8th United States Congress

The Eighth 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, 1803 to March 3, 1805, during the last two years of the first administration of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. The apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives was based on the Second Census of the United States in 1800. Both chambers had a Democratic-Republican majority.

1 Major events
2 Major legislation
3 Constitutional amendments
4 Treaties
5 States admitted and territories organized
6 Party summary
- 6.1 Senate
- 6.2 House of Representatives
7 Leadership
- 7.1 Senate
- 7.2 House of Representatives
8 Members
- 8.1 Senate
- 8.2 House of Representatives
9 Changes in membership
- 9.1 Senate
- 9.2 House of Representatives
10 Officers
- 10.1 Senate
- 10.2 House of Representatives
11 References
12 External links

Major events

Main articles: 1803 in the United States, 1804 in the United States, and 1805 in the United States

April 30, 1803: Louisiana Purchase was made by the United States from France
February 16, 1804: In the First Barbary War, Stephen Decatur led a raid to burn the pirate-held frigate Philadelphia
May 14, 1804: Lewis and Clark Expedition departed from Camp Dubois to begin their historic journey by traveling up the Missouri River
July 11, 1804: Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton
November 30, 1804: Impeachment trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase
December 3, 1804: United States presidential election, 1804: Incumbent Thomas Jefferson (DR) beat challenger Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (F)
March 1, 1805: Samuel Chase acquitted of impeachment charges by the U.S. Senate

Major legislation

Main article: List of United States federal legislation#8th United States Congress

Constitutional amendments

December 9, 1803: Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed by Congress.
June 15, 1804: Twelfth Amendment was ratified by the states.

Treaties

October 20, 1803: Senate ratified the Louisiana Purchase Treaty

States admitted and territories organized

March 26, 1804: Territory of Orleans was organized. It was formerly a portion of the District of Louisiana.
January 11, 1805: Michigan Territory was organized.

Party summary

The count below identifies party affiliations at the beginning of the first session of this Congress, and includes members from vacancies and newly admitted states, when they were first seated. Changes resulting from subsequent replacements are shown below in the "Changes in membership" section.

Senate

	Party (Shading shows control)		Total	Vacant

	Democratic- Republican (DR)	Federalist (F)
End of the previous congress	18	14	32	2

Begin	22	9	31	3
End	25	9	34	0
Final voting share	73.5%	26.5%

Beginning of the next congress	27	7	34	0

House of Representatives

Following the 1800 census, the size of the House was increased to 142 seats from 108.

	Party (Shading shows control)		Total	Vacant

	Democratic- Republican (DR)	Federalist (F)
End of the previous congress	64	41	105	3

Begin	101	40	141	1
End	102	39	141	1
Final voting share	72.3%	27.7%

Beginning of the next congress	113	26	139	3

Leadership

Senate

President: Aaron Burr (DR)
President pro tempore: John Brown (DR), October 17, 1803 – February 26, 1804
- Jesse Franklin (DR), March 10, 1804 – November 4, 1804
- Joseph Anderson (DR), January 15, 1805 – December 1, 1805

House of Representatives

Speaker: Nathaniel Macon (DR)

Members

This list is arranged by chamber, then by state. Senators are listed in order of seniority, and Representatives are listed by district.

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 began with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1808; Class 2 meant their term ended in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1804; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1806.

Connecticut

1. James Hillhouse (F)
3. Uriah Tracy (F)

Delaware

2. William H. Wells (F), until November 6, 1804
- James A. Bayard (F), from November 13, 1804
1. Samuel White (F)

New Jersey

2. Jonathan Dayton (F)
1. John Condit (DR), from September 1, 1803

New York

3. DeWitt Clinton (DR), until November 4, 1803
- John Armstrong, Jr. (DR), December 7, 1803 – February 23, 1804
- John Smith (DR), from February 23, 1804
1. Theodorus Bailey (DR), until January 16, 1804
- John Armstrong, Jr. (DR), February 25, 1804 – June 30, 1804
- Samuel L. Mitchill (DR), from November 23, 1804

North Carolina

2. Jesse Franklin (DR)
3. David Stone (DR)

Ohio

1. John Smith (DR), from April 1, 1803
3. Thomas Worthington (DR), from April 1, 1803

Pennsylvania

3. George Logan (DR)
1. Samuel Maclay (DR)

Rhode Island

2. Christopher Ellery (DR)
1. Samuel J. Potter (DR), until December 14, 1804
- Benjamin Howland (DR), from October 29, 1804

South Carolina

2. Thomas Sumter (DR)
3. Pierce Butler (DR), until November 21, 1804
- John Gaillard (DR), from December 6, 1804

Tennessee

1. Joseph Anderson (DR)
2. William Cocke (DR)

Vermont

3. Stephen R. Bradley (DR)
1. Israel Smith (DR)

Virginia

1. Stevens T. Mason (DR), until May 10, 1803
- John Taylor (DR), June 4, 1803 – December 7, 1803
- Abraham B. Venable (DR), December 7, 1803 – June 7, 1804
- William B. Giles (DR), August 11, 1804 - December 4, 1804
- Andrew Moore (DR), from December 4, 1804
2. Wilson C. Nicholas (DR), until May 22, 1804
- Andrew Moore (DR), August 11, 1804 – December 4, 1804
- William B. Giles (DR), from December 4, 1804

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.

