6th United States Congress

The Fifth 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, 1797 to March 3, 1799, during the first two years of John Adams's presidency.

The apportionment of seats in this House of Representatives was based on the First Census of the United States in 1790. Both chambers had a Federalist majority.



Major events

 * March 4, 1797 – John Adams and Thomas Jefferson became President and Vice President of the United States
 * July 8, 1797 - The Senate expelled Tennessee Senator William Blount for conspiring with the British
 * July 11, 1798 - The United States Marine Corps was established
 * XYZ Affair in the U.S., followed by naval skirmishes but no war is declared

Major legislation

 * April 30, 1798 — The U.S. Department of the Navy was established, Sess. 2, ch. 35,
 * June 18, 1798 — Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act to establish a uniform rule of naturalization (Naturalization Act of 1798), Sess. 2, ch. 54,
 * June 25, 1798 — Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act concerning Aliens, Sess. 2, ch. 58,
 * July 6, 1798 — Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act respecting Alien Enemies, Sess. 2, ch. 66,
 * July 9, 1798 — Act Further to Protect the Commerce of the United States, Sess. 2, ch. 68,
 * July 11, 1798 — The United States Marine Corps was established, Sess. 2, ch. 72,
 * July 14, 1798 — Alien and Sedition Acts: An Act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States (Sedition Act), Sess. 2, ch. 74,

Territories organized

 * April 7, 1798 - Mississippi Territory was organized, Sess. 2, ch. 28, . It was formerly a portion of Georgia and South Carolina

Treaties

 * June 7, 1797 — The Treaty of Tripoli was ratified.
 * July 7, 1797 — Existing treaties with France were rescinded, Sess. 2, ch. 67,

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: Thomas Jefferson (DR)
 * President pro tempore of the Senate:
 * William Bradford (F) elected July 6, 1797
 * Jacob Read (F) elected November 22, 1797
 * Theodore Sedgwick (F) elected June 27, 1798
 * John Laurance (F) elected December 6, 1798
 * James Ross (F) elected March 1, 1799

House of Representatives

 * Speaker: Jonathan Dayton (F) of New Jersey

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 in this Congress, requiring reelection in 1802; Class 2 meant their term ended with this Congress, requiring reelection in 1798; and Class 3 meant their term began in the last Congress, requiring reelection in 1800.

Connecticut

 * 1: James Hillhouse (F)
 * 3: Uriah Tracy (F)

Delaware

 * 2: John Vining (F), until January 19, 1798
 * Joshua Clayton (F), January 19, 1798 – August 11, 1798
 * William H. Wells (F), January 17, 1799 – End
 * 1: Henry Latimer (F)

Georgia

 * 3: James Gunn (F)
 * 2: Josiah Tattnall (DR)

Kentucky

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

Maryland

 * 3: John Henry (F), until December 10, 1797
 * James Lloyd (F), December 11, 1797 – End
 * 1: John Eager Howard (F)

Massachusetts

 * 1: Benjamin Goodhue (F)
 * 2: Theodore Sedgwick (F)

New Hampshire

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

New Jersey

 * 1: John Rutherfurd (F)
 * Franklin Davenport (F)
 * 2: Richard Stockton (F)

New York

 * 3: John Laurance (F)
 * 1: Philip John Schuyler (F)
 * John Sloss Hobart (F)
 * William North (F)
 * James Watson (F)

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)
 * Ray Greene (F)

South Carolina

 * 3: Jacob Read (F)
 * 2: John Hunter (DR)
 * Charles Pinckney (DR)

Tennessee

 * 2: William Blount (DR)
 * Joseph Anderson (DR)
 * 1: William Cocke (DR)
 * Andrew Jackson (DR)
 * Daniel Smith (DR)

Vermont

 * 3: Elijah Paine (F)
 * 1: Isaac Tichenor (F)
 * Nathaniel Chipman (F)

Virginia

 * 2: Henry Tazewell (DR), died January 24, 1799, vacant for remainder of term
 * 1: Stevens T. Mason (DR)

Connecticut
All representatives were elected statewide on a general ticket.
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: John Allen (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: Joshua Coit (F), until September 5, 1798
 * Jonathan Brace (F), December 3, 1798 – End
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: Samuel W. Dana (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: James Davenport (F), until August 3, 1797
 * William Edmond (F), November 13, 1797 – End
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: Chauncey Goodrich (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: Roger Griswold (F)
 * Connecticut's at-large congressional district: Nathaniel Smith (F)

Delaware

 * Delaware's at-large congressional district: James A. Bayard (F)

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: Thomas T. Davis (DR)
 * Kentucky's 2nd congressional district: John Fowler (DR)

Maryland

 * Maryland's 1st congressional district: George Dent (F)
 * Maryland's 2nd congressional district: Richard Sprigg, Jr. (DR)
 * Maryland's 3rd congressional district: William Craik (F)
 * Maryland's 4th congressional district: George Baer, Jr. (F)
 * Maryland's 5th congressional district: Samuel Smith (DR)
 * Maryland's 6th congressional district: William Matthews (F)
 * Maryland's 7th congressional district: William Hindman (F)
 * Maryland's 8th congressional district: John Dennis (F)

