To pass H.R. 2508, a bill to repeal several acts relating to the tenure of civil offices. (p. 65-3)

On Dec 12, 1870, the House voted 159–25 (HR 2508). Result: passed. By party: Republicans 114–25, Democrats 42–0, Others 3–0. It was a bipartisan vote: majorities of both parties voted yes. 25 members voted against their own party.

During the 41st Congress (1869–1870), Ulysses S. Grant was president, and Republicans held majorities in both the House and Senate.

Yes: 159
No: 25
Did not vote: 72
Date: Dec 12, 1870

By party

Republicans114 yes · 25 no · 39 didn’t vote
Democrats42 yes · 0 no · 30 didn’t vote
Others3 yes · 0 no · 3 didn’t vote

Who broke with their party

John Franklin Farnsworth R-IL voted no
John Baldwin Hawley R-IL voted no
John Coburn R-IN voted no
John Peter Cleaver Shanks R-IN voted no
John Lynch R-ME voted no
William Lewis Stoughton R-MI voted no
Gustavus Adolphus Finkelnburg R-MO voted no
John Forbes Benjamin R-MO voted no
John Taffe R-NE voted no
Aaron Fletcher Stevens R-NH voted no
Jacob Benton R-NH voted no
Orange Ferriss R-NY voted no
Addison Henry Laflin R-NY voted no
John Beatty R-OH voted no
Eliakim Hastings Moore R-OH voted no
Jacob A. Ambler R-OH voted no
Ulysses Mercur R-PA voted no
Thomas Allen Jenckes R-RI voted no
Horace Maynard R-TN voted no
Lewis Tillman R-TN voted no
Samuel Mayes Arnell R-TN voted no
Edward Degener R-TX voted no
Charles Wesley Willard R-VT voted no
Luke Potter Poland R-VT voted no
Worthington Curtis Smith R-VT voted no

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 H.R. 2508, a bill to repeal several…: House Vote, Dec 12, 1870,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/41-H-484/to-pass-h-r-2508-a-bill-to-repeal (accessed 2026-10-17).