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
- 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
- March 22, 1794: Slave Trade Act of 1794, Sess. 1,,
- March 27, 1794: Naval Act of 1794, Sess. 1,,
- January 29, 1795: Naturalization Act of 1795, Sess. 2,,
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 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
Details on changes are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.
Senate
House of Representatives
Leadership
Senate
- President: John Adams
- President pro tempore: John Langdon, until December 2, 1793
- * Ralph Izard, May 31, 1794 – November 9, 1794
- * Henry Tazewell, from February 20, 1795
House of Representatives
- Speaker: Frederick Muhlenberg
Members
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.[List of [United States Senators from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
- 1. Oliver Ellsworth
- 3. Roger Sherman, until July 23, 1793
- * Stephen Mitchell, from December 2, 1793
Delaware">List of United States Senators from Delaware">Delaware
- 1. George Read, until September 18, 1793
- * Henry Latimer, from February 7, 1795
- 2. John Vining
Georgia">List of United States Senators from Georgia">Georgia
- 2. James Jackson
- 3. James Gunn
Kentucky">List of United States Senators from Kentucky">Kentucky
- 2. John Brown
- 3. John Edwards
Maryland">List of United States Senators from Maryland">Maryland
- 1. Richard Potts
- 3. John Henry
Massachusetts">List of United States Senators from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
- 1. George Cabot
- 2. Caleb Strong
New Hampshire">List of United States Senators from New Hampshire">New Hampshire
- 3. John Langdon
- 2. Samuel Livermore
New Jersey">List of United States Senators from New Jersey">New Jersey
- 1. John Rutherfurd
- 2. Frederick Frelinghuysen
New York">List of United States Senators from New York">New York
- 1. Aaron Burr
- 3. Rufus King
North Carolina">List of United States Senators from North Carolina">North Carolina
- 2. Alexander Martin
- 3. Benjamin Hawkins
Pennsylvania">List of United States Senators from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
- 1. Albert Gallatin, until February 28, 1794
- * James Ross, from April 24, 1794
- 3. Robert Morris
Rhode Island">List of United States Senators from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
- 1. Theodore Foster
- 2. William Bradford
South Carolina">List of United States Senators from South Carolina">South Carolina
- 2. Pierce Butler
- 3. Ralph Izard
Vermont">List of United States Senators from Vermont">Vermont
- 1. Moses Robinson
- 3. Stephen R. Bradley
Virginia">List of United States Senators from Virginia">Virginia
- 1. James Monroe, until May 27, 1794
- * Stevens Mason, from November 18, 1794
- 2. John Taylor, until May 11, 1794
- * Henry Tazewell, from December 29, 1794
House of Representatives
[List of [United States Representatives from Connecticut|Connecticut]]
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.- . Joshua Coit
- . James Hillhouse
- . Amasa Learned
- . Zephaniah Swift
- . Uriah Tracy
- . Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.
- . Jeremiah Wadsworth
Delaware">List of United States Representatives from Delaware">Delaware
- . John Patten, until February 14, 1794
- * Henry Latimer, February 14, 1794 – February 7, 1795
- * Vacant thereafter
Georgia">List of United States Representatives from Georgia">Georgia
- . Abraham Baldwin
- . Thomas P. Carnes
Kentucky">List of United States Representatives from Kentucky">Kentucky
- . Christopher Greenup
- . Alexander D. Orr
Maryland">List of United States Representatives from Maryland">Maryland
- . George Dent
- . John Mercer, until April 13, 1794
- * Gabriel Duvall, from November 11, 1794
- . Uriah Forrest, until November 8, 1794
- * Benjamin Edwards, from January 2, 1795
- . Thomas Sprigg
- . Samuel Smith
- . Gabriel Christie
- . William Hindman
- . William Vans Murray
Massachusetts">List of United States Representatives from Massachusetts">Massachusetts
- . Fisher Ames
- . Samuel Dexter
- . Benjamin Goodhue
- . Samuel Holten
- . Dwight Foster
- . William Lyman
- . Theodore Sedgwick
- . Artemas Ward
- . Shearjashub Bourne
- . Peleg Coffin, Jr.
- . Henry Dearborn
- . George Thatcher
- . Peleg Wadsworth
- . David Cobb
New Hampshire">List of United States Representatives from New Hampshire">New Hampshire
- . Nicholas Gilman
- . John Sherburne
- . Jeremiah Smith
- . Paine Wingate
New Jersey">List of United States Representatives from New Jersey">New Jersey
- . John Beatty
- . Elias Boudinot
- . Lambert Cadwalader
- . Abraham Clark, until September 15, 1794
- * Aaron Kitchell, from January 29, 1795
- . Jonathan Dayton
New York">List of United States Representatives from New York">New York
- . Thomas Tredwell
- . John Watts
- . Philip Van Cortlandt
- . Peter Van Gaasbeck
- . Theodorus Bailey
- . Ezekiel Gilbert
- . John E. Van Alen
- . Henry Glen
- . James Gordon
- . Silas Talbot, until June 5, 1794
- * Vacant thereafter
North Carolina">List of United States Representatives from North Carolina">North Carolina
- . Joseph McDowell
- . Matthew Locke
- . Joseph Winston
- . Alexander Mebane
- . Nathaniel Macon
- . James Gillespie
- . William Barry Grove
- . William Johnston Dawson
- . Thomas Blount
- . Benjamin Williams
Pennsylvania">List of United States Representatives from Pennsylvania">Pennsylvania
- . James Armstrong
- . William Findley
- . Thomas Fitzsimons
- . Andrew Gregg
- . Thomas Hartley
- . Daniel Hiester
- . William Irvine
- . John Wilkes Kittera
- . William Montgomery
- . Frederick A. C. Muhlenberg
- . John Peter G. Muhlenberg
- . Thomas Scott
- . John Smilie
Rhode Island">List of United States Representatives from Rhode Island">Rhode Island
- . Benjamin Bourne
- . Francis Malbone
South Carolina">List of United States Representatives from South Carolina">South Carolina
- . William L. Smith
- . John Hunter
- . Lemuel Benton
- . Richard Winn
- . Alexander Gillon, until October 6, 1794
- * Robert Goodloe Harper, from February 9, 1795
- . Andrew Pickens
Vermont">List of United States Representatives from Vermont">Vermont
- . Israel Smith
- . Nathaniel Niles
Virginia">List of United States Representatives from Virginia">Virginia
- . Robert Rutherford
- . Andrew Moore
- . Joseph Neville
- . Francis Preston
- . George Hancock
- . Isaac Coles
- . Abraham B. Venable
- . Thomas Claiborne
- . William B. Giles
- . Carter B. Harrison
- . Josiah Parker
- . John Page
- . Samuel Griffin
- . Francis Walker
- . James Madison
- . Anthony New
- . Richard Bland Lee
- . John Nicholas
- . John Heath
Non-voting members
- . James White, seated September 3, 1794
Changes in membership
The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this CongressSenate
There were 1 death, 3 resignations, 1 late election, and 1 contested election.House of Representatives
There were 2 deaths, 3 resignations, and 1 contested election.Committees
Lists of committees and their party leaders.Senate
- Whole
House of Representatives
- Claims
- Elections
- Rules
- Ways and Means
- Whole
Joint committees
- Enrolled Bills
Employees
- Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton
Senate
- Chaplain: William White
- Doorkeeper: James Mathers
- Secretary: Samuel Allyne Otis
House of Representatives
- Chaplain: Ashbel Green
- Clerk: John J. Beckley
- Doorkeeper: Gifford Dalley
- Reading Clerks:
- Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton