To refer the nominations of edwin merritt and silas w. Burt to the committee on commerce, with instructions that said committee have power to send for papers an

On Feb 3, 1879, the Senate voted 25–32. Result: failed. By party: Republicans 17–13, Democrats 7–19, Independents 1–0. It was a split vote: the parties took opposite sides, with some members crossing over. 20 members voted against their own party.

During the 45th Congress (1877–1878), Rutherford B. Hayes was president, and Democrats held the House majority and Republicans the Senate majority.

Yes: 25
No: 32
Did not vote: 25
Date: Feb 3, 1879

By party

Republicans17 yes · 13 no · 13 didn’t vote
Democrats7 yes · 19 no · 12 didn’t vote
Independents1 yes · 0 no

Who broke with their party

Augustus Hill Garland D-AR voted yes
William Wallace Eaton D-CT voted yes
Charles William Jones D-FL voted yes
Simon Barclay Conover R-FL voted no
Samuel Jordan Kirkwood R-IA voted no
Richard James Oglesby R-IL voted no
Daniel Wolsey Voorhees D-IN voted yes
Joseph Ewing Mcdonald D-IN voted yes
George Frisbie Hoar R-MA voted no
Henry Laurens Dawes R-MA voted no
Thomas White Ferry R-MI voted no
Francis Marion Cockrell D-MO voted yes
James Shields D-MO voted yes
Alvin Saunders R-NE voted no
Bainbridge Wadleigh R-NH voted no
Edward Henry Rollins R-NH voted no
Stanley Matthews R-OH voted no
Ambrose Everett Burnside R-RI voted no
Justin Smith Morrill R-VT voted no
Angus Cameron R-WI voted no

How each senator voted: Yes

How each senator voted: No

Did not vote

Other votes

From Voteview roll call records.

Cite or embed this page

Capitol Receipts, “To refer the nominations of edwin merritt…: Senate Vote, Feb 3, 1879,” https://www.capitolreceipts.com/vote/45-S-393/to-refer-the-nominations-of-edwin-merritt-and-silas (accessed 2026-10-17).