To pass S. 239. (p. 943-3,1101-1)

On Feb 12, 1859, the House voted 114–103 (S 239). Result: passed. By party: Democrats 99–21, Republicans 15–71, Others 1–12. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 36 members voted against their own party.

During the 35th Congress (1857–1858), James Buchanan was president, and Democrats held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 114
No: 103
Did not vote: 26
Date: Feb 12, 1859

By party

Democrats99 yes · 21 no · 15 didn’t vote
Republicans15 yes · 71 no · 7 didn’t vote
Others1 yes · 12 no · 4 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

James Adams Stallworth D-AL voted no
Eli Sims Shorter D-AL voted no
James Ferguson Dowdell D-AL voted no
Sydenham Moore D-AL voted no
George Smith Houston D-AL voted no
Williamson Robert Winfield Cobb D-AL voted no
Jabez Lamar Monroe Curry D-AL voted no
Martin Jenkins Crawford D-GA voted no
Samuel Ryan Curtis R-IA voted yes
David Kilgore R-IN voted yes
Schuyler Colfax R-IN voted yes
Charles Case R-IN voted yes
John Upfold Pettit R-IN voted yes
Linus Bacon Comins R-MA voted yes
Eli Thayer R-MA voted yes
John M. Wood R-ME voted yes
Stephen Clark Foster R-ME voted yes
Henry Marchmore Shaw D-NC voted no
Alfred Moore Scales D-NC voted no
Aaron Harrison Cragin R-NH voted yes
Horace Francis Clark D-NY voted no
John Bussing Haskin D-NY voted no
Matthias H. Nichols R-OH voted yes
Valentine Baxter Horton R-OH voted yes
Benjamin Franklin Leiter R-OH voted yes
John Christian Kunkel R-PA voted yes
John Mcqueen D-SC voted no
William Porcher Miles D-SC voted no
Laurence Massillon Keitt D-SC voted no
Milledge Luke Bonham D-SC voted no
William Waters Boyce D-SC voted no
Guy Morrison Bryan D-TX voted no
Muscoe Russell Hunter Garnett D-VA voted no
John Singleton Millson D-VA voted no
William Smith D-VA voted no
Charles Billinghurst R-WI voted yes

How each representative voted: Yes

How each representative voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To pass S. 239. (p. 943-3,1101-1): House Vote, Feb 12, 1859,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/35-H-454/to-pass-s-239-p-943-3-1101-1 (accessed 2026-10-17).