Massachusetts

 * Massachusetts's 1st congressional district: Thomson J. Skinner (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 2nd congressional district: William Shepard (F)
 * Massachusetts's 3rd congressional district: Samuel Lyman (F)
 * Massachusetts's 4th congressional district: Dwight Foster (F)
 * Massachusetts's 5th congressional district: Nathaniel Freeman, Jr. (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 6th congressional district: John Reed, Sr. (F)
 * Massachusetts's 7th congressional district: Stephen Bullock (F)
 * Massachusetts's 8th congressional district: Harrison Gray Otis (F)
 * Massachusetts's 9th congressional district: Joseph Bradley Varnum (DR)
 * Massachusetts's 10th congressional district: Samuel Sewall (F)
 * Massachusetts's 11th congressional district: Theophilus Bradbury (F), until July 24, 1797
 * Bailey Bartlett (F), November 27, 1797 – End
 * Massachusetts's 12th congressional district: Isaac Parker (F)
 * 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: Jonathan Freeman (F)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district: William Gordon (F)
 * New Hampshire's at-large congressional district: Jeremiah Smith (F), until July 26, 1797
 * Peleg Sprague (F), December 15, 1797 – End

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: James H. Imlay (F)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district: James Schureman (F)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district: Thomas Sinnickson (F)
 * New Jersey's at-large congressional district: Mark Thomson (F)

New York

 * New York's 1st congressional district: Edward Livingston (DR)
 * New York's 2nd congressional district: Jonathan N. Havens (DR)
 * New York's 3rd congressional district: Philip Van Cortlandt (DR)
 * New York's 4th congressional district: Lucas C. Elmendorf (DR)
 * New York's 5th congressional district: David Brooks (F)
 * New York's 6th congressional district: Hezekiah L. Hosmer (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 (F)
 * New York's 10th congressional district: James Cochran (F)

North Carolina

 * North Carolina's 1st congressional district: Joseph McDowell (DR)
 * North Carolina's 2nd congressional district: Matthew Locke (DR)
 * North Carolina's 3rd congressional district: Robert Williams (DR)
 * North Carolina's 4th congressional district: Richard Stanford (DR)
 * 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), until June 4, 1798
 * Richard Dobbs Spaight (DR), December 10, 1798 – End

Pennsylvania
The 4th district was a plural district with two representatives.
 * Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district: John Swanwick (DR), until August 1, 1798
 * Robert Waln (F), December 3, 1798 – End
 * Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district: Blair McClenachan (DR)
 * Pennsylvania's 3rd congressional district: Richard Thomas (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district: John Chapman (F)
 * Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district: Samuel Sitgreaves (F), until 1798
 * Robert Brown (DR), December 4, 1798 – End
 * Pennsylvania's 5th congressional district: George Ege (F), until October 1797
 * Joseph Hiester (DR), December 1, 1797 – End
 * Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district: John A. Hanna (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: Christopher G. Champlin (F)
 * Rhode Island's at-large congressional district: Elisha R. Potter (F), until 1797
 * Thomas Tillinghast (F), November 13, 1797 – End

South Carolina

 * South Carolina's 1st congressional district: William L. Smith (F), until July 10, 1797
 * Thomas Pinckney (F), November 23, 1797 – End
 * South Carolina's 2nd congressional district: John Rutledge, Jr. (F)
 * South Carolina's 3rd congressional district: Lemuel Benton (DR)
 * South Carolina's 4th congressional district: Thomas Sumter (DR)
 * South Carolina's 5th congressional district: Robert Goodloe Harper (F)
 * South Carolina's 6th congressional district: William Smith (DR)

Tennessee

 * Tennessee's at-large congressional district: Andrew Jackson (DR), until September, 1797
 * Tennessee's at-large congressional district: William C. C. Claiborne (DR), November 23, 1797 - End

Vermont

 * Vermont's 1st congressional district: Matthew Lyon (DR)
 * Vermont's 2nd congressional district: Lewis R. Morris (F)

Virginia

 * Virginia's 1st congressional district: Daniel Morgan (F)
 * Virginia's 2nd congressional district: David Holmes (DR)
 * Virginia's 3rd congressional district: James Machir (F)
 * Virginia's 4th congressional district: Abram Trigg (DR)
 * Virginia's 5th congressional district: John J. Trigg (DR)
 * Virginia's 6th congressional district: Matthew Clay (DR)
 * Virginia's 7th congressional district: Abraham B. Venable (DR)
 * Virginia's 8th congressional district: Thomas Claiborne (DR)
 * Virginia's 9th congressional district: William Giles (DR), until October 2, 1798
 * Joseph Eggleston (DR), December 3, 1798 – End
 * Virginia's 10th congressional district: Carter B. Harrison (DR)
 * Virginia's 11th congressional district: Josiah Parker (F)
 * Virginia's 12th congressional district: Thomas Evans (F)
 * Virginia's 13th congressional district: John Clopton (DR)
 * Virginia's 14th congressional district: Samuel J. Cabell (DR)
 * Virginia's 15th congressional district: John Dawson (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: Walter Jones (DR)

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

Senate
There were 9 resignations, 2 deaths, 1 expulsion, 1 late selection, and 2 elections to replace appointees. Neither party had a net gain of seats.

House of Representatives
There were 8 resignations and 3 deaths. The Federalists had a 1 seat net loss and the Democratic-Republicans had a 1 seat net gain.

Employees

 * Architect of the Capitol: William Thornton

Senate

 * Secretary: Samuel A. Otis of Massachusetts, elected April 8, 1789
 * Doorkeeper: James Mathers of New York, elected April 7, 1789
 * Chaplain: William White, Episcopalian, elected December 9, 1790

House of Representatives

 * Clerk: Jonathan W. Condy of Pennsylvania, elected May 15, 1797
 * Sergeant at Arms: Joseph Wheaton of Rhode Island, elected May 15, 1797
 * Doorkeeper: Thomas Claxton, elected May 15, 1797
 * Chaplain: Ashbel Green, Presbyterian, elected May 15, 1797