Delaware

At-large. Caesar A. Rodney (DR)

Georgia

All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

At-large. Joseph Bryan (DR)
At-large. Peter Early (DR)
At-large. Samuel Hammond (DR), until February 2, 1805, Vacant thereafter
At-large. David Meriwether (DR)

Kentucky

Maryland

The 5th district was a plural district with two representatives.

1. John Campbell (F)
2. Walter Bowie (DR)
3. Thomas Plater (F)
4. Daniel Hiester (DR), until March 7, 1804
- Roger Nelson (DR), from November 6, 1804
5. William McCreery (DR)
5. Nicholas R. Moore (DR)
6. John Archer (DR)
7. Joseph H. Nicholson (DR)
8. John Dennis (F)

Massachusetts

1. William Eustis (DR)
2. Jacob Crowninshield (DR)
3. Manasseh Cutler (F)
4. Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)
5. Thomas Dwight (F)
6. Samuel Taggart (F)
7. Nahum Mitchell (F)
8. Lemuel Williams (F)
9. Phanuel Bishop (DR)
10. Seth Hastings (F)
11. William Stedman (F)
12. Thomson J. Skinner (DR), until August 10, 1804
- Simon Larned (DR), from November 5, 1804
13. Ebenezer Seaver (DR)
14. Richard Cutts (DR)
15. Peleg Wadsworth (F)
16. Samuel Thatcher (F)
17. Phineas Bruce (F)

1. John Smith (DR), until February 23, 1804
- Samuel Riker (DR), from November 5, 1804
2. Joshua Sands (F)
3. Samuel L. Mitchill (DR), until November 22, 1804
- George Clinton, Jr. (DR), from February 14, 1805
4. Philip Van Cortlandt (DR)
5. Andrew McCord (DR)
6. Isaac Bloom (DR), until April 26, 1803
- Daniel C. Verplanck (DR), from October 17, 1803
7. Josiah Hasbrouck (DR), from October 17, 1803
8. Henry W. Livingston (F)
9. Killian K. Van Rensselaer (F)
10. George Tibbits (F)
11. Beriah Palmer (DR)
12. David Thomas (DR)
13. Thomas Sammons (DR)
14. Erastus Root (DR)
15. Gaylord Griswold (F)
16. John Patterson (DR)
17. Oliver Phelps (DR)

North Carolina

Ohio

At-large. Jeremiah Morrow (DR), from October 17, 1803

Pennsylvania

There were four plural districts, the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd had three representatives each, the 4th had two representatives.

1. Joseph Clay (DR)
1. Michael Leib (DR)
1. Jacob Richards (DR)
2. Robert Brown (DR)
2. Frederick Conrad (DR)
2. Isaac Van Horne (DR)
3. Isaac Anderson (DR)
3. Joseph Hiester (DR)
3. John Whitehill (DR)
4. David Bard (DR)
4. John A. Hanna (DR)
5. Andrew Gregg (DR)
6. John Stewart (DR)
7. John Rea (DR)
8. William Findley (DR)
9. John Smilie (DR)
10. William Hoge (DR), until October 15, 1804
- John Hoge (DR), from November 2, 1804
11. John B. C. Lucas (DR)

Rhode Island

Both representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.

At-large. Nehemiah Knight (DR)
At-large. Joseph Stanton, Jr. (DR)

1. John G. Jackson (DR)
2. James Stephenson (F)
3. John Smith (DR)
4. David Holmes (DR)
5. Thomas Lewis, Jr. (F), until March 5, 1804
- Andrew Moore (DR), March 5, 1804 – August 11, 1804
- Alexander Wilson (DR), from December 4, 1804
6. Abram Trigg (DR)
7. Joseph Lewis, Jr. (F)
8. Walter Jones (DR)
9. Philip R. Thompson (DR)
10. John Dawson (DR)
11. Anthony New (DR)
12. Thomas Griffin (F)
13. John J. Trigg (DR), until May 17, 1804
- Christopher H. Clark (DR), from November 5, 1804
14. Matthew Clay (DR)
15. John Randolph (DR)
16. John W. Eppes (DR)
17. Thomas Claiborne (DR)
18. Peterson Goodwyn (DR)
19. Edwin Gray (DR)
20. Thomas Newton, Jr. (DR)
21. Thomas M. Randolph (DR)
22. John Clopton (DR)

Non-voting members

Mississippi Territory. William Lattimore

Changes in membership

The count below reflects changes from the beginning of the first session of this Congress.

