two seats, both initially filled by Democratic-Republicans.

PartyStartEnd
Democratic-Republican3843
Federalist83
Vacant01
Total4647

House Representation

The House began with 187 representatives, increasing to 188 with Missouri's admission. The Democratic-Republican majority was substantial, holding 150 seats initially and growing to 154 by the end. The Federalist representation diminished from 24 to 3 seats.

The House saw considerable flux, with 23 seats changing hands due to various reasons including deaths, resignations, contested elections, and the addition of Missouri's single representative. This turnover reflects the dynamic nature of early 19th-century American politics.

PartyStartEnd
Democratic-Republican150154
Federalist243
Vacant52
Total179159

Key Leadership

Senate Leadership

The Vice President, Daniel D. Tompkins, presided as President of the Senate. John Gaillard served as the President pro tempore, elected on December 3, 1821, managing Senate proceedings in the Vice President's absence.

House Leadership

Philip P. Barbour was elected Speaker of the House on the twelfth ballot of the first session, December 4, 1821. His leadership guided the House through the legislative business of the Congress.

Membership Details

Senate Roster

The Senate consisted of 48 members at the outset, representing 22 states. Membership changes occurred throughout the term due to various factors, including statehood admission and political transitions.

Senators were elected by state legislatures. The list includes their party affiliation (DR for Democratic-Republican, F for Federalist) and their class, indicating the cycle of their election.

  • Alabama: King (DR), Walker (DR) / Kelly (DR)
  • Connecticut: Boardman (DR), Lanman (DR)
  • Delaware: Rodney (DR) / Van Dyke (F)
  • Georgia: Walker (DR) / Ware (DR), Elliott (DR)
  • Illinois: Thomas (DR), Edwards (DR)
  • Indiana: Noble (DR), Taylor (DR)
  • Kentucky: Johnson (DR), Talbot (DR)
  • Louisiana: Johnson (DR), Brown (DR)
  • Maine: Holmes (DR), Chandler (DR)
  • Maryland: Pinkney (DR) / Smith (DR), Lloyd (DR)
  • Massachusetts: Mills (F), Otis (F) / Lloyd (F)
  • Mississippi: Holmes (DR), Williams (DR)
  • Missouri: Benton (DR), Barton (DR)
  • New Hampshire: Morril (DR), Parrott (DR)
  • New Jersey: Southard (DR), Dickerson (DR)
  • New York: Van Buren (DR), King (F)
  • North Carolina: Stokes (DR), Macon (DR)
  • Ohio: Ruggles (DR), Trimble (DR) / Brown (DR)
  • Pennsylvania: Findlay (DR), Lowrie (DR)
  • Rhode Island: DeWolf (DR), Knight (DR)
  • South Carolina: Smith (DR), Gaillard (DR)
  • Tennessee: Eaton (DR), Williams (DR)
  • Vermont: Seymour (DR), Palmer (DR)
  • Virginia: Barbour (DR), Pleasants (DR) / Taylor (DR)

House Roster

The House of Representatives comprised 187 members initially, based on the 1810 census, with representation distributed across 20 states and 3 territories. Membership changes were frequent, reflecting electoral outcomes and individual decisions.

Representatives are listed by state and district. Note the presence of plural districts where multiple representatives served from a single district, often elected statewide.

  • Alabama (1): Moore (DR)
  • Connecticut (7 At-large): Barber (DR), Burrows (DR), Edwards (DR), Russ (DR), Sterling (DR), Stoddard (DR), Tomlinson (DR)
  • Delaware (1 At-large): McLane (F), Rodney (DR) / Rodney (F)
  • Georgia (6 At-large): Abbot (DR), Cuthbert (DR), Gilmer (DR), Reid (DR), Tattnall (DR), Thompson (DR)
  • Illinois (1 At-large): Cook (DR)
  • Indiana (1 At-large): Hendricks (DR) / Jennings (DR)
  • Kentucky (10): Trimble (DR), Woodson (DR), Johnson (DR), Metcalfe (DR), New (DR), Johnson (DR), Robertson (DR) / Smith (DR), Bullock (DR) / Breckinridge (DR), Montgomery (DR), Hardin (DR)
  • Louisiana (1 At-large): Johnston (DR)
  • Maine (7): Dane (F), Whitman (F) / Harris (DR), Hill (DR), Williamson (DR), Herrick (DR), Cushman (DR), Lincoln (DR)
  • Maryland (8): Neale (F), Kent (DR), Warfield (F), Nelson (DR), Little (DR), Smith (DR) / McKim (DR), Cosden (DR) / Reed (DR), Wright (DR), Bayly (F)
  • Massachusetts (13): Gorham (DR), Barstow (DR), Nelson (F), Fuller (DR), Lathrop (F), Allen (F), Dwight (F), Hobart (DR), Reed Jr. (F), Baylies (F), Russell (DR), Bigelow (F), Eustis (DR)
  • Mississippi (1 At-large): Rankin (DR)
  • Missouri (1 At-large): Scott (DR)
  • New Hampshire (6 At-large): Butler (DR), Harvey (DR), Matson (DR), Plumer Jr. (DR), Upham (DR), Whipple Jr. (DR)
  • New Jersey (6 At-large): Bateman (DR), Cassedy (DR), Condict (DR), Holcombe (DR), Matlack (DR), Swan (DR)
  • New York (22): Colden (F), Wood (F), Cambreleng (DR), Morgan (DR), Pierson (DR), Van Wyck (DR), Patterson (F), Tuthill (DR) / Borland Jr. (DR), Ruggles (F), McCarty (DR), Van Rensselaer (F), Dickinson (F), Taylor (DR), Pitcher (DR), Walworth (DR), Gebhard (DR), Conkling (DR), Campbell (DR), Hawkes (DR), Kirkland (F), Litchfield (DR), Woodcock (DR), Spencer (DR), Tracy (DR)
  • North Carolina (13): Sawyer (DR), Burton (DR), Hall (DR), Blackledge (DR), Hooks (DR), W.N. Edwards (DR), McNeill (F), Crudup (DR), Saunders (DR), Long (DR), Connor (DR), Walker (DR), Williams (DR)
  • Ohio (6): Ross (DR), Campbell (DR), Barber (DR), Chambers (DR), Vance (DR), Sloane (DR)
  • Pennsylvania (15): Edwards (F), Hemphill (F), Milnor (F) / Forrest (F), Sergeant (F), Darlington (DR), Gross (DR), Buchanan (F), Phillips (F), Mitchell (DR), Findlay (DR), McSherry (F), Moore (DR) / Ingham (DR), Rogers (DR), Worman (F) / Udree (DR), Tod (DR), Brown (DR), Denison (DR), Murray Jr. (DR), Plumer (DR), Patterson (DR), Stewart (DR), Baldwin (DR) / Forward (DR), Farrelly (DR)
  • Rhode Island (2 At-large): DeWolf (DR), Knight (DR)
  • South Carolina (9): Poinsett (DR), Lowndes (DR) / Hamilton Jr. (DR), Mitchell (DR), Overstreet (DR) / Govan (DR), Tucker (DR), McDuffie (DR), Wilson (DR), Gist (DR), Blair (DR) / Carter (DR)
  • Tennessee (6): Rhea (DR), Cocke (DR), Jones (DR), Allen (DR), Cannon (DR), Vacant
  • Vermont (6): Mallary (DR), White (DR), Rich (DR), Keyes (DR), Crafts (DR), Mattocks (DR)
  • Virginia (23): Jackson (DR), Van Swearingen (F) / Stephenson (F), Williams (DR), McCoy (DR), Floyd (DR), Smyth (DR), Smith (DR), Mercer (F), Ball (DR), Moore (DR), Barbour (DR), Garnett (DR), Bassett (DR), Leftwich (DR), Tucker (DR), Randolph (DR), Archer (DR), Alexander (DR), Jones (DR), Smith (DR), Newton Jr. (DR) / Nelson (DR)
  • Territories (Non-voting): Bates (Arkansas), Hernáandez (Florida), Sibley (Michigan), Vacant (Missouri)

Congressional Committees

Senate Committees

The Senate maintained standing committees to address key areas of governance, including Finance, Foreign Relations, Military Affairs, and Naval Affairs. Committee leadership often shifted due to the dynamic nature of Senate membership.

Key committees included:

  • Finance (Chairs: Holmes, Lowrie)
  • Foreign Relations (Chairs: King, Barbour)
  • Military Affairs (Chair: Williams)
  • Naval Affairs (Chair: Pleasants)
  • Judiciary (Chair: Smith)
  • Public Lands (Chair: Thomas)

House Committees

The House of Representatives organized committees to manage its legislative workload, covering areas such as Commerce, Claims, Foreign Affairs, and Ways and Means. The Speaker often played a role in committee appointments.

Prominent committees included:

  • Ways and Means (Chair: S. Smith)
  • Foreign Affairs (Chair: Russell)
  • Commerce (Chair: Newton Jr.)
  • Military Affairs (Chair: Eustis)
  • Naval Affairs (Chair: Fuller)
  • Judiciary (Chairs: Sergeant, Nelson)

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References

References

  1.  Letter: Erskine College, [Due West, South Carolina], to John K. Gaillard, Double Branches, Anderson District, [South Carolina] by W. A. Thomson, 1849
A full list of references for this article are available at the 17th United States Congress Wikipedia page

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Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date regarding historical details.

This is not historical advisory. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional historical research or consultation. Always refer to primary sources and academic analyses for definitive historical understanding.

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