Senate

State (class)	Former senator	Reason for change	Successor	Date of successor's installation
Ohio (1)	Vacant	Failure to elect	John Smith (DR)	Seated April 1, 1803
Ohio (3)	Vacant	Failure to elect	Thomas Worthington (DR)	Seated April 1, 1803
New Jersey (1)	Vacant	Failure to elect	John Condit (DR)	Seated September 1, 1803
Virginia (1)	Stevens T. Mason (DR)	Died May 10, 1803	John Taylor (DR)	Appointed June 4, 1803
New York (3)	DeWitt Clinton (DR)	Resigned November 4, 1803 to become Mayor of New York City	John Armstrong, Jr. (DR)	Appointed December 7, 1803
Virginia (1)	John Taylor (DR)	Successor elected December 7, 1803	Abraham B. Venable (DR)	Elected December 7, 1803
New York (1)	Theodorus Bailey (DR)	Resigned January 16, 1804 to become Postmaster of New York City	John Armstrong, Jr. (DR)	Seated February 25, 1804
New York (3)	John Armstrong, Jr. (DR)	Successor elected February 23, 1804	John Smith (DR)	Elected February 23, 1804
Virginia (2)	Wilson C. Nicholas (DR)	Resigned May 22, 1804 to become Collector of Port of Norfolk	Andrew Moore (DR)	Appointed August 11, 1804
Virginia (1)	Abraham B. Venable (DR)	Resigned June 7, 1804	William B. Giles (DR)	Appointed August 11, 1804
New York (1)	John Armstrong, Jr. (DR)	Resigned June 30, 1804 after being appointed Minister to France	Samuel Latham Mitchill (DR)	Seated November 23, 1804
Rhode Island (1)	Samuel J. Potter (DR)	Died October 14, 1804	Benjamin Howland (DR)	Seated October 29, 1804
Delaware (2)	William H. Wells (F)	Resigned November 6, 1804	James A. Bayard (F)	Seated November 13, 1804
South Carolina (3)	Pierce Butler (DR)	Resigned November 21, 1804	John Gaillard (DR)	Seated December 6, 1804
Virginia (1)	William B. Giles (DR)	Successor elected December 4, 1804	Andrew Moore (DR)	Elected December 4, 1804
Virginia (2)	Andrew Moore (DR)	Successor elected December 4, 1804	William B. Giles (DR)	Elected December 4, 1804

House of Representatives

Main article: List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives

District	Vacator	Reason for change	Successor	Date of successor's installation
New York 7th	Vacant	John Cantine (DR) was elected, but resigned before the Congress began.	Josiah Hasbrouck (DR)	October 17, 1803
New York 6th	Isaac Bloom (DR)	Died April 26, 1803	Daniel C. Verplanck (DR)	October 17, 1803
New York 1st	John Smith (DR)	Resigned February 23, 1804 after being elected to US Senate	Samuel Riker (DR)	November 5, 1804
Virginia 5th	Thomas Lewis, Jr. (F)	Lost contested election March 5, 1804	Andrew Moore (DR)	March 5, 1804
Maryland 4th	Daniel Hiester (DR)	Died March 7, 1804	Roger Nelson (DR)	November 6, 1804
Virginia 13th	John J. Trigg (DR)	Died May 17, 1804	Christopher H. Clark (DR)	November 5, 1804
Massachusetts 12th	Thomson J. Skinner (DR)	Resigned August 10, 1804	Simon Larned (DR)	November 5, 1804
Virginia 5th	Andrew Moore (DR)	Resigned August 11, 1804 after being appointed to US Senate	Alexander Wilson (DR)	December 4, 1804
Pennsylvania 10th	William Hoge (DR)	Resigned October 15, 1804	John Hoge (DR)	November 2, 1804
New York 3rd	Samuel L. Mitchill (DR)	Resigned November 22, 1804 after being elected to US Senate	George Clinton, Jr. (DR)	February 14, 1805
Georgia At-large	Samuel Hammond (DR)	Resigned February 2, 1805 after becoming Civil and Military Governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory	Vacant	Not filled for remainder of term

Officers

Architect of the Capitol: Benjamin H. Latrobe, appointed March 6, 1803

Senate

Secretary: Samuel A. Otis of Massachusetts, elected April 8, 1789
Sergeant at Arms: James Mathers of New York, elected April 7, 1789
Chaplain:
- Edward Gantt, Episcopalian
- Alexander T. McCormick, Episcopalian, elected November 7, 1804

House of Representatives

Clerk: John Beckley of Virginia, elected October 17, 1803
Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton of Rhode Island, elected October 17, 1803
Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton, elected October 17, 1803
Chaplain:
- William Parkinson, Baptist
- The Rev. James Laurie, Presbyterian, elected November 5, 1804

References

Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.